How to create an effective website tree, Create a website tree: what is it?
That's it, you've finally decided to make the redesign of your website. Maybe have you taken this decision because your site was not as pretty as aesthetically competitors' sites. However, the fact remains that redesigning your website is an opportunity for you not only to update the visual side of the site, but especially to improve navigation and efficiency to better meet the challenges of your visitors.
In this article I will explain how to create an effective tree to a website detailing efforts to invest before creating a tree, and also presenting some common mistakes in the main menus, both in terms of strategy and the usability.
Create a website tree: what is it?
First, when you create the tree of a website you want to review the information structure so that the most important content for your visitors is intuitively recognizable. If we wanted from a definition, the tree of your website would actually be the information structure in various headings and subheadings containing all of the information presented therein.
Before creating an efficient tree, it is important that you are able to answer several important questions:
In this article I will explain how to create an effective tree to a website detailing efforts to invest before creating a tree, and also presenting some common mistakes in the main menus, both in terms of strategy and the usability.
Create a website tree: what is it?
First, when you create the tree of a website you want to review the information structure so that the most important content for your visitors is intuitively recognizable. If we wanted from a definition, the tree of your website would actually be the information structure in various headings and subheadings containing all of the information presented therein.
Before creating an efficient tree, it is important that you are able to answer several important questions:
1. What are the main problems of my organization?
The first question you must answer may seem obvious, but it still remains the most important to keep in mind. Try to identify all the issues for which you can provide benefits. By listing the benefits that you can offer, you will be able to categorize your offer and communicate more effectively and profits.
2. Who do you want to join?
In order to have an effective content architecture, you will absolutely draw up profiles of visitors guys who sail on your site or your personas. It is very important that your various personas are able to quickly understand the logical result of their visit. For example, if you have services aimed at businesses and other individuals, you probably want to create different navigation paths for both types of visitors.
The tree and keywords environment
Once you have identified all the content you want to create, and you have clearly identified your personas, you have a stage to perform before you begin creating your tree: define keywords environment your organization.
Indeed, it is important to identify all of the keywords surrounding the issues you are answering. The search for keywords with a tool like the Google Keyword Planner allows you to see search trends for all relevant terms considered. This will allow you to affirm or deny your assumptions and see which words are most important to put forward in your main menu.
Some common mistakes to avoid in your navigation
Now that you have a better idea of how to create a content architecture for your website, I will introduce several common mistakes that are made on the web, both at the strategic level with the tree that ergonomically with the presentation of menu.
1. Too many items in the main menu
I have previously told you that from the search volume, you will be able to identify what content will be to focus on your main menu. Unfortunately, you still have to make choices, because it is not recommended to have too many items in the main navigation.
Hick's law explains that an individual has more alternatives before him, it will take more time to make a decision. Make sure you help your visitors by offering a limited number of alternatives.
2. The "Home" page is the first menu item
It's been several years that it is common practice to have the link to the home page on your company's logo. Add a "Home" button in the main menu is just a duplication that unnecessarily occupies space on your menu and thus detract from your amazing content!
3. Low-visited pages in the main menu
Before designing your website, it is important to select the search terms to put in your main menu. However, once your site is launched and you are able to track your web performance, look at the number of visitors to each page of your main navigation menu. If sections are much less visited than others, are questioning the relevance of this section as your primary navigation element.
For example, is it really appropriate to have a FAQ in your main navigation? The number of visits on this page might help you answer this question!
4. The presence of a generic section "services"
At the risk of repeating myself, the tree is used to facilitate navigation of a user through your site. Now, if all of your offer is grouped in a category called "services" you do not really help your visitors find the information they seek. Try to bring out the main categories of your offer and integrate them into your main menu; you will notice that your services will be more visited pages!
5. long titles in the main navigation
When working in Inbound Marketing, we often seek to find keywords "Long Tail" to find opportunities for which it is possible to rank among the top results on search engines.
However, your main navigation, do not try to rank you on too long keywords or hyper nested; opt for terms that will facilitate access to information on your site and where there is significant research volumes.
6. Improper order of menu items
What is a good order of the menu items? To answer this question, do not trust your instincts; Instead look at your navigation data! The most visited pages are the most important of your website and should thus be preferred. Also keep in mind that you want to help your visitors respond to a problem; so do not wait too long before presenting the content of interest.
7. A counterintuitive location
As an entrepreneur or marketing manager, you want to stand out most likely with a website that will be original and creative. However, do not try to stand out with the location of your navigation menu! For example, a menu at the bottom of the page will make it less intuitive and more complex navigation, creating frustration in the long run with your visitors.
8. The lack of a call to action
What do you want your visitors are doing on your site? Is this a subscription to a newsletter? Is taking a date? Often it is difficult to quickly establish what a company wants to reach a goal with his site.
Whatever the goal you want to achieve, do not be afraid to put forward with a call to action even your main navigation. Be sure to make it stand out from the rest with a button that contrasts with the rest of the menu items!
9. The use of image buttons instead of text
Although this error is less common than before, several websites have their main menu made with buttons made with images. It is important to know that for SEO of your pages, search engines are not able to read the images to determine what the next page address. Thus, in order to optimize the SEO of your pages, make sure to have text links rather than image to consolidate the position of your pages on specific terms.
10. The use of drop-down menus in drop down menus ...
Several websites offer more than two levels of navigation will make you navigate a drop-down menu, which also will open a second level drop down menu.
