Posted in Website Design Tips	May 16, 2007

How to keep your navigation simple and intuitive to avoid frustrating users.

By Adam T. Sutton, Managing Editor, Mequoda Group, LLC

Users on a website with poor navigation are like mice in a maze. They aren't too sure where they are or how to get what they want.

Fortunately, users can leave a website maze anytime they choose. They just navigate to a website that is designed with attention to their needs.

You should be publishing the type of website that users escape to. A website where the navigation is intuitive, consistent and straightforward is a great way to satisfy users as fast as possible.

If you satisfy users without confusing them, and allow them to navigate your website quickly, then they will remember your website the next time they have a similar need.

If you confuse users and make them dig through irrelevant information for 20 minutes, then they will still remember your website—they will never want to visit it again!

Having persistent navigation is a great way to avoid confusing users.

Virtual Tourist is an example of a website with great navigation. The navigation bar at the top

• Is simple and intuitive
• Is held constant throughout the site
• Allows users to navigate to all major areas of the website from anywhere in Virtual Tourist
• Features easily identifiable titles for the website's areas

Take a look at Virtual Tourist's website to see if your website could benefit from a simple navigation bar.

Navigation, of course, is only a small part of an effective website. You also need to offer users what they want and execute the online business model that fits your business.

Attend the Generating Website Revenue Executive Webinar where Mequoda Managing Director and Chief Information Architect Don Nicholas will show you which website archetype you should be using to maximize online revenue. Hurry, because early bird pricing on the webinar is set to expire soon.

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