Website Navigation

One of a series of white papers by Elizabeth G. Fagan dba EGF Consulting.

Organize navigation choices from the user’s perspective.
Navigation reflects logical categories that users immediately understand.
Navigation clearly represents the website’s organization and overall intentions.
Navigation is broad rather than deep. In other words, navigation menus have many items rather than fewer items with many menu levels.
Navigation items are in a natural and logical order.
Remember: Navigation reflects the title (and HTML title tag) of the page to which it refers.
All language is simple, without jargon.
Use the same words or phrase to describe an item throughout.
Use shape, font size, and color as visual cues.
Navigation choices are redundant only when required for user productivity.
Strive for overall consistency. Choose a preferred style and do not mix styles.
Use either phases or simple one- or two-word labels. Labels are preferred.
Analyze two-word labels for redundancy. For example, the adjective “Computer” in the label “Computer Systems” is probably redundant; “Resources” in “Staff Resources” is not.
Use either nouns or verbs.
Use pronouns or do not use them. For example, “Our Services” or “Services.” If you use pronouns, use them consistently.
If you use pronouns, choose first, second, or third person. For example, do not use “Our Services” with “Your Solutions.”
Limit use of “My” to customizable elements. For example, “My Links.”