As technology advances, our computers and Internet connections become progressively faster. Internet surfers have grown accustomed to demanding speed and ease of use. Here's an incredibly important but little-known tip for you: Did you know that you have less than three seconds to grab your website visitor's attention and hold it? Yep, three seconds.
Website navigation is the system of links and directions that enable visitors to journey through the pages of a website. Usually placed in a common section of each web page, navigational links give your visitors a way to get around to the rest of your website from the page they're on.
Internet surfers want to have clearly marked, obvious, visible links that take them where they want to go as quickly and as easily as possible. So, how can you achieve this?
Good navigation:
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In an attempt to be creative and inventive, some website owners set up their navigation in a way that makes getting around their website difficult for their visitors. Their intention is to offer something different and unique, but the result is often confusion and frustration for those who are using the website.
Ineffective navigation:
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The rule of thumb for creating great website navigation is to think like your website visitors, not like a website owner. If you have a website just for your own pleasure, that's one thing. However, if the function of your website is to cater to your website visitors (which is the category most websites fall under), then doesn't it make sense to help them fulfill their wishes, not yours? You may think something is innovative and impressive, but if it only serves to irk the majority of your visitors, you're missing the point of a successful website.
When making decisions for your website navigation, don't explain your concept to your friends then ask them what they think. Your website visitors aren't your friends, and they don't have the benefit of a conceptual explanation from you. They want speed and ease of use, or they'll leave. It's that simple.
Once you've put your website navigation system in place, go back and check to make sure it works. Follow every link and make sure it's doing it's job properly.
You may have the most beautiful website in the world, but if people can't find their way around it quickly and easily, you may be losing visitors before you've even had a chance to show them what you're about. Do your visitors a favour, and keep navigation simple and clear.
© 2004 Renée Deakin. All rights reserved. Copying of this article in any form by any means, mechanical or electric, is strictly prohibited without express permission from Earth Spirit Creations. You may link back to this webpage, as long as full credit is given to author. Contact us for more information.