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What is Navigation for Membership Websites?

6 min to read

Membership website navigation encompasses the infrastructure through which members move around and access various areas of the site.

This is significant because it influences how readily members can access and utilize the invaluable information and services you provide.

Key Takeaways:
  • Clarification directs users

    • Clear navigation is very important to help members search throughout the website.

  • A straightforward format can affect interaction, as consistency, clarity, and ease of navigation relate to user experience
  • Test to improve

    • Analyze user activity to improve website navigation.

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What is Navigation for Membership Websites?

What are some common elements found in membership website navigation?

Website conventions and attributes that are common practice include the following:

  • Menus: These are usually located at the top or side of a website and link to main areas of the site.

  • Dropdowns: These are menus that can expand and show more options for selection.

  • Search bar: An optional feature that provides the capability to search for specific content.

  • Breadcrumbs: These show the path a user has taken on the site.

  • Member menu: This provides access to sections containing content specific to members.

These elements can influence how users navigate and access different sections.

Pro Tip: 
Ensure that frequently interacted content is directly available in the main navigation.

What are some best practices for designing membership website navigation?

Some important aspects to remember include the following: 

  • Simplicity: Labels should aim for clarity and ease of comprehension. 

  • Consistency: The navigation style remains the same in each instance. 

  • Descriptive Links: Labels that effectively summarize what the link is about.  

 Adherence to these guidelines can influence the ease of the member experience.

Pro Tip: 
Run user testing with a few participants to understand if they can easily maneuver your system and locate essential data.

How does navigation differ for different types of membership websites?

How you set up navigation may vary per membership type. For instance, a course website might emphasize navigation by modules, while a community site might emphasize navigation by forums.

How can you measure the effectiveness of your membership website’s navigation?

Examining user retention, number of clicks, and search activity on your site can indicate how efficiently your navigation is working. This can be achieved with the assistance of Google Analytics. Feedback from members may offer relevant perspectives..

Pro Tip: 
Establish particular objectives in your analytics system associated with important navigation routes to monitor their performance over time.

Conclusion

Useful navigation is critical to the user experience on any membership website, helping users quickly find useful content and features. To enhance the journey for users, as well as help with engagement, focus on structure, clarity, standardization, cohesion, and active user engagement.

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