WebsiteDesignOutsource.com blog
A Practical Navigation Structure for Outsourced Website Design
Make navigation easier to review by tying labels and levels to visitor tasks and the site's content.
Navigation is a content decision before it becomes a visual one. An outsourced website designer needs to know which destinations matter, how they relate, and what visitors will call them.
Group pages by visitor intent
List the questions visitors bring to the site and group pages that answer the same kind of question. A label should describe the destination in words a visitor can recognize. Internal team names often make poor navigation labels.
Limit the first decision
The main navigation should help people choose a useful path quickly. Put secondary detail in a suitable section or page rather than adding every destination to the top level. Keep required utility links visible where the audience expects them.
Test labels with real tasks
Ask someone to find a page using a short task. Watch where the label sends them. If several labels appear plausible, rewrite the labels or add context to the page instead of relying on hover behavior.
Give the designer the rules
Record required URLs, redirects, mobile behavior, and the owner of navigation changes. This prevents a visual review from accidentally changing the site's information architecture.
Further reading
Review website navigation with evidence
Source
Nielsen Norman Group, navigation design
Frequently asked questions
Can a navigation label be a marketing phrase?
Only if visitors understand where it leads. Plain labels make the first click easier to predict and review.
Should mobile navigation use different pages?
Usually the destinations should remain consistent. The control can change, but removing a useful path on smaller screens needs a clear reason.