User experience is arguably the most crucial aspect of your website. While content and e-commerce are important, if visitors struggle to navigate your site, they’ll likely leave before appreciating what you offer.
Effective navigation guides visitors through your services and enhances search engine optimization (SEO). Generic terms like “services” or “shop” don’t communicate much about your business or improve your online presence. Using popular key phrases in your navigation bar can easily increase your page ranking.
Websites often feature extensive information, products, or services. The way visitors navigate these elements significantly impacts what they see. To highlight specific content, position it prominently at the top of your navigation menu rather than burying it in a dropdown. Organizing dropdown menus effectively is also important; mega menus are generally more appealing than those broken into smaller sections.
Limiting the number of menu items benefits both visitors and search engines. Aim to keep your menu at or below seven items. Ideally, each page on your website should be optimized for easy discovery by both existing and potential customers. Streamlining your navigation helps ensure that interior pages don’t get lost in the mix.
Mobile navigation is equally crucial, especially as technology continues to advance and people are increasingly on the go. Once your website is optimized for desktop, take a close look at its mobile version. Ask friends to visit your site from their phones and provide feedback. It’s beneficial if they aren’t familiar with web design, as raw, honest feedback will help you make necessary adjustments to the mobile presentation of your services.
Interested in learning more about optimizing your website's navigation? Visit us online at jellywebsites.com or call our team at 951.371.9327 today!