Site Navigation

Rob · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 05:04 PM

Im in the process of optimization of my site, before i really begin advertising it as a useful resource on the net. So im sorry if i come across as expressing every tiny problem with my site, its just who I am!!

Anyway my site currently has tier 2 pages holding separate nav-bars for each tier 3 pages. When ive seen others with huge left hand navigation bars with tier 2 pages all down and then tier 3 pages embedded into there tier 2 pages which looks really neat. But i feel my site is really hidden and people will have to hunt around my site to find the content that they need.

Do you guys get this impression?

Also people say they like and use left hand nav better but if i did this i would have to change the whole layout and that could take me a while and im not sure it would really fit in but what do i know.

I feel i know quite a bit about web site building but then i get to monetizing my site i always find something major to change and really destroys my set of concentration and inspiration and it becomes another *dead* project in my scrap book.

Thanks people.

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 06:10 PM

Even though I didn't follow my own advice on either of my sites, I think it's best to keep your top-level navigation as minimal as possible, so what you've done is fine. Too many options often confuses people and remember they can always use your search box to find what they're looking for.

Although on your 2nd tier pages, it might be nice if you briefly describe (a sentence or two) what they are about. I think text links might be more user-friendly than those graphical image links. Not to mention that would be a much more seach engine-friendly way to do it.

Rob · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 06:22 PM

What do you suggest as in design wise how do i integrate the text links into my site and enter a brief description i mean what position right, left or what?

ssmorgan · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 01:44 AM

Hmm... I like how you've organized your page, but I kind of agree with Lisa... so here is what I suggest:

Let's pick "Information" as tier 2 page example and "Breeding" as a tier 3 example.

In the "Information" page (tier 2) I would write a short paragraph about this section of the website, and then underneath that paragraph, I would have a list of text links pointing to each tier 3 page. Underneath each text link, I would write a couple of sentences that summarize the page (as Lisa suggested), so to answer your question, instead of the graphic bars, I would include each of these text links with a brief description as part of the body of the tier 2 page.

Now, for the tier 3 page, you can do a simple text navigation that looks something like this...

Information (with link to the tier 2 page) > Breeding

That way, people would know where they are on your site... if they want to return to the tier 2 page, they would just click on the "Information" link. Once there, they can read on the page for the next tier 3 topic in which they may be interested.

I hope this made some sense

Let me know if you want me to clarify.

Rob · #5 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 08:23 AM

Thanks morgan,

So for example.

<h1>Information<h1>

<p><b>Breeding<b/></p>

<p>Find out everything you need to know about hamster breeding bla bla bla<p>

And etc for the other links, with the included hyper links.

Then for tier 3 pages:

You are here: Home > Information > Breeding

Thanks buddy! I think with my SBI site i might just go for left hand navigation so much easier and simpler!

Rob · #6 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:26 AM

I've done the outline of it but I don't want to do it all over my site until I know ive got it right.

This is the tier 2 page:

http://www.hamster-palace.com/conten...-hamsters.html

Then you can click the links to get to the tier 3 pages, i provided the link because all the new hyper links aren't all connected up yet. I personally love the change what do you guys think, do you think it stands out enough?

And my next job is too embed my content links around my pages in my site if you get me.

So for example talking about Hamster Health I could embed a link in there to discuss it in my forum for example for more opinions or something.

ssmorgan · #7 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:42 AM

Yep, that's exactly what I would do... The only difference, though, is that on the tier 3 pages in the text navigation bar (i.e. Home > General Care > Carrying Your Hamster), I would make the "Home" and "General Care" text links instead of just text... that way, the visitor can navigate back to the tier 2 page.

Come to think of it, maybe you shouldn't even include "Home"... Since "Home" and "General Care" are both on the top green navigation bar,

General Care (as a text link) > Carrying Your Hamster

... would be great, in my opinion, for a tier 3 page.

Before you change all of them, wait to see if that's what Lisa meant too.

Rob · #8 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 01:41 PM

I think im going to link all of them.

So Home > General Care > Choosing your Hamster

Then removing the underline on that whole bar so it makes it blend more into the web page but its still there if someone wanted to go backwards.

Its almost like a built in site map to all your pages, how many pages of content do you really think i should be aiming for? I have about 35 which is quite a decent amount at the moment but on every website there's always room for expansion when content is concerned.

Oh and morgan i love your site about E-co friendliness i think the template suits in so well with what your talking about just the grass makes me feel so clean and fresh not a cable or wire in sight which is highly unusual anywhere these days the world has become such a mess, i wonder if the ice age will ever come it might cause these political leaders to actually act and do something rather than just discussing it.

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