The way in which websites are now being designed has evolved over the years, and what used to be considered effective, is often thought to be outdated and not conducive to a positive user experience, or UX.
Around a decade ago, mega menus seemed to be the solution to helping users find what they’re looking for. The idea was that if the main navigation didn’t include content, users would struggle to find it. However, more often than not, this led to menus that were lengthy, complicated and stuffed full of so much content that new designs and techniques were needed to highlight key information or links. This method may well continue to be effective for big sites with an audience that’s diverse, but for others, it simply looks overwhelming and deters users from staying long on the site.
Nowadays the emphasis is on flattened navigation, and if you work with a web development company in Surrey, they’ll focus on reducing categories and menu layers to give users a swifter, simpler and more streamlined experience.
However, flattening navigation doesn’t come without its own set of challenges, such as leaving you with content that has nowhere to go because the site structure has been dramatically reduced. Fortunately, having a clear strategy in place can help you overcome such challenges, and here are a few things to consider when assessing site navigation:
- Flatten core offerings
Try to make sure that most user journeys can be completed within links in the menu that are clearly visible.
- Group content in a strategic manner
To prevent users from trawling through an endless array of dropdowns, have dedicated sections that allow for efficient browsing.
- Make loading speed a priority
If a user needs to explore your site to get to what they want, make sure that they can do so with a series of quick clicks.
- De-clutter your main navigation
A lot of links in a menu can quickly clog it up; think about making a secondary menu for certain users.
- Don’t overuse accordions
Endless accordions can be frustrating and confusing for users, use them wisely while making sure that important content can easily be found.
What should be included in your primary navigation?
Here are some things that should appear in your main navigation:
- Main actions you expect visitors to your site to take
- A clear way to make contact
- Important services and content that’s key to the goals of your organization
What shouldn’t be included in your primary navigation?
Here are some things that shouldn’t appear in your main navigation:
- Complementary content not actively searched for in your menu by users
- Links that have been divided not for user experience, but for administrative reasons
- Items appearing in the footer
Working with a company specializing in website design in Surrey, BC is the best way to ensure that flattened navigation is achieved in the most effective way. For those with little to no experience in web design, inadvertently eliminating too much from your navigation while trying to streamline it, is a mistake commonly made, but one that can cost you dearly.
Navigation that has been flattened successfully strikes the right balance between simplicity and availability of information. Most importantly, navigation must be aligned with the needs of the user, so that they can easily gain access to key content. Faced with a long and winding uphill path to reach a destination, or a short, straight hop on flat terrain; most users will choose the latter.