Navigation

The main navigation menu is vital for users, 0:01 and, therefore, business websites. 0:04 Now, if you remove the main menu from the websites you know and love, 0:07 you may find it incredibly difficult to get around, 0:10 and you can't always rely on a site search engine. 0:13 The goal should be to drive users through your navigation 0:16 to show them what you have to offer at a glance and how they can find it. 0:20 More often than not, the main navigation will display across the top or left of a design. 0:26 Again, understand the risks if you start moving things around. 0:32 Menus can appear in many different colors, shapes, and formats. 0:36 Some will be just text, others text with icons, and others may be more elaborate. 0:40 The key is to provide a top level of choices that tells the user, 0:47 "These are the key features or sections of our site." 0:51 In addition, it can provide opportunities to promote 0:56 the products and services you need to sell. 0:58 There are certain menu items most users 1:02 have come to expect on any website they visit. 1:04 Many businesses provide an "About" link to revel their corporate history or background 1:08 as well as a look at who owns or runs the company. 1:13 This is an opportunity for new users to learn about the purpose 1:17 behind the website and company, 1:20 so it serves as an important way for building trust in your user base. 1:22 Users also need a contact link, especially when sites offer services or products 1:27 or other items that involve transactions and other interactions. 1:32 Your company may have customer service, user support, call center, 1:37 or some other group that deals directly with customers. 1:41 If so, it's important to provide clear information on how to get in touch with them. 1:43 Small businesses can benefit here because it's another way to build trust with the users, 1:49 especially if you link your social media accounts here 1:53 and show them that you're online. 1:56 Providing users with a clear way to communicate 1:59 with the actual people behind a website shows a willingness to speak with them, 2:01 making you look more transparent and accessible. 2:06 But these won't be all the links on your menu. 2:10 Many businesses have products and services, 2:12 and often, businesses have a focus 2:16 that can allow them to list the main groups of products they have, 2:18 and depending on how your site is designed, you may be able to provide 2:21 a hierarchy of choices based on logical categories. 2:25 Figuring out how to organize this information can be tricky at times. 2:29 So, researching similar sites, especially the competition, can give you an idea 2:34 about how to arrange your menu choices. 2:39 In the end, you may have to test multiple versions to see which one 2:42 provides the most clarity about what your site offers. 2:45 As technology has progressed, menus have become more elaborate, 2:50 but also easier to manage in some cases. 2:53 Being able to provide a menu that contains up-to-the-second information is vital, 2:56 and platforms like WordPress offer dynamic updating as well as basic ways 3:01 to manage the links and sublinks you offer. 3:06 When all else fails, think back to the core concepts 3:10 of branding and targeting for your business: 3:12 Who are you, what do you do, how can users find this information, 3:16 and how can they connect with you? 3:21 Provide clear options in your navigation to answer all of these questions, 3:23 and it will be easier for you to do business. 3:27