The upsides of using descriptive navigation labels

Many websites use relatively generic navigation labels. A company may have buttons at the top of the page telling visitors where they can find products, services or information about the company itself.

The first step with navigation is to make the process intuitive and easy for the user, so having those buttons prominently displayed across the top of the page is wise. But when considering your site design and revamping your site to make it more effective, it is also important to think about how descriptive the labels are.

For instance, say that a company sells shoes. Rather than having a single button advertising “Products,” they could have labels for running shoes, hiking shoes, work shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes and much more. The exact categories depend on what the company offers, of course. But by making them descriptive, rather than sending users to a generic location for all products, there are some significant benefits.

It is better for search engines

To start with, from an SEO perspective, these labels can help. They make it far more obvious what the company sells. They get keywords into a prominent position on the page. This can help with your page ranking and search traffic.

Additionally, it helps people navigate the site more effectively. Because they spend more time on your site and click through to different pages, this can also be an indicator that your site is a valuable resource. Each page can be filled with a wide variety of similar keywords, giving you even more chances to optimize your content for high SERP rankings.

It is better for your audience

Another benefit is that these descriptive labels are better for visitors to your site. They make it obvious what types of products you sell. They help make navigation flow smoothly and easily.

Remember, most of your visitors are in a hurry. They do not want to wade through a huge list of all of the different products that you are selling. It takes time and feels overwhelming, so they will just look for a different source or a different company.

However, those users do know what specific products they need. Someone who is looking for a new pair of running shoes does not care if you sell work boots or dress shoes. They just want to look at the different options you have for athletes. Giving them a very specific and descriptive label tells them exactly where to click to find the products they are already looking for.

It keeps readers on the page

Finally, remember that most readers who navigate to your page will give it a quick once-over, scanning the content to see if it is actually a fit. If they are not sure in the first few seconds, they will click the back button and choose a different page. By giving them descriptive labels, you help provide them with this information immediately.

For example, maybe your company sells musical instruments. A general category for “Instruments” does not tell the person that much about what they will be looking at. Maybe they play guitar, but for all they know, your website sells trumpets and pianos.

But if you have a category for guitars and another category for basses right along the top of the page, they know that they are at least going to find the types of products they are looking for. They’ll stay on the page longer and explore the specific options to see if there is anything they want to buy.

In this way, descriptive labels simply give more information to your readers in an efficient manner. That increases dwell times and increases the odds that they will further interact with your site.

Redesigning your site and your content

Have you been having issues with dwell times or visitors complaining that they cannot find the right information on your website? Maybe you are considering a redesign.

Here at Content Customs, we can help you analyze your site, create the content you need and consider what type of layout or design will be most effective. Every website is unique, but with our experience, we can work closely with you to ensure that you get the results you are looking for. Do not hesitate to contact us today to learn more.