Best Practices for Site Navigation

Navigation in a site should be like a road sign to make the visitor or reader fell comfortable. A website should have a navigation system that allows the visitor to find the content they way quickly, because a reader in the web moves quickly like driving a car. When the navigation works at its best the visitor hardly notices that it's there. Hence the navigation design needs be simple to help the visitor get to where they want to go.

The best practices for Website navigation consist of:

 Design for the reader the site design should be design with the reader in mind, do not design just for it to look good.

 Provide a variety of navigation options to meet a variety of web visitors and the navigation requirements. Some readers navigate geographically or by subject matter, so it would be a good idea to provide a variety of navigation options.

 Let the readers know where they are by giving clear indication of what page of the website they are currently on.

 Let readers know where they been by having the navigation in hypertext, instead of a graphical form. When the Hypertext link is clicked its color changes. Let readers know where they are going by creating self explanatory classifications.

When the visitor clicks on a link or image they expect to go to an HTLM site, if the intention is to go to a non HTLM page notify the reader in advance.

 Provide context for the reader in the homepage. Ensure all content is properly classified, allow for multiple products, and use related navigation by providing links to similar websites.

 Be consistent don't confuse the reader do not display inconsistent or unfamiliar navigation design. The navigation design needs consistent classification, graphical navigation design, and hypertext colors.

 Follow Web convention all users carry their navigation skills they learn from one web site to the other. The navigation and classification that have emerged on the web included Global Navigation, Home, About, Contact or Contact Us, Organization's Logo, Search box, and Footer.

 Don not surprise or mislead the reader by asking to do something difficult or impossible to do. To avoid surprises don't direct visitors to fault navigation paths, inform the visitor of modifications.

Provide the visitor with help support and feedback; provide a Help Link this will allow the visitor to be whit in a click from be able to contact the company. Also provide the reader a way to provide feedback by including a contact link in every page.

By following these principles while designing the navigation for a website it would make it very simple for the visitor to use.

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