Main Navigation Flashcards
What factors contribute to the ease of navigation on a website?
Having a user-friendly main navigation UI is considered as crucial as having a well-defined category taxonomy. The user’s experience with what they see and interact with greatly influences their ability to navigate the site smoothly. The layout and interaction modes of the navigation, whether it’s a static navigation bar or a hover-based drop-down menu, are pivotal elements in facilitating user navigation.
What impact did minor navigation design details have during testing?
Minor navigation design details, which initially seemed insignificant, frequently misled test subjects during testing. This resulted in fundamental misconceptions about the hierarchy of the site, the selection of overly narrow scopes, and difficulties in navigating back to broader categories.
What is an Intermediary Category Page?
An intermediary category page is not a traditional list of products; instead, it’s a page with sub-categories that help the user select an even better-defined category before displaying any products. It’s almost like a storefront for a particular product category, guiding the user to select sub-categories, filters, or even specific promoted products.
What is the core issue associated with product finding for users who are not familiar with the product range?
The core issue is that without guidance and contextual information, product findings could be troublesome for users who are not familiar with the product range.
Sidebar navigation
navigation options placed in a sidebar adjacent to the primary content and category options placed inline as part of the page’s primary content.
What are the gour generally applicable usability issues on a main navigation?
- Tall and Narrow Multiline Hit Areas
- Product Catalog Nesting in Main Navigational Item
- Overly Deep Drop-down Menus
- Lack of Clues in Main Navigation
What is observed regarding tall and narrow multiline hit areas on websites?
31% of sites are noted to have tall and narrow multiline hit areas without employing an intelligent, vector-based hover-intent system.
What is the impact of having tall and narrow multiline hit areas without an intelligent hover-intent system?
This approach results in extensive “flickering” issues and accidental activation of sibling categories within the main navigation, ultimately hindering the user experience.
What recommendation is provided to address the issues associated with tall and narrow multiline hit areas?
It is recommended to implement an intelligent, vector-based hover-intent system to mitigate flickering and accidental activations, thereby enhancing navigation efficiency and user satisfaction.
What is observed regarding the placement of the product catalog in the main navigational item on websites?
37% of sites are observed to nest the entire product catalog within a single main navigational item or lack main navigation categories entirely.
What is the impact of nesting the entire product catalog within a single main navigational item or lacking main navigation categories?
This approach obstructs users’ navigational experience as they cannot easily view the site’s first-level product categories.
What recommendation is provided to address the issue of obstructed navigational experience due to product catalog nesting?
It is recommended to ensure that main navigation categories are clearly visible to users, enabling them to quickly access first-level product categories without obstruction.
What is observed regarding the depth of drop-down menus on websites?
29% of sites are noted to offer overly specific sub-subcategories in their drop-down menus.
What is the impact of having overly specific sub-subcategories in drop-down menus?
This practice leads to prematurely narrow scope for users, which can result in frustration or site abandonment as users feel confined within narrow exploration paths.
What recommendation is provided to address the issue of overly deep drop-down menus?
It is recommended to balance user needs and designer responsibility by testing and revising drop-down menus. This process helps discover the ideal context for each site’s unique offerings, avoiding overly deep subcategories and ensuring a more user-friendly navigation experience.
What is observed regarding the presence of clues in the main navigation on websites?
Only 10% of sites are observed to highlight a user’s current scope, and just 25% display sibling categories for easy scope adjustment.
What is the impact of the lack of clues in the main navigation?
Users heavily rely on clues in the main navigation to understand site hierarchy and structure. However, many sites miss opportunities to provide simple tools and cues for assistance, which can lead to user confusion and hinder navigation.
What recommendation is provided to address the issue of lacking clues in the main navigation?
It is recommended to implement features that highlight a user’s current scope and display sibling categories. This aids users in navigating the site’s hierarchy more effectively, ultimately improving the overall user experience and reducing confusion.
What is the core issue related to product finding on websites?
The core issue is that product finding can be slowed down when product categories are hidden behind a single navigation item. This approach can also prolong the time it takes for users to understand the scope and content of the product catalog.
What is the recommended approach to address the issue of hidden product categories in navigation?
The core advice is to consider making product categories the first level of the main navigation. This ensures that users have direct and immediate access to product categories, streamlining the product-finding process and enhancing the user experience.
