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Just How Important Is Navigation
mportance of Navigation provides a way for users to get
from one part to another. Without
According to an article navigation elements, visitors
written by Jacob Nielsen, typical will get stuck on one page and
user behavior shows that users not be able to access all the
almost always ignore navigation information they need. A good
areas of a web page and look website will never do away with
straight at the content. He navigation elements but will make
asserts that “navigation is sure that it is designed in such
overdone on many sites” and that a way that it will be very usable
most users are extremely goal and helpful to the users instead
driven and do not understand nor of retracting from the page’s
spend time learning navigation usability.
and global design elements of a
website but will click the back When designing a web site
button in a few seconds if the navigation system it is important
page does not seem to contain the to remember that your web site is
information they need. designed for your visitors and
not for just for you, a few
If users therefore value content friends, or search engines. If
far above navigation bars and the web site is designed for
design does it mean that visitors then the navigation
navigation is meaningless or system should address their
useless? The answer is of course needs, and what visitors need is
no. Users do need a way to go information. A good navigation
around your website and access system will always try to lead
the information they need and the visitors to the information
that is what navigation elements they need with the smallest
do; it connects the different number of steps. Remember that
parts of your website and navigation is simply the use of
images and/or text to guide a Instead simply provide links to
visitor through your website and all the levels of hierarchy above
help the visitor go where he the current page. Although
needs to go. A navigation system visitors usually ignore
should always guide and help structural links they are still
visitors because if they don’t do helpful to visitors who find
that then the system is useless. themselves in a page that
contains related but not the
Tips for a Useful Navigation exact information they need. The
System presence of structural links will
enable them to go directly to a
Navigation leads to reduced higher level of the site which is
usability when it is overdone. As a page containing more general
Nielsen said usability is information about the topic they
affected when each page in the need and which most probably has
website is linked to every other links to more specific
single page. Usability is also information about the topic they
affected when there are too much need.
links on the bottom of the page
leading to meta-features. To 2. Have local links to the
ensure that your website’s current page’s related content.
navigation will be helpful to As mentioned in tip number one,
visitors and not be meaningless visitors often do not land on the
here are a few tips for a good exact information they need when
website navigation system. they get to, especially if they
got there via search engines.
1. Make use of structural However, the information they
navigation. As mentioned earlier, need IS usually found in the
do not link to all the parts of website but on another page.
the website from every page. Having links to related content
will help them get to the exact be different for each page but if
page containing the information made use of should always be
they need. Examples of good links present and at the same area of
will be previous articles or new the page.
clips about the same topic.
Navigation in Blogs
3. Place your navigation system
on the left or on the top, just The above tips will help all
below the header. This is usually kinds of websites improve their
the place where navigation navigation system. Weblogs,
systems can be found and most however, are special and mostly
visitors will turn to left and “accessibility challenged”.
top area if they need to navigate Weblogs’ navigations systems are
through your website. This is usually inadequate. According to
simply because it is what they an article on Weblog Usability,
are used to doing. So unless you two of the top ten design
are very sure of what you are mistakes are that blogs often use
doing stick to the conventional the calendar or a timeline as the
design to avoid confusing only navigation tool and that
visitors. classic hits (popular articles)
are often buried in the archive.
4. Be consistent. If your Using a timeline as the only
navigation system is found on the navigation tool is very
left always have it on the left, inefficient and almost always
or wherever it is you choose to useless in pointing visitors to
put it. Doing otherwise would be the information they need.
extremely confusing to visitors. Visitors after all do not have
Make sure that you link any idea when you posted about
categories are also consistent. certain topics. Both of the
Structural links will of course design mistakes signify the need
for a better navigation system in them to come back and be regular
blogs. visitors.
A more useful navigation tool There should also be links to
would be categories. Categories your other recent articles or
should be detailed but not too latest posts, especially if your
many making the list too long and posts have a continuing theme. Do
difficult for visitors to scan. not assume that all your visitors
For those who write about many are regulars and would know the
and varied topics ten to twenty context of your current post.
categories ought to be sufficient Having links to previous posts
with less for those with less will help visitors understand
topics. When tagging posts make more about your current post.
sure that the post isn’t tagged
for too many categories or else However, even if you use
categorizing your posts would be categories, have links to your
useless then. popular and previous recent
posts, and follow the tips for a
Having links to your more popular useful navigation system there is
posts is also smart since your still much room for improvement
posts deserve to be read by when it comes to accessibility of
visitors other than your regular information in blogs. A good
readers. Having direct links to discussion about surrounding the
your popular posts will also help problems and possible solutions
new visitors get acquainted with about accessibility can
your blog and hopefully encourage
About the Author:
http://www.theinternetone.net
Read more articles by: Danny Wirken
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