Max Hits, Building and promoting Successful Websites
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Max Hits, chapter five updates

NAVIGATION
Designing effective navigation
Navigation resources
Designing navigation
Navigation structures
Navigation basics
Designing site navigation

Accessibility:
Usability issues
Nav and Usability Guide


Chapter five: Navigation/Content
design - 10 tips - writing - sticky content

Designing navigation

Navigation should be clear, self explanatory and consistent. The main site categories should appear in the same place on every page and appear high enough on the page to avoid the need to scroll. Don't overdo it and overwhelm the user with links. Be selective!

Go for the simplest, most accessible solution whenever possible and don't use 'funky' Java applets or complex Flash/Javascript rollovers as the sole means of accessing pages - not all browsers will be able to see the links.

If your navigation bar is entirely made up of graphics, include a text only version and make sure that each graphic has clear and self explanatory 'ALT' text information provided.

Sites that use stylised concepts or metaphors as their primary navigation often end up baffling users, and having a site full of weird icons, endless clicks, dead ends and irrelevant spinning gizmos is a sure fire way to guarantee they'll never return.

Try and make all pages accessible in less than 3 clicks (4 or 5 is acceptable for very large sites) and most of all, keep it simple!

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