What is the core issue related to navigating product categories within the main navigation menu on websites?
The core issue is that users often need to view a broad list of products across different levels of the category hierarchy, but it can be challenging to know how to do so while within the main navigation menu.
What is the recommended approach to address the difficulty of accessing broad lists of products within the main navigation menu?
The core advice is to include a “View All” menu option at each level of the category hierarchy within the main navigation. This option should be placed at the top of the menu, prioritizing it as the first item in the list. Additionally, at the highest levels of the hierarchy, consider directing users to an intermediary category page when they tap the category header, facilitating easier access to broader product lists.
What is the common design pattern adopted by most mobile sites regarding category navigation?
What challenges arise from this design pattern during mobile testing?
In practice, most mobile sites follow a design pattern where users continue to drill down the category taxonomy as they tap on a main category option. They are taken to the category’s landing page or product list only when there are no additional layers of subcategories left to reveal.
During mobile testing, some participants encountered difficulty navigating to the broadest product scopes. This made it challenging for them to access the most relevant category pages and product lists. Additionally, some users became stuck in overly narrow and deeply nested subcategories, further impeding their navigation experience.
What design feature performed consistently well during testing regarding category navigation?
During testing, it was observed that having a “View All” menu item nested within every product category in the hierarchy performed consistently well. For instance, a site with the category “Women” and the subcategories “Clothing” and “Coats” would include a “View All” menu item at each level, such as “View All Women’s”, “View All Women’s Clothing”, and “View All Coats”.
How does the “View All” menu item function in this design?
The “View All” menu item allows users to access a comprehensive list of products within each category level. If product lists at the very top of the hierarchy might overwhelm or be unhelpful to users, the “View All” option could instead lead users to intermediary category pages. This approach ensures that users can easily navigate to broader product scopes or relevant category pages based on their preferences and browsing needs.
What is emphasized regarding the naming convention for the “View All” menu item within subcategories?
The key emphasis is to have the words “View All”, “See All”, etc. preface the name of the subcategory the user is currently in. Implementations that simply display, for example, “Jeans”, instead of “See All Jeans”, may be overlooked by many users. This omission can lead to users not understanding that the header “Jeans” can be tapped to see the broadest “Jeans” path available.
Why is it important to prefix subcategory names with “View All” or similar phrases?
Prefixing subcategory names with “View All” or similar phrases helps users understand that they can access a comprehensive list of products within the current subcategory. This clear indication encourages user interaction and ensures that users can easily navigate to broader product scopes within the category hierarchy.
Where should the “View All” option ideally be positioned within the menu list?
The “View All” option should be placed as the first menu item in the list, at the top. Testing revealed that positioning it elsewhere in the menu list made it harder for participants to find.
Why is it beneficial to place the “View All” option at the top of the menu list?
Placing the “View All” option at the top of the menu list enhances its visibility and accessibility to users. This positioning ensures that users can quickly locate and access the option, facilitating easier navigation to comprehensive product lists within the category hierarchy.
What is the best implementation for leading users to a broad category scope on a mobile navigation menu?
A tappable header, with “View all” at the top of the subcategory options
What is the core issue associated with courtesy navigation on websites?
The core issue is that courtesy navigation elements can clutter the main navigation, making it more challenging for users to initiate browsing products.
What is the recommended approach to address the issue of courtesy navigation cluttering the main navigation?
The core advice is to visually separate sitewide courtesy navigation from the main product navigation and group them into thematic sections. This approach ensures that elements such as “Sign In”, “Create Account”, “Help”, “Contact / Customer Service”, “Store Locator” (for omnichannel sites), “Track an Order”, and other very popular site-specific options are provided as courtesy navigation options, enhancing user experience and ease of navigation.
What are the main findings regarding the importance of courtesy navigation on e-commerce websites?
While browsing for products remains the primary task for e-commerce users, the ability to easily navigate to secondary nonproduct content is still deemed important. Courtesy navigation items encompass links to various sections such as customer support, membership programs, store finders (for multichannel retailers), shipping and returns information, account creation and sign-in, and company information.
Courtesy navigation items include
links to customer support sections, membership programs, store finders (for multichannel retailers), shipping and returns information, account creation and sign in, and information about the company.
According to testing, what are the generally recommended courtesy navigation options for e-commerce websites?
