How to declutter your WordPress website menu

Did you know that having too many options on your website can lead to confusion for your visitors, and even push them away? The navigation menu on your website is one of those places that can make the difference between a visitor turning into a customer or not.
Simplify your WordPress menu for better user experience.

I don’t know about you but when I go to a restaurant that has a massive menu, I can get overwhelmed by all the choices and will often default to ordering menu items that I know. Part of the reason is the time it takes to make a choice. I couldn’t be bothered sometimes. This experience is known as decision fatigue, it’s really reals, bruh.

Your website menu design needs to consider this very real visitor experience. For fun, let’s call it “59 Flavour Fatigue Syndrome”.

59 Flavour Fatigue Syndrome

A cluttered navigation menu is like having fifty-nine ice cream flavours to choose from. They might all be tempting, chocolate swirls and peanut butter, or salted caramel with chocolate swirls and marshmallows, but a customer suffering from 59 flavour fatigue syndrome might get so overwhelmed by all the choices, they may end up choosing what they normally do, plain old vanilla. And that isn’t good for all the all yummy flavours (pages, blog posts, products etc) taking up valuable space.

Fewer options are better for the website user experience.

People can only remember a small selection of options before 59 Flavour Fatigue Syndrome sets in. So how can you prevent this experience from happening for your website visitors?

I’ve created some steps you can take to simplify your menu so that making the right decision is a breeze for your customers.

Simplifying your website menu

  • Important links only – The number one rule for simplifying your menu is how many options you have. Try to keep important links only in your navigation. Examples of these would be: Services/Products, About, Blog, Contact. For most websites, 5 top-level menu items in the navigation is plenty.
  • Assign secondary links – Secondary links should be in the drop-down menu and / or in the footer of the website. The video below goes over the top level, secondary and a possible third level of links in the menu on our website. Have a look.
  • Avoid mega menus – Most people have encountered mega menus at least once. Mega menus have lots of categories and subcategories underneath them. Although they’re good for showing every option, the clutter can put visitors off.
  • Remember every screen – One common mistake ( and one that wasn’t covered in the video below) websites make is not optimizing their menus for different devices. You need your menu to look great on computers, tablets, and phones, so make sure it fits them all.

A wise woman once said — “Have you cleared the cache?”

anonymous

  • Fonts matter – Don’t use fancy fonts on your menu. While most menu fonts match your website, it can be tempting to pick something different that looks great but is illegible to a visitor. A simple, easy-to-read design is always best.

Here’s a video that goes over a few of these options, with a focus on how to edit your menu in WordPress.

YouTube video

Take a look at your website menu. Is there a way you could simplify it and avoid the 59 Flavour Fatigue Syndrome?

We’re here to help

Do you need help with your website navigation menu or any other elements that are beyond your expertise? Book a free consultation so we can chat.

Recent Posts

Get the Newsletter

Other Articles You'll Find Helpful
Simplify your WordPress menu for better user experience.
How to declutter your WordPress website menu

Did you know that having too many options on your website can lead to confusion...

READ THE POST
Is SEO right for your business?
Is SEO the right choice for your business?

Many business owners make the mistake of thinking it's a case of “doing SEO” without...

READ THE POST
Essentials for your contact page.
9 essentials to include on your contact page

Contact pages can be a really powerful component of your website, but they’re often treated...

READ THE POST

How can we help you?

paw

PROUD PUP MEDIA

Located in Edmonton, Alberta, serving all of North America.

Fantastic! Just One more step…

Fill out the form and you’ll soon receive our newsletter, filled with tips and tutorials to make working ON your business rather than IN it your reality!

Never miss a thing! Check spam folder and mark us as safe. We promise to protect your privacy and will never use your information for anything other than this newsletter and promotions.