You're at the grocery store, hangry & on a mission. One crucial item stands between you and sandwich nirvana: pickles. But the supermarket gods have a cruel sense of humour. The aisle signs are MIA, every single employee has magically vanished into thin air & you're lost in a labyrinth of toothpaste & toilet paper. By the time you find the pickles (next to the dish soap, naturally), you've aged a decade & sworn off sandwiches forever.
This, dear friends, is exactly how website visitors feel when they’re faced with a confusing navigation menu! They get lost, frustrated & click away faster than you can say "pass the pickle".
But don’t fret! In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to create the perfect navigation menu & boost your conversions by up to 50% (um, yes please!).
Step 1: Get to know your audience
To create the perfect navigation menu for your website, you first need to pinpoint exactly what your visitors want. Are they searching for blog posts, shopping for your products, or just here for the adorable cat videos? Time to play detective! Use surveys, interviews, or website analytics to dig into their needs, preferences & habits. The better you know your visitors, the easier it’ll be to design a menu that works & converts them into leads.
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Here are three questions to get you started:
- What are the top three things you’re hoping to find on our site?
- How easy is it to find what you're looking for?
- What could we do to make your visit even better?
Step 2: Define your site structure
You've got the scoop on your audience, so let's put that knowledge to work! Organise your navigation links to match their needs & preferences. A clear & logical structure is essential for making your menu effective & user-friendly.
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- List your content: Jot down all the pages and sections your website will include.
- Prioritise pages: Figure out which pages are most important to your visitors & your biz goals. These should be front & centre in the main menu.
- Create a hierarchy: Group your pages into main categories & subcategories that make sense to your visitors!
Step 3: Choose the perfect style
Now that you’ve nailed your site structure, it’s time to pick a snazzy design that fits the bill! Your mission is to choose a design for your navigation menu that looks fantastic & makes it super easy for visitors to find their way around (no pressure!)
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- Orientation: Pick whether a horizontal or vertical menu suits you best. Horizontal menus are great for simple navigation, while vertical ones are an great choice for handling lots of categories.
- Sticky menus: Think about using a sticky menu that follows your visitors as they scroll. This keeps your navigation (and that awesome CTA of yours) always within easy reach.
- Highlight the active page: Make sure visitors always know where they are by highlighting the page they’re on. Whether it’s an underline or a splash of neon, make it pop & say, “You are here!”
Step 4: Keep it clear & simple
Now that you've got your navigation bar design sorted, it's time to load it up with the pages & categories you’ve chosen. Remember to keep it simple so your visitors can find what they need in a snap!
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- Limit menu items: Stick to 5-7 main menu items. Too many choices can be overwhelming & leave your visitors puzzling over where to go next. Don’t forget a link to your homepage and a big, shiny CTA to help them convert!
- Use clear labels: Keep your page & category names simple! Avoid jargon & use words your visitors will instantly understand.
- Limit dropdown levels: Don’t get too trigger happy with those dropdown options! Keep yours to 1-2 levels max, to make sure your users don’t get confused.
Step 5: Add a search bar
Your navigation menu should be looking pretty fab by now. Time to kick it up a notch with a search bar! A search bar is a must-have tool for helping your visitors find specific bits of content quickly (especially if your site is jam packed with info!).
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- Make it visible: Pop your new search bar in a prime spot, typically at the top right of the page. It should be super easy to find so visitors can quickly get what they need.
- Fine-tune your search: Make sure your search is on point and delivers relevant results. If you’re feeling extra helpful, add autocomplete to help visitors find what they’re after even faster.
- Use analytics: Keep an eye on what users are searching for to spot popular content & any gaps in your site’s info.
Step 6: Make it accessible
Let's make sure every body can enjoy your site! An accessible navigation menu helps all visitors, including those with disabilities, easily find their way around. I's not just a nice thing to do; it's also required by law in many places!
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- Use high contrast: Pick colours that make your text pop against the background so everyone can read it easily. No one wants to play "guess the menu item!"
- Keyboard navigation: Make sure users can navigate through your menu, including dropdowns, using just a keyboard. Try tabbing through your site to see if it’s easy peasy!
- Screen reader friendly: Use ARIA labels to make sure screen readers can make sense of your navigation.
Step 7: Be mobile-friendly
Over half your visitors will be surfing your site on mobile, so let’s make sure your navigation menu looks & works great on all devices; from phone to desktop (even smart fridge)!
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- Responsive design: Your nav menu should be a shape-shifter, adjusting perfectly to different screen sizes.
- Hamburger menu: Embrace the hamburger icon (those three little lines) to save space on smaller screens while still keeping your nav menu easy to find.
- Touch-friendly: Make sure your links are big enough for even the clumsiest thumbs. No one likes tapping the wrong link and ending up in web limbo!
Step 8: Test it, learn & refine
Keep your navigation menu in tip-top shape by regularly testing & tweaking it. This way, you’ll ensure it’s always working perfectly and meeting your audience’s needs.
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- A/B testing: Mix things up by trying different versions of your navigation menu. See which one gets better user engagement & conversion rates. It’s all about finding what clicks!
- Real feedback: Regularly check in with your audience to see how they’re finding the navigation.
- Analytics: Dive into your web analytics to track how visitors interact with your menu. Spot any trouble spots and fix them so everyone can navigate smoothly.
Designing the perfect navigation menu doesn’t have to be a brain-bending challenge. With a little bit of know-how—understanding your audience, setting up a solid site structure, choosing a snazzy style, and making it mobile-friendly and accessible—you can whip up a menu that’s as easy to use as it is effective. Just keep testing and refining, and soon enough, your visitors will breeze through your site like pros.
Happy designing!
