Oh, you’re here to find a way how to make a great navigation menu? It’s kind of one of the things that you initially think is very simple to do, but if not properly done, may evolve into a problem. Think about it: the navigation menu is also one of those elements you are likely to notice as soon as you first enter the site. Screw that up, however, and they’re clicking the back button as quickly as you can say "bounce rate.” Don’t worry though you’ve come to the right place. When you reach the final part of this blog post, you’d already be equipped enough with the tools that will enable you to build a great navigation menu that people will enjoy using.
Before we go into details, let us get it straight. What is a user-friendly navigation menu? It's basically a menu that doesn’t make people feel like they’re stuck in a maze. If users can’t figure out where to go within a few seconds of landing on your site, you've got a problem. A good navigation menu is intuitive, simple, and, most importantly, doesn’t make you think too hard. You know, the kind of thing you don’t even notice when it works well, but boy do you notice it when it’s a hot mess.
Okay, first, things first; let’s stick to the facts. I know, I know, it’s tempting to put all possible links in navigation bar as though they are some sort of cancer. You want your users to find everything, don’t you? But here’s the catch: excessiveness = confusion. You ever go to a restaurant with a 20-page menu and just ended up ordering a burger because it’s the only thing you can process? Yeah, that’s how people feel when they see a cluttered navigation bar. Stick to the essentials. Think of your main pages—Home, About, Contact, Services, whatever fits your site. If you have subcategories, that’s cool, but keep those hidden under drop-down menus instead of throwing them all in the main bar. Less is more, people. Less is more.
Your navigation menu should be like a well-organized closet: more convenient to look for what you are looking for without having to sift through everything. You need to sort your links to make sense especially based on the categories of the links you’ve provided above. Add like-with-like items, and be sure that the bulk of the links are visible at first glance. The last thing you want is to bury your "Contact Us" page under five layers of submenus. One handy trick is to follow the "F-pattern" or "Z-pattern" because that's how people tend to scan web pages. Put the most important links in the top left and top right. That is why people look at this area first, if not with their eyes then with their thoughts. It means you put the cookies – or what you want your audience to see first right at the window.
So if the menu is not functional on mobile, then, you’re absolutely done for. Web is now 2024 and statistics showed more than half of the web traffic come from mobile devices. A person cannot be bothered to spend time carefully pinching the screen and selecting a tiny button that doesn’t accidentally open five more pages. Head over to the “hamburger menu” (yes, that’s its real name). You know, those three little lines you see on the top corner of a mobile site that opens up the menu when you tap it? Yeah, use that. But don’t just stop there. Make sure the text is big enough to read, and the buttons are spaced out enough so people with thumbs the size of mine don’t end up rage-quitting your site because they keep clicking the wrong thing.
Look, nobody wants to feel like they’re taking part in a scavenger hunt when they're just trying to find your blog or product page. This might sound like a no-brainer, but make sure your labels actually describe where they lead. Don’t get all cute and creative with words—save that for your brand voice. Stick with straightforward stuff like “Blog,” “Shop,” or “Contact.” You can be clever somewhere else. Just tell people where they’re going.
Ah, the good ol' drop-down menu—so controversial. Drop-downs can be a blessing and a curse. When used correctly, they’re great for organizing lots of links in a compact space. But if you have too many layers, it’s like diving into an endless rabbit hole. Keep it to one or two levels max. If you have more than that, it’s probably time to rethink your site structure. One more thing: drop-down menus should be easy to use. Ever tried clicking on a drop-down, and it keeps disappearing because you moved your mouse half a centimeter away from the target? Yeah, that’s frustrating. Make sure your users don’t need the reflexes of a cat to navigate your site.
Even the best navigation menu can’t anticipate everything a user might want. Sometimes, people just don’t have the patience to click through your perfectly organized site to find what they need. That’s where a search bar comes in handy. Think of it as a safety net for your navigation menu. Place it in an easy-to-spot location (usually in the top right corner), and make sure it works well. There’s nothing worse than typing in a search query and getting "no results" when you *know* the content is there.
You know what they say: the best-laid plans often go awry. Just because you think your navigation menu is perfect doesn’t mean your users will. Once you’ve built it, you need to test it. Get real people (not just your mom) to navigate your site. See if they get lost, frustrated, or if they can easily find what they’re looking for. If people keep getting stuck on the same page, take note and fix it. Sometimes, small tweaks can make all the difference. And hey, this might sound a bit harsh, but you’re not perfect. None of us are. So don’t be afraid to tweak and adjust things as you go. Your website should evolve with your audience.
Here’s a pro tip: make sure your site is accessible. That means ensuring your navigation menu works for everyone, including people with disabilities. Use alt text for images, and make sure your links can be navigated with a keyboard. It’s not just about being inclusive; it’s about not turning away potential visitors just because they can’t use your site. Also, contrast matters. Make sure the text in your navigation menu is easy to read. Light gray text on a white background might look sleek, but it’s also a nightmare for people with visual impairments.
Alright, let’s wrap this up. A user-friendly navigation menu might not sound like the sexiest part of web design, but it’s absolutely crucial. When done right, it’s like the invisible force that guides your users effortlessly around your site.
This content was created by AI