How to Manage Your Website Navigation Menus
Website navigation menus are crucial to your site's user experience. They help visitors discover your content and understand your site structure. This guide will show you how to manage your header navigation and footer links effectively.
ACCESSING THE NAVIGATION MENU MANAGER:
To manage your menus, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your account dashboard
2. Click on "Site Navigation" in the left navigation menu under "Managing Website"
3. You'll see two tabs: Header Navigation and Footer Links
UNDERSTANDING MENU LOCATIONS:
Your site supports two distinct menu locations, each serving a different purpose:
Header Navigation (Top Menu) This is the main navigation menu displayed at the top of your website.
Visitors use this to navigate your primary sections and pages.
Each menu item appears in order based on its sort number.
Footer Links These links appear in your website footer. They're typically used for secondary navigation, legal links, social media, or additional resources.
MANAGING HEADER NAVIGATION:
Adding a New Header Menu Item To add a new link to your header navigation:
1. Click on the "Header Navigation" tab
2. In the "Add New Menu Link" form on the right, select "Header (Top Menu)" from the Menu Location dropdown
3. Enter the Display Label (what visitors see) in the Display Label field
4. Choose how to link by selecting either: - Link to Internal Page: Select from your existing pages - Custom / External URL: Enter any external URL (e.g., https://instagram.com/yoursite)
5. Set the Sort Order number to control where it appears (lower numbers appear first)
6. Choose "Open In" preference: Same Tab or New Tab
7. Click "Add Menu Link" to save.
Editing Menu Items To modify an existing header menu item:
1. Locate the item in the TOP NAVIGATION MENU list
2. Click the blue "Edit" button next to the item
3. Update the Display Label, URL, Sort Order, or other settings
4. Save your changes
Deleting Menu Items To remove a header menu item:
1. Find the item in the TOP NAVIGATION MENU list
2. Click the red Delete button (trash icon)
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
MANAGING FOOTER LINKS:
Adding Footer Links Footer links work similarly to header navigation:
1. Click on the "Footer Links" tab
2. Select "Footer" from the Menu Location dropdown (if available)
3. Follow the same steps as adding header menu items
4. Click "Add Menu Link" to save.
Organizing Footer Links:
You can have footer links in multiple columns or sections by:
- Using the Sort Order to position items
- Grouping related links by numbering them sequentially
- Creating visual separation with clear labels
BEST PRACTICES FOR MENU MANAGEMENT
Keep your primary navigation simple:
- Limit header menu items to 5-7 main categories for better usability Use descriptive labels
- Menu items should clearly describe what visitors will find Organize logically
- Group related pages together based on user behavior Update regularly
- Remove outdated pages and add new sections as your site evolves Test on mobile
- Verify your menus display properly on smartphones and tablets Use consistent naming
- Avoid confusing variations of the same page names Consider internal links first
- Link to your own pages before using external links.
MANAGING MENU SORT ORDER:
The Sort Order field determines where menu items appear: Lower numbers appear first
- Sort Order 1 appears before Sort Order 2 You can use any number
- Use increments of 10 (10, 20, 30, etc.) to make future edits easier
Reorganize anytime - Change sort numbers without affecting URLs or content
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Can I change a menu item's URL after creating it?
A: Yes! Click Edit on the menu item and change the URL, then save your changes.
Q: What's the difference between "Same Tab" and "New Tab" for opening links?
A: Same Tab keeps visitors on your domain, while New Tab opens external links without leaving your site. Use New Tab for external links and Same Tab for internal pages.
Q: Can I have external links in my header navigation?
A: Absolutely! Select "Custom / External URL" and enter the full URL (including https://) of the external site you want to link to.
Q: How many menu items can I have?
A: You can have as many as you want, though for user experience, keep header navigation to 5-7 items and organize footer links logically.
Q: Do my menu changes appear instantly?
A: Yes! Changes to your navigation menus take effect immediately when you save them.
Q: Can I reorder menu items?
A: Yes! Use the Sort Order field to change the display order. Lower numbers appear first. You can reorder items anytime.