Navigating your website should be as easy and intuitive as taking a walk through a garden with clearly marked paths. Visitors shouldn't feel like they're fumbling around in a dark maze.
At every step it needs to be obvious what they need to do next – don’t expect them to want to ‘have a look around’ (because they won’t).
- Use best practice that works.
Follow the lead taken by Aviva, and other big brands.
They will have spent ££££££ to test what works and what doesn't.
Your website visitors will be expecting the navigation to be similar to the other sites they use, so a different navigation structure may only confuse them, and get them to click away.
- Plan
Plan your site's navigation in advance of briefing the designer.
Use your information architecture to develop the required site structure.
- Easy access
Every page should be accessible within 3-4 clicks, and be one click from the home page.
- Breadcrumbs
If the user gets lost, he should be able to return to the home page by clicking 'home' or by using the breadcrumbs, or by clicking ‘Back’.
- Concise labelling
Clearly and consistently label the links for navigation.
Use short, clear and precise words in your links so that your visitors know what the corresponding page will contain.
- Avoid dead-ends in the site.