Quick summary
- All links in your main navigation should be clickable.
- They should match the UCSC WordPress theme and follow UCSC identity standards.
The problem
You may have several important items you want to highlight on your website. You need to decide how to feature these in your main navigation.
The discussion
The best way to set up your navigation depends on your goals. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some guidelines to help users navigate your website more easily.
The language you use in your primary navigation is (really) important
Above all, clarity is key. Use clear and concise language for navigation labels. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or internal terms that users might not understand.
- Use the same terms for the same content across different pages to avoid confusion
- Descriptive labels not only help users but also improve search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines rely on these labels to understand your site’s content, which can enhance your visibility in search results.
- Test the effectiveness of your labels with your website users.
How many items in your primary navigation?
The UCSC WordPress theme allows for up to seven items in the main navigation. However, you don’t have to use all of them. Consider these questions when deciding what to include:
- How broad is your content?
- Are your text labels clear and descriptive?
- Do your users usually browse or look for specific information?
- Have you arranged the items in order of importance to your users?
For more on these ideas: How many items in a navigation menu.
Linking vs not linking primary navigation items
All items in your main navigation should be clickable. This is what users expect, and not doing so could create accessibility issues.
If you want to include dropdown or sub-items in your main navigation, make sure the main item links to a relevant page that will present those choices in an easy to navigate manner. These pages might be called directory, landing, or interstitial pages, and are good for search engine optimization, accessibility, and usability.
Some good example pages:
Follow design guidelines
In the UCSC WordPress theme, primary navigation:
- Is limited to seven items.
- Is in all caps.
- Includes only one dropdown level
- Is a white button with a blue hover state
- Cannot be altered.
These were all design choices made to ensure consistency in brand and identity standards. Learn more about design guidelines: Getting started with design.
Keep learning
Avoid format based primary navigation, Nielsen Norman Group
Website Navigation Best Practices, Mailchimp
Structuring navigation for Higher Education Websites, Diagram
Three higher ed navigation best practices, KW2