It’s a safe assumption that if you have a website, you want it to be easy for visitors to find what they need.
We’ve been building websites for almost 25 years, and while the way websites are made has changed drastically in that time, many core principles have not. And that includes some of the basic best practices for website navigation.
Below are the three top tips we share with clients and DIYers alike to help them make their sites more usable, making it as easy as possible for visitors to find their way around their websites.
1. Use obvious labels.
The labels you choose for your navigation links should be simple and clear, like “Services” and “Contact Us.”
While it can be tempting to use clever navigation labels, like “Send us a shout,” this approach has the potential, more often than not, to confuse site visitors.
The web has been around long enough that internet users have strong expectations of norms. Deviating from those expectations can make your website harder to navigate, causing user frustration, lower conversions and increased bounce rates.
2. Underline appropriately.
One of the strongest conventions throughout the web is that underlined text is an active link that can be clicked.
Violating this norm is a sure way to disrupt your visitors experience. Underlines should only be used for navigation links, and nothing else. (Never. Ever. For real.)
3. Put things where visitors expect them to be.
Logos
Logos generally belong at the top of the page — left, centered, or right justified all work well. Additionally, many visitors now expect the logo to be clickable and to take them back to the homepage.
Nav menu
Navigation is generally expected to be at the top or left side, though usability studies show no impact to the time to complete a navigation task when the nav menu is on the right. (That could be a creative decision.)
Search
Search boxes are typically found in the upper-right part of a webpage.
Login/out
Login and logout links should be clearly visible. Also, put your login and logout in the same place on every page of the site. Having a login link on the right on the homepage is great, so don’t go putting the logout link somewhere else on the interior pages.
Pro tip: Putting things in the same place applies to all significant elements of your website, not just login/logout links!
Navigating towards better websites
Implementing these website navigation tips is a surefire way to make your website easier to navigate. And always remember to keep it simple, make things obvious, and be consistent.
Want to dive deeper into website navigation Dos and Don’ts? Then check out these additional website navigation resources:
- The Good, the Bad, and the Best in Website Navigation, by Duke Vukadinovic for GetDevDone
- Optimizing Website Navigation for Improved User Experience, by TLC Design
- Navigation Nightmares: How Bad UX Drives Away Business, by Graticle Design
- How Does Website Navigation Affect The User Experience, by Anchor Digital
- The Impact of Good Navigation on User Experience, by Dirox
And if you find the topic of website usability interesting, I would highly recommend the book Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug. It’s a quick and fun read, and the best book on usability out there. (Plus it’s a must-read for our entire CodeGeek team!)
Keep it simple, make things obvious, and be consistent.
Compass image credit: Mick Haupt on Unsplash