Website Navigation Recommendations

Web Site Navigation is a culmination of Website Information Architecture, Website Usability and Effective Website Design.

It is important to keep in mind that a web site navigation is also one way search engine spiders will locate content on your web site, so be sure it is spider friendly!

The navigation scheme is really one of the most crucial elements of an overall web site. It represents the primary method users will use to access all of the content on a site. It should quickly provide a visual cue as to where users are and how they can quickly and easily get to other areas of the site.

A navigation platform (or way a navigation system for a site is built) should be built for the lowest common denominator of anticipated web site users. Stay away from using "bleeding edge" web site technology for a navigation platform. Think about what happens to a user that doesn't have the latest and greatest software or hardware - they wont be able to browse the site. As mentioned before, Flash is not a suitable navigation platform UNLESS you are going to provide an alternative navigations structure.