Balancing the structure and number of links on a page
This technique gives a possible implementation for the CategoryBpBalance using some prior planning to limit the needed. The object is to provide just enough navigation to allow the user effective and quick navigation, while not overburdening the individual page with links.
Pre-requisites:
- The overall structure of the navigational tree should be that of a funnel, leading the user quickly to the information that is needed
- Navigational elements should be structured such that a user can reach the desired information with three clicks or less.
There should be navbars at top (CategoryBpNavbar) and bottom of each page
- The top of page navbar should have as the link furthest to the left a "down" link to reach the bottom of the page.
- The top of page navbar should have an "up" link as second from left link.
- The bottom of page navbar should have an "up" link to reach the top of the page.
- The top navbar should navigate laterally, between thematic sections of the website
- The bottom navbar should navigate vertically, leading to more detailed information downward.
- Individual links within the content may then be limited to
- a) external links, leading out of the web site b) links to other sections of the web site that would require more than three clicks to follow
Implementation Steps:
- For planning purposes, determine the thematic structure of the content to be displayed and cluster it into large sections.
Place the most important navigation on the top of each page (see CategoryBpNavbar) and secondary navigation on the bottom.
- Allow for drill-down. This means, do not try to place every link you think important on one page, but set up a structure that will allow the users to find it, if they so choose.
- If the pre-requisites listed above are followed then the users should be able to
- Use the top navbar to jump to another section of the web site, where a similar structure of navigational links is available
- Skip to the bottom of the page via the "down" link
Navbar examples
The following examples show how top and bottom of page navbar could be structured for a web site selling mobile devices.
Top of page: Down Up Phone Tablet PDA
<Here is content dealing with selling mobile devices>
Bottom of page: Here is no navbar needed
--> click on the navbar to get to the phone section
Top of page: Down Up Internet Business New
<Here is content dealing with mobile phones> <Possible links within the content itself
- The newest phone by a manufacturer
- Link to a Configurator
Bottom of page: Up Large screen Blue Tooth Latest technology
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