Introduction
For a fact, the success of a website is primarily based on its usability. In fact, the lack of a user-friendly interface deters people from using or revisiting a web page. According to McNeil (2010), the usability of a website provides the users with not only comfortable browsing experience but also encourages them to visit the site continuously. As such, it is imperative for web designers to focus on the presentation of a website through integration with efficient navigation tools. This is mainly accredited to the fact that some users are not concerned with the overall approach used in the establishment of a website. Rather, their primary initiative is accessing the information they require in a convenient and timely manner. The best way to assure that these goals are considered in the development of a website is through the design of a simple, detailed and user-friendly interface that enhances faster accessibility. This paper evaluates the relationship between website navigation and usability by outlining essential design features. Good website navigation improves usability by fostering faster access to information and the overall appeal to the user.
Types of website navigation
Website navigation determines how fast users get to their desired section of the web page to obtain their preferred information. Despite the fact that web developers need to create unique content and designs in the presentation of their sites, it is essential to utilize convenient navigation features to make it lesser challenging for the user to access information. Below is a representation of the most common and efficient types of navigation.
Horizontal texts
According to Miller (2016), horizontal texts are the most commonly used form of website navigation. This approach utilizes a horizontal list that is named with short descriptions of one or two words. Its usage can be essential in the representation of graphical information, or HTML texts, or a combination of both.
Vertical texts
This alternative is commonly used on websites that require an extensive list of items that can be accessed through the horizontal drop down menus. McNeil (2010) argues that the utilization of expandable navigation over the titles contained in this navigation method makes it more usable. It is designed to provide a secondary form of navigation and to make the accessibility of the website relatively simpler.
Drop down menus
This navigation method is commonly used with horizontal navigations to enable the user to skip directly to the main sections of the site. Web pages that have a lot of content utilize this measure to eliminate congestion of the fields presented to the user upon opening the site.
Sub-Menus
This approach is used to give more detailed information to the user without the utilization of drop down menus. However, its usage makes the website appear clustered and is therefore not recommended (Molchanov, 2014).
Texts with descriptions
This feature enables the user to know what information he will get by clicking on a particular website option. This initiative makes the overall navigation process easier as it minimizes the time wasted when the user accidentally requests irrelevant material on the web page.
Icons and graphics
The utilization of graphics and images makes the website intuitive. Precisely, the user associates the icons embedded on the site with the content they represent. This makes it clearer when making decisions on how to navigate within the site.
The relationship between navigation and usability
All the different types of navigation explained above have the same purpose, which is to provide users with a better experience a better browsing experience of the website and finding what they want. Their different advantages can fulfill different requirements on millions of websites. For instance, Horizontal Text Navigation and Vertical Text Navigation are extremely straightforward and clear. With proper wording, users can quickly find what they want in just seconds. As such, these navigation techniques enhance the overall usability of the website. According to McNeil (2010), proper navigation improves a user’s accessibility to the required information by nearly sixty percent. As such, it a website utilizes the conventional navigation principles effectively on their website; the users are more likely to access the information they require in an efficient and timely manner. Consequently, proper implementation of vertical and horizontal texts enhances a user’s navigation abilities on a website, therefore, augmenting the overall usability.
Drop-Down Menus can be an enhancement to the Horizontal Text Navigation that gives users a choice to jump right into the content they want. Instead of the user manually navigating to the preferred sub menu or graphical representation, the implementation of the drop down menus enhances accessibility. Sub-menus make it more convenient to browse through the contents of a website instead of reading through the entire page. Through the appropriate representation of these navigation tools, the users reduce the inconveniences caused by an improper description of the web pages. Text with description navigation is helpful in showing the users the contents of each section. Instead of clicking a web section that redirects the user to another page, it is more rational to provide a textual description of the content contained in a particular alternative by hovering over the section (Molchanov, 2014). This implementation saves not only a user’s time but also enhances the level of information collected from the website within a single visit. Lastly, Navigation with Icons or Graphics can lead users to associate the pictures with the represented content. As such, this navigation alternative enhances the overall usability of a website since the user does not need to visit remote sections of the web page.
However, using these types of navigation incorrectly could lead to adverse effects on the website. For instance, poor integration of the tools with the webpage’s content can put off the visitors thus changing their overall perception of the credibility of the site. As such, their chances of revisiting the page are reduced, and this negatively affects the website's ability to generate traffic. Misunderstanding can be common if the site uses simple text navigation with wrong wording. Consequently, it is imperative for the site administrators to invest equal amounts of time and resources in making the content more comprehensive and relevant to the user’s needs. Sub-Menus can take users more time to locate the information. It is, therefore, important for the website manager to reconsider implementing this type of navigation on its own. Its effectiveness is augmented when utilized with other types of navigation such as horizontal texts. Moreover, if designers overuse graphics and icons, they create a distraction to the optimal utilization of the website. Additionally, they change the user’s perspective about the reliability of the data presented on the site.
