Users are frustrated with navigating your website. How can you simplify their search for information?

Before making any changes, you need to understand your website as it is now. Do a content audit to see what’s on your site and how it’s organized. This means looking at all the pages, checking if they are still useful, and seeing how they connect to each other. You’ll find old or repeated content that can be removed or updated, making your site cleaner and easier for users to find what they need. For example, if you have an online store with outdated product pages and old blog posts, a content audit will help you tidy up. Removing or updating these pages will make your site more organized and user-friendly.

Think of navigation like road signs on a highway. If there are too many exits or confusing signs, drivers get lost. Simplify your menus and navigation bars so they only show the most important paths. For example, instead of a dozen menu items, stick to the top few that cover the main areas of your site. This way, users can quickly figure out where to go without feeling overwhelmed.

Your website’s navigation is like a map for users. If it’s too complicated, they’ll get lost. Keep it simple by having fewer menu items and clear labels like “Home,” “About,” and “Contact.” Avoid confusing jargon and group related information together. This makes it easier for users to find what they need and improves their overall experience.

Navigation is another opportunity for progressive disclosure. Keep the higher sections broad and intuitive. As you go deeper, users will welcome specificity and nuance.

Even with a simple menu, users often prefer searching for specific info. To improve this, make your search bar easy to find and use. Add filters so users can narrow down their search results based on categories or tags. Enhance your search function by including synonyms and common misspellings to cover different ways users might search. This helps users find what they need more quickly and easily, reducing frustration and making their experience on your site much better. Imagine you’re looking for a “running shoe” on an e-commerce site. If the search bar is easy to find and lets you filter by size and color, you’ll quickly find what you need.

Imagine walking into a huge library without a librarian to help. A good search bar is like having that librarian someone who knows exactly where to find what you’re looking for. Make sure your website’s search function is easy to spot and works well. Include features like autocomplete or filters to help users zero in on what they’re searching for, so they don’t waste time scrolling aimlessly.

Make sure the labels on your website are simple and obvious. If a section is about pricing, just call it “Pricing” instead of something fancy like “Cost Analysis.” The goal is to make sure users immediately understand what each link or button leads to.

Remembering Jakobs Law is paramount in these scenarios. Users spend most of their time online on other peoples websites. Being predictable can be very helpful.

Users can offer critical feedback, but it’s important to elicit the right feedback at the right time. Knowing how to design a test to produce actionable results is key to getting the most out of your testing.