Based on testing, the generally recommended courtesy navigation options for e-commerce websites include:
“Sign In”
“Create Account”
“Help”
“Contact / Customer Service”
“Store Locator” (for omnichannel sites)
“Track an Order”
Very popular site-specific options (e.g., popular account features such as lists or rewards programs)
How do these courtesy navigation options benefit users when accessing nonproduct-related content?
Providing these courtesy navigation options ensures that most users have convenient paths to access nonproduct-related content. Whether they need to sign in or create an account, seek assistance, locate a store, track an order, or access popular site-specific features, these options facilitate smooth navigation and enhance the overall user experience.
What is the core issue related to main navigation on websites?
The core issue is that many users require guidance in the main navigation regarding the hierarchy of paths, such as primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. They can experience choice paralysis or become overwhelmed when they are unsure how to begin navigating.
What is the recommended approach to address the issue of users feeling overwhelmed or experiencing choice paralysis in the main navigation?
The core advice is to visually differentiate items in the main navigation based on their importance. Additionally, ensure that related paths can be viewed as a group by styling all (or nearly all) related paths the same. This approach helps users understand the hierarchy of navigation paths and reduces confusion, facilitating easier navigation and reducing the likelihood of choice paralysis.
What are the primary paths for users in the main navigation of nearly all mobile e-commerce sites?
For nearly all mobile e-commerce sites, the primary paths for users in the main navigation are typically the paths for the top-level product categories.
Why is it emphasized that failing to prioritize product categories as the first level of the main navigation can be detrimental?
Failing to make product categories the first level of the main navigation, such as by hiding them behind a generic label like “Shop” or “Departments,” inherently de-emphasizes the importance of product categories compared to other available paths. One “Shop” item will never carry the same visual weight as multiple top-level product category items. Even if “Shop” appears visually prominent, it often places product category navigation on par with less relevant options like ads for store credit cards or “About” sections, which are only pertinent to a subset of users.
What is the consequence of not prioritizing product categories in the main navigation?
By not prioritizing product categories in the main navigation, users may face difficulty in accessing the primary paths for browsing products. This can lead to suboptimal navigation experiences, decreased user engagement, and potentially lower conversion rates as users struggle to find the products they are looking for.
How do common styling approaches contribute to emphasizing or deemphasizing groups of paths in the main navigation?
Placing primary paths above secondary paths, making them bigger and bolder, and using icons to draw attention are all effective methods for guiding users’ attention and emphasizing the importance of certain paths over others. These styling techniques help users quickly identify and navigate to the most relevant sections of the website, improving their overall navigation experience.
What is the core issue related to product browsing strategies on websites?
The core issue is that sometimes users need to adopt a thematic product-browsing strategy to learn more about a product domain or be inspired, but they may be unable to find helpful content.
What is the recommended approach to address the issue of users struggling to find thematic resources and guides?
The core advice is to consider including thematic resources and guides in the main navigation. However, it is crucial to keep them visually separated from and secondary to primary product categories. This approach ensures that users can easily access thematic content while still prioritizing navigation to primary product categories.
What are examples of common thematic resources and guides that can be included in the main navigation of websites?
Common thematic resources and guides include:
Direction on DIY projects (for a home improvement site)
“Celebrity favorites” (for an apparel or mass merchant site)
Buying guides
Style guides
Seasonal guides
Other inspirational content
Why are these thematic resources and guides valuable additions to the main navigation?
These thematic resources and guides provide users with additional information and inspiration related to the products or services offered on the website. They can help users explore different aspects of the product domain, make informed purchasing decisions, discover new trends, and find inspiration for their projects or lifestyle. Integrating these resources into the main navigation ensures easy access for users, enhancing their overall browsing experience.
What aspect is important to consider regarding the inclusion of secondary navigation paths in the main navigation or drop-down menu?
It’s important to note that while secondary navigation paths are valuable, only a subset of users may require them. Therefore, their inclusion in the main navigation or drop-down menu must not interfere with the majority of users who primarily focus on product categories.
Why is it crucial to ensure that secondary navigation paths do not interfere with the majority of users focusing on product categories?
Ensuring that secondary navigation paths do not interfere with the majority of users focusing on product categories maintains the usability and efficiency of the main navigation. By keeping the primary focus on product categories, the navigation remains intuitive and streamlined for the majority of users while still providing access to additional resources for those who need them. This balance optimizes the overall user experience on the website.
