Too many choices can be a bad thing, especially when it comes to website menus.
When faced with too many options, visitors can face analysis paralysis, feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what to click next, and end up making no decision at all. This can lead to a high bounce rate, as people leave your site without taking any action.
It’s important to have a well-designed website menu that is easy to understand and use. This is where simplifying your website menu comes in.
A streamlined menu helps visitors make decisions faster and more easily, contributing to a better user experience overall.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of simplifying your website menu and offer tips for doing so. So read on to learn more!
- Purpose of Your Website’s Menu
- Types of Website Navigation Menus
- How Most Websites Organise their Menus
- The Benefits of a Streamlined Website Menu
- How to Declutter Your Website Menu
- Further Tips for Simplifying Your Website Menu
Purpose of Your Website’s Menu
Your website’s menu is like a restaurant’s menu in that it’s designed to help visitors make decisions.
The website navigation menu is one of the most important aspects of user experience (UX) and can play a big role in whether or not visitors stay on your site.
A well-designed menu is essential for any website, but it’s especially important for large sites with lots of content.
The goal of your website’s menu is to help visitors find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
The menu should be easy to understand and use, with clear labels and a hierarchical structure.
Types of Website Navigation Menus
There are a variety of different types of menus you can use on your website.
Here are just a few:
Horizontal Navigation (Menu bar)
A menu bar is a horizontal strip that contains a list of links. It is typically located at the top of the page, beneath the header.
Menu bars are common on homepages and landing pages, as they provide a quick and easy way to navigate to the most important sections of the site.
Vertical Navigation (Sidebar)
A sidebar is a vertical column that contains a list of links. It is typically located on the left or right side of the page.
Sidebars are common on blog posts and articles, as they provide an easy way for readers to find related content.
Drop-down menu
One of the most common navigation options is the drop-down menu. This type of menu is typically used on websites with a lot of content. It allows users to quickly find the information they’re looking for without having to scroll through a long list of items.
Fly-out menu
Fly-out menus are similar to drop-down menus, but they allow for more than one level of navigation. This type of menu is often used on ecommerce websites, as it allows users to easily browse through different categories of products.
Hamburger menu
This navigation option has been becoming increasingly popular. The hamburger menu is often used on mobile devices. Menus usually slide down or to the side (off-canvas) when the hamburger icon is selected. It allows users to access all of the website’s content without taking up a lot of space on their screen.
Mega-menus
Mega-menus are large, complex menus that can include images, videos, and links to other pages. They’re often used on ecommerce sites.
No matter what type of navigation menu you choose, make sure it’s easy for users to find what they’re looking for. Otherwise, they’ll likely just give up and go somewhere else.
How Most Websites Organise their Menus
The website’s content is organised into a hierarchy, with the homepage at the top and more specific content arranged beneath it.
The primary navigation menu should reflect this content hierarchy, with top-level pages listed first and more specific pages listed last. This content structure makes it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for, and it helps to ensure that they don’t get lost in a sea of navigation options.
However, you can break the hierarchy to highlight certain pages or content that you want to promote. For example, you may want to put a call-to-action (CTA) button in your primary navigation menu to encourage visitors to take a specific action, such as signing up for your email list.
Menu items should be concise and descriptive so that visitors can quickly identify the page they’re looking for. For example, use product categories or services instead of generic page titles like “Shop” or “Services.”
These more specific labels will help visitors quickly find the content they’re looking for, without having to click through multiple pages.
A simplified website menu contributes to cognitive fluency by making it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for. Cognitive fluency is when our brains easily process information. When we encounter something that is easy to understand, we are more likely to engage with it.
So, if you want visitors to stick around on your website, make sure your menu is clear and easy to navigate.
The Benefits of a Streamlined Website Menu
A streamlined website menu can have a number of benefits, both for visitors and for businesses.
Some of the benefits of simplifying your website menu include:
Improved Usability
A simplified menu is easier for visitors to understand and navigate. This can lead to improved website usability and a better user experience.
Increased Engagement
When visitors can easily find the content, they’re looking for, they’re more likely to stick around and engage with your site. This can lead to increased web traffic and improved conversion rates.
Lower Bounce Rates
A streamlined menu can help to lower your website’s bounce rate. This is because it helps to ensure that visitors can find what they’re looking for, and it reduces the likelihood of them getting lost or frustrated.
Better Search Engine Optimisation
A simplified website menu can also help to improve your site’s SEO. This is because it helps to ensure that all of your website’s pages are easily accessible to search engines.
A well-organised website menu is essential for any business that wants to improve its online presence. If your website’s menu is cluttered or confusing, it’s time to streamline it. Doing so can help to improve your website’s usability, engagement, and SEO.
Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to declutter.
How to Declutter Your Website Menu
Your website’s menu is important. It’s one of the first things visitors see when they come to your site, and it sets the tone for the rest of their experience.
Here are a few tips to help you declutter your website menu:
Show Important Links Only
Your website’s menu should only include the most important links. These are the links that you want visitors to see and use.
For example, your product categories or services should be included in your menu.
If you’re not sure which links to include, take a look at your website analytics. This will help you to see which pages are being visited most often. These are the pages that you should prioritise in your menu.
Use Drop-Down Menus / Hamburger Menus Appropriately
There’s no denying that these menus are convenient. They allow you to pack a lot of links into a small space.
However, they can also be frustrating and confusing for visitors, and often requires extra effort to find what you’re looking for. This is often a pain on a small screen. Especially if you have multiple layers of links. If they can’t see it, they’re probably not going to be bothered trying to find it.
So, use drop-down menus and hamburger menus sparingly. Only include them if they will genuinely improve the user experience.
Assign Your Secondary Links
If you must use drop-down menus or hamburger menus, make sure to assign your secondary links there, or in the footer of your website.
This will help to ensure that visitors can still find the information they’re looking for, even if they don’t immediately see it in your menu.
Avoid Mega-Menus
Mega-menus generally show too much information. They contain every link imaginable, and often look more like a website map than a menu.
While the idea may seem to be great for showing visitors everything that’s available, it usually just leads to confusion and frustration. The clutter often makes it difficult to find what you’re looking for especially if there’s a lot of content. Ultimately, the effort required to sift through all the links often isn’t worth it.
If you must use one, make sure to keep it simple and organised. Use clear labels and easy-to-understand categories. And don’t forget to prioritise your links.
Remember Every Screen Size is Different
When you’re creating your website menu, it’s important to keep in mind that every device has a different screen size.
What might look good on a desktop computer might not be as effective on a mobile phone.
Make sure to test your website on a variety of devices to see how it looks and feels. This will help you to make sure that your menu is effective no matter what device your visitors are using.
The hamburger menu is usually a good choice for mobile devices, as it takes up less space than a traditional menu.
Further Tips for Simplifying Your Website Menu
Keep It Simple
Don’t overcrowd your menu with too many items – instead, focus on quality over quantity. Using a few well-chosen items will be more effective than a long list of options.
Fonts Matter
Make sure your menu items are easy to read by using a clean, simple font. Sans serif fonts like Arial or Verdana are typically best for web menus. Avoid fancy fonts that might be difficult to read.
Use Clear Labels
Your menu items should be clearly labelled so that visitors know what they’ll find when they click on a link. Avoid using technical jargon or abbreviations.
Colour Matters
Be careful with the colours you use in your menu. You want to make sure the items are easy to see and distinguish from one another.
3 Click Rule
Ideally, you want your visitors to be able to find what they’re looking for in three clicks or less. This rule can be a helpful guide when you’re creating your menu.
Make It Mobile Friendly
In today’s world, it’s important to make sure your site looks good on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. That means your menu should be easy to navigate on a small screen.
Think About the User’s Journey
When you’re creating your menu, think about where you want your visitors to go and what you want them to do. Your menu should be designed to help visitors navigate your site and find the information they’re looking for.
And don’t forget about your call-to-action (CTA)! Your menu should include a clear CTA that encourages visitors to take action on your site.
Conclusion: Keep It Lean, Keep It Simple
When it comes to website menus, less is often more.
By simplifying your menu and decluttering your links, you can create a better user experience that will encourage visitors to stay on your site.
Focus on quality over quantity, and make sure your menu is easy to read and navigate. Use clear labels and organise your items into categories. And don’t forget to test your site on different devices to make sure it looks good no matter what.
Help your visitors make decisions faster by presenting better navigational choices.
Recap
- A well-designed website menu is essential for any website, with different types including horizontal navigation (menu bar), vertical navigation (sidebar), drop-down menu, fly-out menu, hamburger menu and mega-menus.
- Simplifying your website menu has many benefits, such as improved usability, increased engagement and lower bounce rates.
- To declutter your website menu, show important links only; use drop-down menus/hamburger menus appropriately; assign secondary links to drop-downs/hamburger menus; avoid mega-menus; remember that each screen size is different.
- Further tips include keeping it simple, using clear fonts & labels and thinking about the user’s journey.
Limitless Networks, A Kerry Web Design Company
If you’re looking for help with your website menu, we can help you create a menu that’s both effective and user-friendly.
Contact us today to learn more!
