Website Navigation Gets Creative

I have just created a website for Milestone Cottages (see screenshot left) which offers website visitors multiple ways to get to the most important information and clear instructions on what to do when they get there.

Different people like to move around websites in different ways.

• Some use the actual navigation buttons/text provided at the top or sides of your
• Others click on text links within your page content
• Some click on visual clues such as images or screenshots
• Some read to the bottom of the page, then want to navigate to another page

Use Your Sidebars to Display Important Information
What information on your website do you most want your visitors to see? It may be a main product, a portfolio, a new press release… whatever it is, use your homepage and sidebars to make sure your visitors get there.

In the case of Milestone Cottages, each of their cottages is unique so they want visitors to choose their favourite. Not only have they included visual links to the cottages on the left sidebar of every webpage, if visitors, hold their mouse over a cottage, they will see a short description to give them a clue as to which cottage might suit them best.

The right sidebar includes other important info such as current specials, news items, contact details and e-newsletter subscription.

Include Calls to Action on all Pages
If you don’t tell your website visitors what you want them to do, the chances are they wont do it. Once Milestone Cottages web visitors have choosen a cottage, they are asked to make a booking. The ‘Make a Booking’ link takes them straight to the Contact Page where they can fill in the email form quickly and easily. They get an immediate email confirmation thanking them for their enquiry.

Different pages on your website can include different calls to action. You might ask visitors to download something, to click through to the next page, to make an enquiry… I like to include text calls to action throughout the homepage as well. Eg. More about our cottages…

Test Your Navigation on Real People

If the big marketing companies can do it, why can’t you? Ask a few people you know, who don’t necessarily know your business inside out to go onto your website with an objective in mind. Eg. Visit the Milestone Cottages website, find the cottage they like best and make an enquiry about staying there. Don’t tell them anything about the website and listen carefully to their feedback. If possible choose some people who aren’t too computer-savvy.

More on Creative Ideas for Your Homepage coming soon!