Your navigation (menu) is one of the most important parts of your website. Done well, visitors find what they need instantly. Done poorly, they bounce or worse, they assume you don’t have what they need.
Here are five clear signs your navigation might be working against you.
You Have Too Many Menu Items 🤯
If your top menu feels like a laundry list 8, 10, even 12 items visitors freeze and leave.
Why it hurts:
People can only scan 5–7 choices at a time. Anything more leads to cognitive overload.
Quick fix (5 min):
Group related items into dropdowns. Aim for 4–6 top-level items max.
Important Pages Are Buried 😶🌫️
If your most important actions (Donate, Contact, Programs, Services, Book Now) sit under two layers of dropdowns, they might as well not exist.
Why it hurts:
Visitors don’t “hunt” they click what’s obvious.
Quick fix (2 min):
Add a primary CTA button in the top right (Donate / Get Started / Contact).
Your Labels Don’t Match What People Expect 🤨
Creative labels like “Discover,” “Journey,” or “Connect” might feel fun but if visitors don’t instantly know what they mean, they ignore them.
Why it hurts:
Ambiguity slows down decision-making and kills conversions.
Quick fix (5 min):
Use plain-language labels:
- About
- Services / Programs
- Contact
- Donate
- Blog / News
- Events
Your Mobile Menu Is an Afterthought 🙈
If your mobile menu is slow, hard to close, or requires multiple taps, you’re losing people especially younger audiences who browse almost entirely on mobile.
Why it hurts:
50–70% of nonprofit and small business visitors use mobile.
Quick fix (2–3 min):
Open your site on your phone and check:
Does the menu open fast?
Are tap targets large enough?
Is the CTA button visible without scrolling?
If not, adjust your theme’s mobile settings or simplify the menu.
Visitors Can’t Tell Where They Are on Your Site 🤷♂️
If every page looks identical and headings aren’t clear, visitors get lost and back out.
Why it hurts:
People want to know:
“Am I in the right place?”
“Is this what I expected to find?”
If the answer is “I’m not sure,” they leave.
Quick fix (5 min):
Add a clear H1 heading at the top of every page.
Highlight the active menu item if your theme allows it.
Add a breadcrumb trail if your site has many subpages.
Final Takeaway
Clean, simple navigation is one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort upgrades you can make to your website. Small businesses and nonprofits especially benefit from clarity; it reduces confusion, increases trust, and boosts conversions.
Cover image from Katie Moumon Unsplash.
