A feature of a good website is its easy navigation. Anything complicated is sure to confuse visitors, leading them to backtrack and take off to look for another website, never to return. Hence, the manner in which you place your links for navigation plays a huge role in determining the time for which a visitor hangs about and explores your site. To retain visitors for longer periods of time, remember that a visitor, on opening your website is going to scan the home page and read the available content. And if he is hooked, he will look for more interesting pages. So your website navigation must be well assembled, effortless to use and intuitive. Make it simple and keep it simple!

Since the home page is important, make it attractive and uncluttered. Follow up the clean layout (with lots of white space) with neat navigation. Keep the focus on content. Keep the basic design of all pages of a website the same for uniformity. Only the content should vary. Unnecessary effects will only cause distraction from the content and must be avoided.

There are three types of navigation.

1. Hierarchical navigation or the tree-type navigation is best for information rich websites.
2. Global Navigation is for fewer, broader categories.
3. Local navigation applies there is great deal of information under broader categories.

Navigation styles include embedded links, Bread-crumb trail, and Left/top/pop-up navigation bar, tab navigation, site map, and mix and match. The use of navigation bar is the most common, and it works well too! In addition a site map or table of contents works as a one-stop location to access anything on the site. Internal Linking between pages can be placed in the body of the text, thereby helping users find related information quickly. Also it's a good idea to keep away fro funky and intricate navigation, which will only lead to confusion.

Here is a checklist of important Navigation tips and key points:-

• Plan site navigation first and design later. This way the website will never look cluttered.
• Keep the navigation system clean-cut and uniform.
• For several links, use drop down menus, or Flyouts. A usability test of using the drop-down menus showed that users were able to use it to navigate the site very effectively.
• To help visitors look up what they are searching for easily, add a sitemap.
• Keep the navigation flexible to accommodate any links that may have to be added later on.
• Keep the main links together so that a visitor can view them together. Also, let the primary navigation stand out with graphics and different style links.
• It is a good idea to separately showcase certain links that you are sure will interest visitors.
• If you have too many links, you may separate the home page with only links and keep content pages separate.
• On every page there shouldn’t be more than 10 links. Pages with 20-30 links are much harder to use.
• Use short, clear and precise words in your links.
• Point the way with pictures, as pictures can better demonstrate what you've got in store for your users.
• The best way to test the navigation is by having an inexperienced user navigate through your website. If he is able to do so easily, your website is a success!

Following the above tips will optimize the user's experience and you are sure to benefit from it. You may have great knowledge treasures on your website, but organizing the navigation as a challenging treasure hunt isn’t the most brilliant of ideas! Visitors should be able to find information easily. Keep your website accessible and usable with easy navigation, and instead of following a particular style, try mix and match and achieve a unique blend of perfection for your website!