Web Design

Navigation Where Do You Put It?

Typically navigation belongs on the left of your web page. Years and websites have trained readers to look for navigation there. If you differ from this model, you’d better have a good reason as you do not want to needlessly confuse readers or have your site be difficult to navigate. One of the top reasons for a new website design is to improve navigation.

What we typically will do is to provide major navigation links on the left and detail links at the top with drop downs. Another suggestion is if you have a large site is to provide top level navigation on the top and then section specific navigation on the left. The left navigation will be different for each section but the top navigation will be unchangeable.

We also strongly recommend for mid size sites that you include a site integrated web search function. Let customers find what THEY want fast. Improving your navigation will make your website more search engine friendly – typically, more readable, and more usable by your site visitors.

Nancy McCord is the President and resident blogger for McCord Web Services LLC. She has been providing global web services since 2001. She is a web designer, search engine marketing professional, and search engine and blog expert. She lives in Maryland just south of the Washington DC metro area.