Web site design and navigation
Web site design, good content and effective navigation go hand in handImmediate access to information is what the Web is all about. It's content that keeps visitors on your web site. It's content that keeps them coming back time and time again. However, the best web site design and content is useless if your visitors can't find it. Knowing that the information is there, but being unable to find it is the most frustrating of experience and certainly one that you don't want your site visitors to experience. Web site design, good content and effective navigation go hand in hand - without one, the other is useless.
Organized Web Site Structure
The key to effective navigation is good organization. Organize site content into clear topic and sub-topic categories. The larger the site, the more difficult the task of developing the structure obviously becomes. For larger sites, consider making a content map or flowchart.
There is important information that should be linked to on every page - for instance, contact information, an email address, or on e-commerce web sites, an order page and access to the shopping cart and check out page. This information should never be more than a click away. In addition to links to primary topics and important information, whenever possible, there should be a link to sub-topics within each topic category.
Methods of Navigation
There are many ways visitors can be guided through a web site but the most effective navigation scheme is always a combination of methods. If a visitor is confused by an icon, a meaningful text link will save the day. No matter what form your navigational interface takes, remember that what's obvious to you, may not be to others.
Clear and Consistent Navigation
What constitutes effective navigation? Navigation should be clear and consistent. Primary topic categories and links to important information should be on every page, in the same location, and in the same sequence. Locate primary links high enough on the page so that they are visible without scrolling. Navigation images should be seamlessly integrated into the web site design. Use of the back button should be an option for navigation, not a requirement.
A working search engine can help visitors quickly locate information on large sites. The keyword here, however, is 'working'. If you plan on adding search to your site, test it thoroughly and then, if possible, get a user group to test it, too.
Usability and Accessibility Considerations
Usability considerations should be adequately met. When using script-driven navigation, keep in mind that an estimated ten percent of people are surfing the Internet with either JavaScript disabled in their browsers or are using assistive software (such as screen reader software) that cannot interpret JavaScript. There's no need to turn those visitors away. Make sure your navigation is usable without JavaScript. If your navigation interface is composed of images, be sure to include alt tags. In some cases, it's a good idea to provide text links at the bottom of the page as an alternate method of navigation.
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