farm fresh interactive marketing
Navigation UsabilityWhere do I go and how do I get there? When I get there, how do I know where I am? |
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There are hundreds of different types of websites, each with their own style, objective, and point of view. At one end of the spectrum lies the corporate site whose layout has a small degree of variability. At the other end lies the experimental sites whose ideas push the boundaries between ideation and information.
A concern common to both is navigation usability. How do your site visitors get from one page to another and how easy is it to find the correct information? The corporate site has this as a primary concern, while the experimental site may hold this as less of a priority.
Navigation Types
The most common navigation structures are horizontal and vertical navigation. The most important navigation items are usually listed as buttons (or links) horizontally across the top of the page or vertically along the left side. Most users expect the main site navigation to be found at either of these locations. Do you have to put it there? Of course not.
Naming Your Sections
While it may be obvious to title the section describing your company as "About" or "About Us", some may feel it perfectly natural to title this section as "What's Going On With Us" or "Peel Back Our Snickers". While these titles may be fun and interesting, the site visitor has no idea what to expect when they finally get to that page.
A concern common to both is navigation usability. How do your site visitors get from one page to another and how easy is it to find the correct information? The corporate site has this as a primary concern, while the experimental site may hold this as less of a priority.
Navigation Types
The most common navigation structures are horizontal and vertical navigation. The most important navigation items are usually listed as buttons (or links) horizontally across the top of the page or vertically along the left side. Most users expect the main site navigation to be found at either of these locations. Do you have to put it there? Of course not.
Naming Your Sections
While it may be obvious to title the section describing your company as "About" or "About Us", some may feel it perfectly natural to title this section as "What's Going On With Us" or "Peel Back Our Snickers". While these titles may be fun and interesting, the site visitor has no idea what to expect when they finally get to that page.
