How to Optimize Your Website with Intuitive Navigation

How many times have you visited a website and struggled to find the information you needed? Not only is this frustrating for the end user, but it also can cause businesses to lose potential customers to competitors with more user-friendly websites. 

Intuitive navigation is a vital component of responsive web design and something every business website needs, especially in today’s digital age. 

In this post, we will discuss how intuitive navigation is defined and the elements of intuitive navigation that should be included on every business’s website. 

What is Intuitive Navigation?

In our post How Responsive Design Can Benefit Your Business, we define intuitive navigation as a website designed with the end user in mind. 

Intuitive navigation essentially allows users to seamlessly move through a website. It allows them to easily and quickly find the products and services they are looking for. 

According to Medium, “When users know exactly where to go without having to think twice, you’ve achieved intuitive navigation.”

The Importance of Intuitive Navigation

Intuitive navigation can impact your business because it will make or break your site visitors’s user experience. When a business website has intuitive navigation, it has a positive effect on engagement and conversion rates. It also sets your business apart from your competition, leads to a positive impression of your business, and improves customer satisfaction. 

At the end of the day, when your website visitors can easily find what they are looking for, chances are, they will convert into a lead, and then eventually into a customer. 

Elements of Intuitive Navigation

These are the different elements of intuitive navigation that we think every business website needs. 

1. Organized Menus 

Organized and well-structured website menus help users quickly find exactly what they need. An organized menu means that all menu items are logically structured. They are clearly labeled. And, products and services are organized into categories that make sense to your potential customers. 

2. Site Maps

Every website needs a site map, especially business websites. According to LinkedIn, a proper site map gives “users a bird’s-eye view” of a website, making it easy for them to find pages, products, and/or services. Items in a site map must also be linked to each corresponding page, so users can easily get to where they need to go. 

3. Search Bars

Just like a site map, search bars are great because they help users find things quickly. When implementing a search bar into your business website, make sure it’s easy to see. And, consider offering auto-suggestions and search filters.

4. Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are awesome because they make it easy for users to backtrack or move forward within a website. It also helps them to see where they are within the site’s hierarchy, which provides context. According to LinkedIn, breadcrumbs “improve orientation and lessen the frustration of being lost.”

A Great Tip for Implementing Intuitive Navigation

One major suggestion we have for implementing intuitive navigation is to put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. Think about what they might be searching for when they come to your website. Then, think about how they might go about searching for this information. And, finally, think about what you can do to make navigating your website as easy as possible. 

EmoryDay Can Create Intuitive Navigation for Your Business’s Website

EmoryDay’s website redesign services include incorporating intuitive navigation. 

Get your Free Account Today! If you have any questions about our website redesign services, just fill out our contact form or give us a call at (866) 494-2500.

Resources:

https://brianvernon1.medium.com/creating-intuitive-navigation-best-practices-for-web-apps-7058580821f2

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/website-navigation-tips-creating-intuitive-user