| Have you ever been lost on a highway late at night? | | | | each level in your navigation. You'll have to carefully |
| It's not a fun feeling.In the same way that it's not fun to | | | | balance putting a limited set of choices with making too |
| be lost on a highway, it's not fun to be lost when | | | | many levels and depth to your site.For example, have |
| visiting a web site. When you create a web site, make | | | | a set of home page menu options of no more than |
| sure that it is easy for your visitors to find their way | | | | nine. If you want to create subpages off of those |
| around.Here are some tips:1 - Make your pages | | | | pages, keep those pages to nine or less too. Really try |
| consistentThe most important rule is to make your | | | | to group your information together as you organize |
| pages and your navigation scheme consistent. Just | | | | your site. If your list of subpages gets too long, make a |
| because you can create 58 different layouts with whiz | | | | new menu option that will adequately represent some |
| bang colors and graphics doesn't mean that you | | | | of those items. Also consider just linking to pages that |
| should. Put your menu in the same place on every | | | | are NOT included in the menu. When a page of info is |
| page. Keep consistency across your pages by using | | | | necessary, create an internal link and alleviate a menu |
| the same header or page template. This will help your | | | | option all together!4 - Allow for a site searchNow we |
| visitors stay oriented within your web site.2 - Place the | | | | are talking helpful!!A simple search box which allows |
| menu with careThe most common location for the | | | | your visitors to search throughout your site can be |
| menu is the left side of the page with menu items | | | | very helpful. It can allow visitors to get to the |
| running vertically down the page. This generally works | | | | information they want quickly.5 - Create a site |
| best for all but the largest web sites. Many internet | | | | mapMost every web site should have a site map. It's a |
| users expect to see web site menus in this location | | | | page on your web site that lists and links to all the |
| too.Alternatively, you may place your menu across the | | | | pages on your site. It gives your visitors an overview |
| top of your web site. This can be harder to maintain in | | | | of all the material on you site. As a bonus, it can help |
| the long run as you make changes to your site. Also, if | | | | search engines find and index all your pages too. (We |
| you have a long menu, all of your options may not be | | | | know of a great set of tools that does this |
| visible to viewers due the the width of their individual | | | | automatically!!!)When you create a web site that |
| computer screens.3 - Remember the rule of "7 plus or | | | | follows all these navigation tips, your visitors won't feel |
| minus 2"Published in psychology journals as early as | | | | like they are lost on a highway at night. And that is |
| 1956, the rule of "7 plus or minus 2" states that people | | | | good for your web site and for your organization.Herb |
| can generally process between five and nine pieces | | | | and Monica Leibacher operate Web Builder Express |
| of information at a time. When you create your | | | | |
| navigation, think about limiting the number of choices to | | | | Create a professional web site for your business or |
| between five and nine. It's not always possible, but it | | | | non-profit organization with Web Builder Express. |
| can help to have a reasonable number of choices at | | | | |