The Importance of Website Navigation and User Experience

Creating an aesthetically pleasing website is vital for branding. But can it hold users’ attention?

Visuals are crucial for drawing in an audience, but web design is not just about aesthetics. It’s also about converting a casual visitor into a paying customer or loyal subscriber.

A website or mobile app must be as functional as it is beautiful. Website navigation and user experience are critical elements of web development and design.

Let’s discuss website navigation and user experience—what they mean and how they impact business.

What Are Website Navigation and User Experience?

Website navigation is the interface that allows visitors to find content, features, and links. Navigation components include copy, web buttons, menus, and links. It is a critical element of user experience (UX), which is how a person feels when interacting with every aspect of the website.

The goal is for visitors to maintain positive and engaged feelings while browsing a website. Such a feeling is achieved when the site is functional and easy to use.

What Are the Components of Good Website Navigation?

Good website navigation centers on the user, the business’s target market. Here are some simple ways to achieve this:

Create a Clear, Easy-to-Understand Menu

Some web designers might want to include avant-garde visuals to make a website or app stand out. But complex graphics or layouts may interfere with easy navigation.

The main menu must be straightforward and easy to understand—it is the gateway to all the other web pages. It must be well-organized and clearly outlined.

Menus can be page headers or sidebars for easy access. If they are at the bottom of the web page, users must scroll down too far to get to it. Footer navigation menus are better for supporting menus rather than the main ones.

Content

Website content must be original and give users what they want. Most app users and website visitors are there for a purpose. Whether it’s to learn more about the brand or purchase a product, all content must readily provide it.

Read Also: Website Content Checklist: Top 9 Things Every Website Needs to Have

Use Submenus When Necessary

Most websites have submenus, which provide supporting information about the main topics or pages on the menu. For example, most websites have an About Page. The submenu may include About the Company, the Team, and the Charitable Organization.

Know What to Include in Your Website Navigation Bar

All content must be organized logically across different web pages. Too much information cannot appear on one page—people must scroll down infinitely. Clutter does not make for an exemplary user interface or UX.

What should be included in a website navigation bar? Every company or website is different. Use these techniques to determine the components to include:

Card Sorting

You can determine the most sensible components using a stack of cards, each one containing a proposed page for the website. Invite people who are not part of the organization to do the card sorting. Ask them to arrange the cards based on what they think belong together and the groupings of each page.

This exercise will give you an idea of how your audience will think about your pages and overall website navigation.

Software Attribution Report

Companies using customer relationship management (CRM) software get attribution reports to understand the conversion process. Whatever scores high in this report must have prominence in the navigation bar.

Those using Google Analytics also have a similar attribution report that will be useful.

Use SEO Keywords

Search engine optimization (SEO) doesn’t have to be strictly for copy. Use keywords that will draw people to your site. Use Google Analytics and Google Adwords to determine the best phrases to use for your navigation menus.

What Makes a Good User Experience?

The goal is to help every web visitor have a positive experience while navigating your website. They should not be confused and should not have to wait long for the pages to load. If the user is unhappy, they will just leave the site and opt for your competitors.

Effective UX design provides everything a website visitor or app user needs. What are the elements of exceptional user experience?

Functionality

Every element of the website or app must be easy to use and understand. A user must be able to navigate every page without thinking too deeply. More importantly, they should be able to find what they are looking for without barriers.

The main goal for many branded websites is the sale of goods or services. Visitors must be able to purchase a product in just a few clicks.

Visuals

While functionality is the most crucial thing, visuals must not be sacrificed. Images must be clear and attractive, and videos should be entertaining and informative. The website or app’s overall design and color palette must also be on-brand.

Safety

Companies must ensure online safety for all customers and prospects in a digital-first world. Their personal information must remain safe when they are on your site.

Of course, it is also the responsibility of each user to keep their data safe by using an efficient VPN system and avoiding public WiFi connections.

It’s All About Conversions

A website is an extension of the company that created it. It is every brand’s online representative, one that contributes to its revenue, which means the goal is conversion.

There will be little to no conversions when website navigation and UX are terrible.

Imagine a user on your website. They have decided to purchase your product, but when they look at the main menu, it is so cluttered with unnecessary pages that they give up on looking for what they want to buy.

If there’s no problem with website navigation, every time a visitor clicks on a link, the new webpage takes more than five seconds to load. Clicking through three web pages would mean 15 seconds of waiting—in the digital age, it is far too long.

Website navigation and user experience go hand-in-hand. They must be clear, understandable, easy to use, and highly functional to lead to conversions.

Partner with a professional top-notch web design and development service provider to ensure efficient navigation and UX. Investing in web design will bring you the conversions and return on investment every business craves.

Conclusion

Increase your business revenue by creating a website with exceptional navigation and user experience. An efficient website promotes brand credibility and would make it easy for customers and potential customers to convert.

Feel free to contact Hire Jordan Smith for all of your web design needs.