Top 10 Outstanding Website Navigation Examples 

In this post, we will take a deep dive into the 10 best website navigation examples that are both user-interface and SEO-friendly. 

Understanding Website Navigation 

Before diving deeper into website navigation examples, we will begin with a basic understanding of website navigation.

What Is Website Navigation?

Website navigation consists of user interface elements, such as text, links, buttons, and menus, that help users navigate site content and features.

Acting as a roadmap, website navigation guides users through your site and aids in organizing different sections for easy access to key pages.

What Is a Website Navigation Menu?

A website navigation menu is a list of links, usually in headers or sidebars, that directs visitors to key internal pages of the site.

What Is the Navigation Structure of a Website?

The navigation structure of a website presents how different pages on the site are arranged and connected to one another.

For example, some pages and content might only be accessible on a specific page. Designers and web developers commonly map out the navigation structure while creating a new website.

As you can see in the image, you’ll notice that the “About,” “Plans,” “Contact,” and “Blog” pages are directly linked in the home menu. However, to reach the “Mission” and “Team” pages, you’ll have to go to the “About” page first.

Why Does Website Navigation Matter?

Here are four reasons users should care about website navigation: 

Improve conversion rate

Clear website navigation can enhance your site’s conversion rate. If it’s confusing or doesn’t meet visitor needs, you risk losing potential conversions.

So an effective website navigation ensures users quickly find what they’re looking for on a site, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

Reduce bounce rate

An intuitive website navigation helps reduces bounce rates, meaning fewer visitors will leave your site without exploring a second page. 

A high bounce rate can hurt your SEO rankings as Google views it as a sign of a less user-friendly website, potentially affecting your keyword positions.

Improve SEO (search engine optimization)

Effective navigation improves search engine indexing, making your website more accessible in search results and potentially boosting its ranking.

Create a helpful user experience

Well-designed navigation allows users to find information effortlessly, leading to a positive impression of both the website and the organization.

Types of Website Navigation

Here are some common types of website navigation you can use when building your site.

Top Menu 

This is the most widespread menu type that comes to mind when people think about website navigation.

It is a horizontal bar at the top of the page that displays key sections such as “Product Information,” “Services,” “Contacts,” “Prices,” and “About Us.”

Mega Drop-Downs

Mega drop-downs are expansive menu panels that typically extend from a global navigation bar, either dropping down or flying out. However, they aren’t suitable for all websites.

Mega drop-downs shine in their ability to display a multitude of options at once, making them particularly ideal for ecommerce websites. This is especially true for platforms with extensive category lists that can’t be accommodated neatly within a standard navigation menu.

Horizontal vs Vertical

The decision between horizontal and vertical navigation is influenced by factors like design, usability, and content purpose.

Smaller websites typically choose top horizontal navigation, while larger corporate sites often combine both horizontal and vertical options.

Sticky/ Fixed

Sticky or fixed navigation stays visible while users scroll down, often found on websites with important call-to-action buttons in the main bar.

Primary/ secondary

The main navigation consists of key items across the site and is placed at the top center or on the left/right side of the page in a user-centered design.

Additionally, secondary navigation contains additional items and is frequently positioned in the middle of a page without a specific design style.

Fat footers

In the footer space, we often find privacy and legal links, email sign-up fields, address details, and social media links. 

Additionally, websites often use expanded footers, especially for content-rich or e-commerce platforms requiring security icons and payment methods display.

Responsive design navigation

Responsive navigation ensures your website looks great on different devices. On mobile, the navigation bar is represented by three slightly separated horizontal lines to save space.

Link the logo to the home page

These navigation types are widely used on all websites today, and finding the most suitable one for you and your target audience is crucial for your success.

10 outstanding website navigation examples

Commonly used on all modern websites, these navigation styles play a pivotal role in your success by catering to your specific audience. Now, let’s dive into our preferred website navigation examples to spark ideas for your own design.

Polaroid

• Built with Shopify.

Polaroid website navigation, an outstanding global brand known for cameras and equipment, stands out for its excellent website navigation.

When you hover over a menu option, a dropdown menu appears, displaying popular items and images within that category. This user-friendly feature simplifies shopping, especially for those unfamiliar with product names, making the Polaroid website experience smoother. 

Moreover, this smart fusion of navigation and sales strategy directs users to top-selling products, boosting conversion rates and sales.

Harper Wilde

• Built with Shopify.

Harper Wilde, an ecommerce store, cleverly uses its website navigation menu to guide users to its products and also highlight its mission and added value. 

In addition to leading users to product pages, the menu includes vital sections like “What is my size?” and “Our mission,” underscoring the brand’s values for customers.

Verk

Verk’s website demonstrates the power of simplicity through its clean design and ample white space, minimizing distractions and enhancing user understanding. Arranged at the top of the screen, a brief navigation bar categorizes products into two main sections: watches and watch straps.

Especially a comprehensive sitemap in the footer offers easy access to every website page, underscoring smooth ecommerce navigation while avoiding overwhelming users with too many options.

Freemans Restaurant

• Built with Squarespace

The Freemans Restaurant website showcases effective ways for a dining store to use engaging website navigation.

Placed above the main restaurant image, the menu header seamlessly integrates into the homepage, rather than being a separate page. 

