Possibly the single most important factor that impacts your e-commerce web site's success is its navigation system. For most of your visitors the distance between them successfully completing a purchase at your Web shop and giving up and going elsewhere is a few mouse clicks.
If you can improve your site navigation and deliver to your users what they are looking for quickly and efficiently you have a much better chance of selling to them. In short, poor navigation systems cost you sales.
Designing an effective navigation system isn't difficult but it does require some understanding of what makes a good navigation system in general and what will appeal to your customers in particular.
There are two important factors in designing a Web navigation system, one is adhering to the basic rules that apply to navigation and the second is to give your visitors what they, in particular, need.
The Basics of a Navigation System
As much as some of us like to be individual there are benefits to be gained on the Web in being just like everyone else. If you design your navigation system like nearly every other site's navigation system then your customers will find your site easy to use because they'll be used to that method of moving around, even if they haven't visited your site before.
The basic rules pertaining to a Web navigation system are:
1. The navigation system should appear on every page of your site.
2. The navigation system should appear in the same position on every page.
3. You should use the same navigation system on every page and not change its design.
See the full story at: http://www.ecommerce-guide.com//article.php/3801826