Impact of a good navigation system on usability
According to Molchanov (2014), websites with so much information make it challenging for the users to find what they are looking for. As such, it is imperative for website developers to engage dynamic and simplistic designs in the presentation of their content. Proper navigation systems enhance information accessibility. For instance, if a user is conducting an academic research and he needs information on a particular topic, precise navigation is an essential requirement to aiding in his study. As a result, it would be lesser challenging and more convenient for the student to utilize the website’s subheadings to determine whether the information he is looking for is available on the site. If the web administrators provide hyperlinks to where information can be accessed, if it is not contained on the page but the content presented on another website has relevant information, the overall accessibility of information is augmented making it easier to interact with the site. Consequently, good navigation systems enhance usability by making information retrieval lesser challenging.
Good navigation systems change the user’s perspective about the reliability of a web page. According to McNeil (2010), impressive website management architecture enhances one’s opinion about a site at first glance. Consequently, if a random user stumbles upon a web page while conducting research on a particular topic and is bombarded with poor navigation systems, the initial impression created about the relevance of the information presented is negative. As such, the possibilities of the user remaining on the website for some time are minimized due to poor navigation. This situation negatively affects the usability of the system and the performance of the website. Nonetheless, if proper initiatives are taken in implementing appropriate navigation systems on the web page, a positive perspective on the relevance of the information contained on the site is augmented. McNeil (2010) argues that information architects should organize their content in ways that integrate the business and user’s needs through content categorization to attain maximum efficiency. This approach changes not only the user’s perspective but also the website’s performance.
Good navigation systems on a site enhance the convenience of using a particular internet site. According to Molchanov (2014), implementation of influential navigation systems should be the primary thing website developers change to improve traffic. This is mainly accredited to the fact that it is the first part of the site the user interacts with before making any decision on whether to make a purchase or sign up for a service on a website. When the user interface is created based on the user’s needs, convenience in utilizing the website is enhanced thus making it easier for the user to partner with an organization. Consequently, the overall usability of a website is considerably strengthened by the convenience created with navigation integration mechanisms. Molchanov (2014) argues that regular online users have a culture of browsing the contents of the navigation system other than reading the individual components of the system. Therefore, influential navigation systems enhance the usability of a website thus increasing the convenience of accessing information through the intuitive system.
Decent navigation systems attract new visitors and retain their current users. As such, website designers can enhance the usability of a website by making it simple, concise and graphically appealing. A good website user interface should be visually separated from the background so that visitors can distinguish the contents of the foreground. This demarcation makes it easier for the user to recognize what is meant to be relevant from the implementations made to enhance the overall visual appeal. It should also be consistent in every page so that the users do not get distracted. According to Miller (2016), familiar and clear user interfaces can provide visitors with a good experience and help them to deal with the contents of the website with ease. Consequently, proper navigation systems have a practical impact on the usability of a website. As such, they make it easier for the site to appeal to new visitors while retaining the current users thus generating more traffic. Consequently, website designers should invest their time in making the navigation system user-friendly to enhance information accessibility.
An example of a good navigation system
In my experience, proper navigation systems help me interact efficiently with the contents of a website. Lack thereof puts me off and makes it challenging to remain on the page for a longer time. Arguably, the navigation system utilized in the TV Guide Website is my most preferred interface. This is mainly accredited to the fact that it employs a simplistic and minimalistic design to present the contents of the site. The graphics used on the home page are commendable in spite of the fact that it is an entertainment website. It utilizes horizontal texts and drop down menus to enhance the user’s navigation capabilities. Additionally, it uses texts with descriptions to back up the icons and graphics used on the website. Overall, the website navigation system suits its entertainments goal, and it enhances usability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the impact of good navigation systems on the performance of a website is tremendous. It improves not only usability but also network traffic. Web designers that embrace good user interfaces in the development of their websites increase the chances of visitors preferring their websites and utilizing them for the functions they are intended for. Consequently, web developers should capitalize on the importance of good navigations systems to augment website usability. Not doing so compromises the credibility of the internet site due to poor usability. Therefore, Good site navigation enhances usability by fostering faster access to information and the overall appeal to the user.
References
Miller, E. (2016, February 24). Types of Website Navigation. In About Money. Retrieved
March 25, 2016, from http://graphicdesign.about.com/od/effectivewebsites/tp/website_nav_types.htm
Molchanov, D. (2014, August 26). 22 Principles of Good Website Navigation and
Usability. In Swift Menu Builder. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://swimbi.com/blog/22-principles-of-good-web-navigation-and-maximum-usability/
McNeil, P. (2010). The web designer's idea book. Cincinnati, Ohio: HOW Books.