Often, the user experience is poor with this type of navigation because visitors often take one, two or three times to play in a menu before you can access the desired page.
Instead of offering this type of navigation, try to work on a "mega-menu" that will present sublevels your navigation in a single glance. Site Brunet pharmacies is a good example of "mega-menu" to navigate through a set of pages from the main navigation.
Finally, in order to create an effective website tree, you must be able to identify who your clientele is made, what benefits you can bring to it and what language it uses to provide him as natural navigation as possible. However, your content structure will not be used to its full potential if you offer a bad experience on your site; be sure not to commit avoidable errors in terms of web usability!
The first question you must answer may seem obvious, but it still remains the most important to keep in mind. Try to identify all the issues for which you can provide benefits. By listing the benefits that you can offer, you will be able to categorize your offer and communicate more effectively and profits.
2. Who do you want to join?
In order to have an effective content architecture, you will absolutely draw up profiles of visitors guys who sail on your site or your personas. It is very important that your various personas are able to quickly understand the logical result of their visit. For example, if you have services aimed at businesses and other individuals, you probably want to create different navigation paths for both types of visitors.
The tree and keywords environment
Once you have identified all the content you want to create, and you have clearly identified your personas, you have a stage to perform before you begin creating your tree: define keywords environment your organization.
Indeed, it is important to identify all of the keywords surrounding the issues you are answering. The search for keywords with a tool like the Google Keyword Planner allows you to see search trends for all relevant terms considered. This will allow you to affirm or deny your assumptions and see which words are most important to put forward in your main menu.
Some common mistakes to avoid in your navigation
Now that you have a better idea of how to create a content architecture for your website, I will introduce several common mistakes that are made on the web, both at the strategic level with the tree that ergonomically with the presentation of menu.
1. Too many items in the main menu
I have previously told you that from the search volume, you will be able to identify what content will be to focus on your main menu. Unfortunately, you still have to make choices, because it is not recommended to have too many items in the main navigation.
Hick's law explains that an individual has more alternatives before him, it will take more time to make a decision. Make sure you help your visitors by offering a limited number of alternatives.
2. The "Home" page is the first menu item
It's been several years that it is common practice to have the link to the home page on your company's logo. Add a "Home" button in the main menu is just a duplication that unnecessarily occupies space on your menu and thus detract from your amazing content!
3. Low-visited pages in the main menu
Before designing your website, it is important to select the search terms to put in your main menu. However, once your site is launched and you are able to track your web performance, look at the number of visitors to each page of your main navigation menu. If sections are much less visited than others, are questioning the relevance of this section as your primary navigation element.
For example, is it really appropriate to have a FAQ in your main navigation? The number of visits on this page might help you answer this question!
4. The presence of a generic section "services"
At the risk of repeating myself, the tree is used to facilitate navigation of a user through your site. Now, if all of your offer is grouped in a category called "services" you do not really help your visitors find the information they seek. Try to bring out the main categories of your offer and integrate them into your main menu; you will notice that your services will be more visited pages!
5. long titles in the main navigation
When working in Inbound Marketing, we often seek to find keywords "Long Tail" to find opportunities for which it is possible to rank among the top results on search engines.
However, your main navigation, do not try to rank you on too long keywords or hyper nested; opt for terms that will facilitate access to information on your site and where there is significant research volumes.
6. Improper order of menu items
What is a good order of the menu items? To answer this question, do not trust your instincts; Instead look at your navigation data! The most visited pages are the most important of your website and should thus be preferred. Also keep in mind that you want to help your visitors respond to a problem; so do not wait too long before presenting the content of interest.
7. A counterintuitive location
As an entrepreneur or marketing manager, you want to stand out most likely with a website that will be original and creative. However, do not try to stand out with the location of your navigation menu! For example, a menu at the bottom of the page will make it less intuitive and more complex navigation, creating frustration in the long run with your visitors.
8. The lack of a call to action
What do you want your visitors are doing on your site? Is this a subscription to a newsletter? Is taking a date? Often it is difficult to quickly establish what a company wants to reach a goal with his site.
Whatever the goal you want to achieve, do not be afraid to put forward with a call to action even your main navigation. Be sure to make it stand out from the rest with a button that contrasts with the rest of the menu items!
9. The use of image buttons instead of text
Although this error is less common than before, several websites have their main menu made with buttons made with images. It is important to know that for SEO of your pages, search engines are not able to read the images to determine what the next page address. Thus, in order to optimize the SEO of your pages, make sure to have text links rather than image to consolidate the position of your pages on specific terms.
10. The use of drop-down menus in drop down menus ...
Several websites offer more than two levels of navigation will make you navigate a drop-down menu, which also will open a second level drop down menu.
Often, the user experience is poor with this type of navigation because visitors often take one, two or three times to play in a menu before you can access the desired page.
Instead of offering this type of navigation, try to work on a "mega-menu" that will present sublevels your navigation in a single glance. Site Brunet pharmacies is a good example of "mega-menu" to navigate through a set of pages from the main navigation.
Finally, in order to create an effective website tree, you must be able to identify who your clientele is made, what benefits you can bring to it and what language it uses to provide him as natural navigation as possible. However, your content structure will not be used to its full potential if you offer a bad experience on your site; be sure not to commit avoidable errors in terms of web usability!
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