Navigation

The navigation system on your site must be absolutely clear to the user. Avoid the use of symbols which may not have a universal meaning. The best way to develop your navigation system is to start with an outline of what you want on the site. Each upper level item on the menu will become a unique section and each lower level item will become a sub-page of that section. For example, this site is built with this outline:

1. Home
2. About Us
3. Services
4. FAQ
5. Quick Start
6. Portfolio
7. Specials
8. Articles
   1. Content Articles
   2. Promotion Articles
   3. Technique Articles
9. Contact Us

This outline dictates the menu structure for your site. If this is a clear, consise outline, your users will be able to find any thing they need. Another reason to start with this format is to develop a site map. Some users prefer to look at a site map to figure out where to find the imformation they need. This is more important on a large site, but useful to maintain as you add information over time. It will also save time on site development as the designer will know exactly what you want and can design around your ideas.

Oxford Marine Survey