Nine features of successful web site navigation

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This paper briefly introduces some important features of successful navigation. They are not a panacea for navigation design and are absolutely effective, but understand that they have an interactive guiding role in designing navigation.

1. Balance between depth and breadth

Do not have unwanted clicks or pages when the user reaches the target content in the site. Many times the breadth is more important than the depth, if the condition allows the depth to be preferably no more than 3 layers.

such as: A software company's official website, "The latest product Training arrangements" page, should be "home > Service and Support > Training" in the directory, compared to the user through the "Home > Training" path easier to find the latest training arrangements.

2. Easy to learn

Therefore do not expect users to spend a lot of time to learn the navigation path, the intention and function of navigation to a glance, the text label must be clear, not too smart to let users to guess.

The best navigation is that users do not feel the existence of navigation, it is natural to find the target page.

such as: see the down arrow icon to know is the download, see the Shopping cart icon to know is to buy.

3. Consistency and variability

First, consistency is the main principle of interface design, but don't be rigid. For key navigation can use the different font, color, background and so on often can highlight the sense of travel and guide users.

such as: Taobao navigation, the overall style of unity, but only "no single crazy Music", there are icons marked, there is text flashing, eye-catching.

4. Response

Mouse hover to change, clear positioning, to help users select and click Navigation.

such as: Tencent web2.0, mouse hover to "Tencent Weibo" effect, tell users include icons and the whole part of the text belong to the navigation range.

5. Efficiency

1 The information path is efficient, unnecessary clicks bring extra pages to load is annoying.

A multi-point access, such as: "Product Download" in the main navigation, sidebar, the article can be guided multiple times

b shortcuts, such as: "My order" in the upper right corner of the shopping site

c) Escape pod, return home/Start Page/top, such as: breadcrumbs navigation

2 navigation Interactive and efficient, not only to move eyes and hands to find navigation.

For example: office2010 tool navigation form is more intuitive than 03.

6. Clear Label text

The category is clear, the label is in the same form, and the label is coordinated with other text.

Such as: Microsoft Chinese home several "face ..."

7. Visual Clarity

1) Visual logic

The visual level can directly convey the operation steps to the user without stating "Point here First, then click There".

2) can be scanned

For impatient users can quickly find the information they want, such as: the SOFTWARE PRODUCT site to find a green button with the down arrow is likely to be download navigation.

3) clickable

There are visual differences between navigation text and non navigation text.

8. Navigation is commensurate with the type of site

The success or failure of navigation is closely related to the type of site on which it is located.

1 Information Type website

Like Wikipedia, c| NET and other news websites, are the providers of information. Navigation is the key to success. The display of navigation breadth provides a better overview of such sites. For a variety of target groups, adherence to common design principles can reduce learning curve, better meet user expectations.

2 e-commerce website

People can't buy what they can't find. If you do not follow the common principles of navigation design, you will lose money. The visibility of the options is critical, as is the relevance link: It gives recommendations for the relevant product in due course.

3 Enterprise Internal System

Internal systems are tools for communicating and sharing information within the organization. Employees look up information on the intranet, which takes up their working hours. Efficiency is important. But because the intranet is repeatedly accessed, a longer learning curve can be accepted. Jargon and acronyms may be appropriate, even necessary to improve efficiency.

4 Community Website

Online community sites are where people exchange ideas and discuss topics, and navigation must support these activities. There may be many "community members" tags and phrases in the navigator, including acronyms.

5 Entertainment website

For entertainment websites, the experimental nature of navigation is completely acceptable. Visitors to online gaming sites are more tolerant of playful navigation than news sites.

6 Learning Website

Distance education and online training courses are becoming more common. Generally speaking, the navigation of this kind of website should be simple and clear.

7 Identify the website

Sometimes, the main purpose of a website is to support the company's image.

9. Consistent with user needs

The success of navigation is related to the target group and its information demand, but it is not easy to determine the information demand because the target group is large and different, and the information needs change at any time.

However, the problem will always be the corresponding method. First, identify the target population and generalize it to several major user types (roles). Second, summarize the main information requirements for each user type. Effective navigation is consistent with the user's deep goals and expectations, such as:

How can I quickly find the specific information or product I want?

How do I get in touch with the site owner?

How can I send the information I find to someone I know?

For example: Lenovo's leading navigation is easy to let users according to their role, find the desired information or products.

Reference: O ' REILLY Web navigation design