Most of the basic or free blogging clients (Blogger, for example) provide typical blog navigation by using blog post archives and/or clickable calendars.
But is it the best way of guiding your visitor around your professional blog?
Traditional web sites create main navigation / subnavigation schemes and site maps to help their readers find exactly what they are looking for. (Well-designed sites will employ a 2-click rule where you have to be able to find what you are looking for within two clicks.)
When it comes to blogs, you should also plan your design with navigation in mind. For example, ContentRobot’s main navigation currently reads that reads |Home|Business Blogging |Blog Design & Development| Blogging Tips |FAQ |About|Contact. Think globally about the topics you wish to write about and your main navigation will become clear.
For your subnavigation, consider the main categories you cover. See our “Categories” area in the right hand column. You can see how this, too, can easily help your readers learn more about your expertise.
It’s OK if you don’t get your main navigation correct or your categories are incomplete as you settle into your blog. Most blog clients allow for easy, on-the-fly changes. So, unlike traditional web sites, there is no big deal if you need to “redesign.”
Other navigation ideas include using the columns to list:
- “Hot” or most read topics
- Recent posts
- Tags
- etc.
With this cross-linking between your navigation, categories, and tags you’ll find your blog will get read past your home page posts toward more juicy, relevant content.
Don’t let down your blog readers with poor or non-existent navigation. ContentRobot can help you to professionally design your blog and develop an intuitive information architecture so contact us today!