Importance of Website Navigation

When people hear the term “navigation” today, they usually associate it with GPS and that map display that comes with most systems giving you turn-by-turn directions and current location. Let’s face it; with most websites today this would come in quite handy.

Website navigation is the key to finding the information you need with ease. In a time where accessing information quickly has a direct correlation to repeat visitors, it is vital for a website to have good navigation, so that people will not become frustrated and leave the site. Simply put, users want an easy way of getting around to find what they need or learning about the site.

The navigation makeup of a site includes menus, hypertext links, icons, buttons, and search engines. These tools enable users to move about the site in search of information. The ultimate objective of great website navigation is to have a good idea of what the website is about without having to click through several pages. If the navigation is simple to comprehend, the user will probably stay on the site longer and return because of the ease of use.

If you’re objective is to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you wouldn’t go through Texas to get there. This is exactly the scenario difficult navigation would yield. Users may perceive that a website is hard to navigate if it does not have a good flow. Flow means that the user has a seamless interaction with each click of the mouse. For example, if I click on shop, the page should display all options related to shopping and guide me by asking or giving choices. A good flowing website will allow you to go from one place to another without going back to the main page. Attention is also important to navigation. If a website has a lot of content and the user has to read it before knowing where to go, this might be perceived as complex.

Companies should consider how users would navigate through their site when creating the web pages. Remember, navigation is useful because it helps users easily move through a site. Easy navigation can save users time and frustration. To learn more about how website navigation can improve your website stickiness, click here.