The number of site visitors largely depends on the convenience of its menu. Well-designed navigation allows you to quickly find the information of interest, avoiding a long and tedious passage along the chain of links. A clear and pleasant interface, the correct color scheme noticeably increase the number of fans of the Internet resource.
Instructions
Step 1
The creation of the site menu begins with the definition of the semantic core of the future resource. Define those words and phrases that will become key for him - many of them will be included in the lines of the menu being created. The most important and comprehensive titles should be closer to the root of the site, usually they become section titles. Less significant key phrases will become subtopics and titles of specific articles.
Step 2
Having dealt with the names, you already have an approximate idea of how many and what links you should have. Now we need to arrange them correctly, creating a convenient navigation through the pages of the site. You should start with the menu of the main page of the site. It can be static, when the visitor immediately sees all his lines, and drop-down - the full list appears when the cursor hovers over the first menu item.
Step 3
If you have a large complex site and it is difficult to place a large number of links on the home page, use the dropdown menus. Avoid deep nested menus, when, when hovering over a line, a new list opens, then another, and more … Let the list drop out two or three times, this will be enough to go to the pages of subtopics, where the user can already select the material of interest … If you have a simple site, it is more logical to show all its main sections at once in the form of permanent menu lines.
Step 4
When working on site navigation, try to immediately create a template that is common to most pages. You will only change individual links in it, while the overall look and navigation structure will remain the same. For example, all pages should have buttons such as "Home" (except for the main page), "Back", "Forward". You can place them not only at the top of the page, but also duplicate them at the bottom. This is convenient for the user, since he does not have to scroll to the top after reading the page. Alternatively, make the "Up" button at the bottom to quickly jump to the top of the page.
Step 5
Pay special attention to how your site will look at different screen sizes and resolutions. Be sure to view the created pages in different browsers, as some of them may display certain elements incorrectly. Try not to use a method in which already viewed links are highlighted in a different color - especially if there are few of them. The usefulness of this is controversial, and the appearance of the pages spoils.
Step 6
The color scheme of the created menu should be organically combined with the design of the pages. Make sure that the text of the links is easy to read and the user does not have to strain his eyes. On hover, the link should change color or underline. Don't over-complicate your website design and menu structure. Always put yourself in the user's shoes - is it convenient for him to use the site? Only an organic combination of all elements will allow you to create a website where the visitor will feel comfortable and cozy.
