12 Tips To Improve Website Navigation to Boost ROI
Website Navigation is the most important feature of your website’s user experience. It can make or break your chances of converting a visitor into a real customer.
It is essential that a site’s navigation system be solid to maintain a high retention rate and a low bounce rate. Nevertheless, many website owners focus on its design and the content they post there. Ignoring the fact that even the best-designed sites can lose up to 55% of their visitors precisely because of a bad browsing experience. Since users don’t like wasting their time finding information, they will simply switch to another site to find the correct information.
Good web design relies on good website navigation to support your business goals. And, at the same time, to offer users a simplified experience, both on desktop and on mobile.
If you want to avoid scaring away visitors, here are 12 tips that will help you improve your website or app navigation.
1. Align navigation with your business priorities
Aligning your website design with your business goals will not only help you clearly communicate its mission but also channel visitors to the features that matter most, especially when it comes to conversion and sales. Know where you want your users to land. And offer one or more short, clear, and intuitive paths to lead them there.
2. Integrate CTAs
CTAs (Call to Action) are essential for directing users to where you want them to land.
The right CTA can also improve your click-through rate and help convert your leads and website Navigation plays important role in it. These buttons give you a better chance that a potential customer will fill out a form, share your content online, sign up for a newsletter or attend an event that you are promoting. Choose precise, catchy, and original phrases to get visitors to click.
3. Limit the number of menu options
Usually, users don’t have time to understand the structure of your site. So the simpler the menu, the better!
We advise you not to exceed seven or eight categories. More options could confuse the visitor and cause them to leave your site. Concise menus also index better in search engines. This gives more authority to your pages and increases traffic to your website.
4. Separate categories
The navigation system of your website probably has several categories, sections, and subsections. These should have catchy, SEO-friendly titles, etc.
But this is not enough!
Your categories should also be clearly presented s ur site and visibly separate subcategories. This is important so that the user is informed at all times of his whereabouts. Among the visual cues that can make browsing your site more intuitive are the contrasting colors or banners that span the width of the site.
Also take care that the titles and navigation texts are not misleading, so as not to confuse or upset the visitor. This is indeed a frequent reason for site abandonment. Visitors should be made aware of what they will find if they click on a navigation link. And misleading them is never good for the user experience. Make sure that each text represents exactly the page to which it corresponds. This also applies to images.
The intent might not be malicious, but being vague or unclear can be enough to frustrate a user.
5. Create a sliding navigation bar or a “back to top” button
If you are creating a relatively long page, add a fixed navigation bar that will be visible to users when they scroll. You can also include a back button at the top of the page. The goal is to make your site navigation fast for users who are short on time. And that all pages are easily and quickly accessible.
6. Heal the footer
The footer is ideal for displaying your subcategories! Users who go through your website all the way may be hungry for more information. The footer is a good place to include them or add other options. But don’t forget to also include the links that belong to the categories of the header.
7. Add a search bar
Users looking for specific information may prefer to use the search option rather than scrolling through your pages and searching manually.
The ideal place to place your search bar is at the top of the sidebar or in the header. Besides the fact that it is easy to find, it must above all work. The search bar should always give relevant and precise results, account for typos, and display related products and articles. Google offers a programmable search engine to add a personalized search bar to your site.
8. Simplify navigation between pages
Users should be able to move from page to page without any problem. Besides links to other pages on your site, it is good to make all pages accessible from the navigation bar.
Choose navigation that offers clear and intuitive paths. Navigation icons allow users to find what they need directly and quickly.
9. Embed links on the home page
Visitors may want to return to the home page after viewing other pages on your site. So make sure that this option is always available.
Be careful, however, never to force them to use the “back” button of their browser to return to the Home Page. The home page serves as a base camp for the user’s journey. So this is where it comes back after exploring other sections of your site. Embedding this link in your company logo is an efficient and intuitive way to let your users retrace their steps.
10. Use colors well
Using different colors can add visual navigation cues and have a positive impact on the usability of your site. Creating contrasts and using bright colors can also help users identify important items faster. Use them to draw attention to the navigation bar. And be sure to visually differentiate them from the rest of your content.
11. Adapt your site to the mobile format
Google indexes and ranks websites based on the content of their mobile version. So you need to think about the best way to display it on smartphones and tablets.
Many users will never browse your site on a desktop computer, but of course their mobile phone. So you can’t afford to ignore responsive design when creating your new website. Responsive design is indeed vital to achieving your goals. From the users’ point of view, it is essential to offer a pleasant and efficient experience on both web and mobile applications.
12. Use short, concise titles
Good navigation is based on short and precise words. Long and complicated terms are not only likely to create confusion and make it harder for your future visitors to navigate. But they are also more difficult for search engines to recognize. Choose names that are simple and to the point. Use standard expressions like “contact”, “search”, “subscription” and “subscription” for example.
The importance of efficient navigation for an optimal user experience
Simple navigation is essential to guide a visitor through their buyer’s journey. And therefore to boost your conversion rate. Companies need to be aware of their business goals and align their navigation strategy to achieve them.
If the menus are too complicated, some features are hard to find, and you use misleading phrases, visitors will be confused and abandon your page in less time than it takes to spell “navigation”!
UX of navigation has a direct impact on the time users spend on your site. But also on the image, they have of your company and therefore their purchasing decision. So follow these 12 tips to deliver the best browsing experience.
Originally published at Entrepreneur News and Startup Guide.
