Last week we discussed Site Review and what you should be looking for in a site and most importantly what you should have on your site. This week we will go through Site Navigation and why it is very importatnt. 

This will teach you about why site navigation is critical to a website and what the benefits are in having an easy-to-use navigating site.  Here are the steps in creating an easy-to-use navigating structure.

In general, most websites are similar to each other.  However, your end goal is to allow your site users to find their way around as simply as possible.  For example, when you go to a hospital, the main signs direct you to general areas, which later have other secondary signs to lead you to your destination.  In relation to the hospital analogy, websites should also have general links that users are interested in and then provide secondary links that specifically defines what users are looking for.  An important factor to remember is, don’t forget to keep the general link on internal pages to allow users to find their way to other general areas of interest.   

How will simplifying navigation schemes affect your website?  According to the online Web Developer’s Virtual Library, there are three underlying benefits (http://www.wdvl.com/Location/Navigation/101/).   First, to increase the number of page impressions; second, to boost return visits and third, to improve your conversion rate (converting visitors into customers).

How to apply it?
Before designing a site, one should think about its structure.  To better visualize the structure, one could use index cards and write a page topic on each card then group them together on the floor or on a bulletin.  This visual can serve as a blueprint for the website.