User Experience Design
Optimising Navigation in Your Website's Information Architecture
We design navigation for every website we build and fix it on sites we improve. This guide is for business owners whose visitors struggle to find key pages. It covers menu labels and structure, mobile navigation and how to test improvements. Use it when you redesign or review your menus, so visitors reach the right page in a few clicks.
How to structure and label your menus
Navigation succeeds when visitors recognise the right option straight away. Clear labels matter more than clever design. A focused menu beats a long list of every page. Apply these principles.
- Use labels customers understand, such as "Services" and "Prices", not internal jargon.
- Put the most important items first and last, where people notice them most.
- Keep the main menu to around five to seven items.
- Group related pages under clear parent items.
- Include a clear contact or enquiry option in the header.
- Use the footer for secondary pages, such as policies and careers.
Avoid vague labels such as "Solutions" or "Resources" unless research shows customers use them. Specific labels help visitors and search engines alike. Our information architecture guide explains how to group pages.
How to design navigation for mobile
Most visitors use phones, so mobile navigation needs particular care. Small screens leave little space for menus. Hidden menus must still be easy to find and use. Check these points.
- Use a clearly labelled menu button, ideally with the word "Menu".
- Keep tap targets large enough to press easily with a thumb.
- Show the most important actions, such as calling or booking, without opening the menu.
- Make sub-menus open and close clearly.
- Keep the menu usable with screen readers and keyboards.
Test the menu on several phones, including smaller screens. Watch for items that are hard to tap or hidden off-screen. Our usability testing checklist covers mobile testing.
How to test and improve navigation
Navigation problems show up in testing and analytics. Visitors who cannot find a page leave or use search instead. Regular checks catch these issues early. Follow these steps.
- Run a tree test using only your menu labels.
- Check analytics for pages with low visits that should be popular.
- Review site search terms for pages people cannot find in the menu.
- Watch users complete key tasks, such as finding a service or price.
- Change one label or grouping at a time and measure the effect.
Small label changes often make a large difference. Keep a record of what you changed and why. Our website development team tests navigation before every launch.
Website navigation checklist
Use this checklist when you design or review your website navigation. Each item helps visitors find pages faster. Review it at least once a year.
- Labels use customer language
- Main menu limited to five to seven items
- Contact or enquiry option in the header
- Secondary pages moved to the footer
- Mobile menu clearly labelled with large tap targets
- Key actions visible on mobile without opening the menu
- Navigation tested with real users and analytics
Good to know
Website navigation FAQs
What makes good website navigation?+
Good navigation uses clear labels, a short main menu and a logical structure. Visitors should recognise the right option without thinking. It works equally well on phones and desktops. Testing with real users confirms it works.
Should I use a mega menu?+
Mega menus suit large sites with many sections, such as online shops. Most small business websites do not need one. A simple menu with a few clear groups is easier to use. Test any large menu carefully on mobile.
Where should the contact link go?+
Put a clear contact or enquiry option in the main header, often as a button. Many businesses also show a phone number. Repeat contact options in the footer and on key pages. Make it easy to reach you from anywhere on the site.
Keep this checklist with your site map and test notes. Share it with anyone who adds pages or changes menus. So you can help visitors reach the right page quickly and turn more of them into enquiries.
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