Furthermore, some menu options guide users to specific sections on the homepage, while others lead to new pages, ensuring an interactive and gratifying navigation journey.

William Lachance

• Built with Wix

William Lachance’s portfolio website showcases the artist’s talents via its menu.

Alongside a conventional sidebar presenting crucial navigation choices, a secondary menu emerges with animations and videos as you scroll down the homepage.

Briogeo

• Built with Shopify  

Briogeo website navigation revolves around a horizontal menu that reveals different options as you hover over each item, Notably, the primary “shop all” section reveals a comprehensive menu featuring site-wide links and images that represent its collections.

In contrast, the “Our difference” option uses additional images to create a strong emotional connection with visitors.

Doris Liou

• Built with Wix

Doris Lioi’s portfolio website boasts an ideal menu navigation bar, where every menu option displays a hand-drawn illustration, highlighting the distinctive style within the portfolio.

Even more interesting, these illustrations spring to life with attractive animations and GIFs upon hovering. This approach effectively engages visitors and remarkably highlights the image quality to potential clients.

Roee Ben Yehuda

• Built with Wix

Roee Ben Yehuda’s website features a unique four-corner menu design, lending it a modern and appealing appearance.

Roee Ben Yehuda’s primary aim is to showcase the artist’s creations by discreetly segmenting the menu elements into four corners, directing user attention solely to the artwork.

This four-corner menu navigation presents an element of fun, enhancing the artist’s creative and youthful vibe. Consequently, this serves as a remarkable illustration of how a menu can effectively amplify a brand’s identity.

Petersham Nurseries

Within website navigation, Petersham Nurseries stands out for its dual top navigation bars and a bottom navigation bar.

The two navigation bars serve distinct purposes: one for new customers and the other tailored to members. 

Additionally, Petersham Nurseries’ expandable menu in the second top navigation bar exemplifies effective design. It’s both organized and comprehensive, ensuring easy access to its homepage and specific items. 

This approach strategically arranges categories and contains sub-categories, addressing the complexity of various item types.

Unseen Studio

Let’s delve into why Unsee Studio stands as one of our favored examples of website navigation.

Placed in the right-hand corner, the menu promptly expands when clicked.

Notably, the text’s contrast and color harmonize with the background image, resulting in an enjoyable visual experience. Furthermore, including contact details and social links heightens customer engagement and focus.

5 Tips for Improved Website Navigation

Even if you’re a complete beginner, you can grasp website navigation with these five tips

Plan Your Page Structure and Navigation

Prior to starting content creation for your website, it’s essential to strategize the layout and navigation. 

A carefully crafted plan is essential for ensuring a pleasing visitor navigation experience. To streamline this process, using a sitemap lets you quickly sketch out mockups for your desired website experience.

Use Your User’s Vocabulary

Instead of relying on technical terms or overly creative copy, opt for words that match what your users actually use, search for, and want. This strategy benefits both search engine optimization (SEO) and user-friendliness. 

As a result, when linking to these pages, using the same terms that help users discover your website on Google.

Take Advantage of Your Footer Menu

Readers who reach the bottom of your website show higher engagement. Seize this chance to utilize the space for valuable content. Since the footer doesn’t take up the initial screen area, you can provide details and cover multiple categories.

You can also highlight cornerstone pages or essential articles. Notably, the footer lets you emphasize content that space limitations prevent you from including in the header.

Avoid Dropdown Menus

Dropdown menus may not be essential or beneficial for all websites, though they do have their place. When users see a link in a menu, they generally expect it to be clickable. If the design doesn’t make it distinct from other clickable links, it can create confusion. 

Furthermore, having an excessive number of links in your main menu can hinder user-friendliness. Instead of dropdown menus, opting for hierarchical and local navigation can lead to a smoother user experience. This approach enables users to explore multiple pages and spend more time on your site, rather than sifting through a lengthy list of links.

Use Color and White Space to Separate Navigation from Other Elements

Using colors, fonts, and white space differentiate your menu from the main content and sidebars. You should ensure it’s evident where the navigation starts and ends. 

Regardless of language or linked pages, it’s futile if visitors can’t find the menu on your website.

Website Navigation Menu Trends 2023

Despite recent web design trends including exciting features like 3D elements and customized images, menu design has not been as compelling. Here’s a quick overview of key menu trends in recent years.

Expandable Categories in Full-Screen Mobile Menus

Uber and other major companies have updated their menus for enhanced user-friendliness.

These businesses face the challenge of having numerous products and categories, posing difficulty in fitting everything into a single menu. 

To address this, they’re opting for clear, organized expandable menus on mobile devices, rather than displaying a lengthy list of links.

Floating Header Menus

Lately, the floating header menu has gained popularity, remaining fixed at the top of your web browser while you scroll down the page. It’s integrated into the header section, featuring a logo and search bar. 

Importantly, this menu style is prevalent in various WordPress themes, simplifying navigation.

FAQs: Website Navigation Example 

Bottom Line

By exploring these website navigation examples, you can uncover various methods that improve user navigation for a more enjoyable and efficient experience. 

From dropdown menus to sticky headers, these instances demonstrate approaches that can spark inspiration for your own website’s navigation design, ultimately enhancing user engagement.