Here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. And we work with companies and businesses across the region, to deliver high quality, effective, web design solutions. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about using non traditional web navigation methods effectively.
What are non traditional navigation methods in web design?
Non traditional methods of navigation for your website can include any form of navigation bar that isn’t static, and isn’t displayed horizontally across the top of the screen, or behind a hamburger menu. These are the two traditional, tried and tested ways to display a website navigation bar, and any break away from these options can be risky. But it can also be very effective not only for your overall web design and company branding, but also for your website users, and potential customers and clients too.
Non traditional navigation methods can include:
- slide out menus
- vertical menus
- right aligned vertical menus
- floating navigation bars
What are the considerations for using non-traditional web navigation methods effectively?
To make sure that your navigation menu will be effective, and won’t be frustrating or challenging for your potential customers or clients, you should consider:
- Using clear design styles to improve visibility– if your navigation menu isn’t where your website visitors expect it to be as soon as the page loads, you need to make sure that it is instantly visible as they scan the page content. This can reduce any problems your potential customers or clients may encounter, as this can help them find a certain page, or find certain content, as quickly as possible. Why not use a contrasting colour for the navigation bar, or the navigation menu labels? Or use texture or design effects to draw attention towards it.
- Logical categorization- use logical categorization for your pages and content so that potential customers and clients can quickly navigate to the page they need. Dividing the content in this way can improve the user experience, and help ensure that your website users associate your company with positivity and success.
- Make it simple- if your new, non traditional style of navigation involves a menu or bar that is hidden from sight, like a slide or swipe menu, make sure this is obvious and well highlighted so that your potential customers and clients don’t miss your content. Even if this seems obvious to you, test it and recheck it with other opinions.
- The purpose- breaking away from the traditional website navigation methods can be a good idea if this serves a purpose for you website, i.e, more space for visual design and content. However, if you are using this without a real purpose, your website, and the rest of your design, might reflect this.
For more information or advice, or for professional and effective web design and web marketing solutions for your business, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.