Table of Contents
Your website menu isn’t just a list of pages—it’s a compass. A good one guides visitors, builds trust, and helps users find exactly what they need. But when your menu is unclear, crowded, or inconsistent, it becomes a barrier instead of a bridge.
After years of working on client websites—both new builds and rescue projects—I’ve seen a pattern. The same small problems show up over and over, and they quietly chip away at engagement and conversions. So let’s look at five common website menu mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Too Many Menu Items
This is the most common mistake I see: overloaded menus with 8, 10, even 12 links lined up across the top. It overwhelms visitors and forces them to decode your structure before they can act.
Fix it: Limit your primary menu to 5–7 top-level items. Use dropdowns for deeper pages, and shift non-essential links (like Terms or Privacy) to your footer.
2. Using Vague or Cute Labels
Navigation isn’t the place to be clever. Labels like “Let’s Talk” or “Solutions Hub” might feel creative, but they leave users guessing. If visitors can’t immediately tell what a link means, they’re more likely to ignore it.
Fix it: Use clear, conventional language like “Contact,” “Services,” “About,” or “Pricing.” Save your personality for your copy—not your menu.
3. Inconsistent Menu Placement
On some sites, the menu moves or changes depending on the page. This inconsistency breaks trust and confuses visitors. Your navigation should feel like a stable anchor—always available, always reliable.
Fix it: Keep your menu placement and styling consistent across every page. If you’re using a sticky header, make sure it behaves the same site-wide.
4. Missing or Buried Calls to Action
Many websites don’t make their most important action obvious. If your contact link, booking button, or product page is buried in a submenu, users may never find it.
Fix it: Identify your top CTA and make it stand out. This could mean using a contrasting button in the top-right corner or pulling one link outside of the dropdowns.
5. No Mobile Optimization
Your desktop menu might look fine—but if it turns into a chaotic hamburger menu on mobile, you’re losing visitors fast. Poor mobile navigation is one of the top reasons users bounce.
Fix it: Test your menu on multiple devices. Make sure links are tap-friendly, dropdowns are easy to open, and your most important pages are just one tap away.
Bonus: Test Navigation Like a First-Time Visitor
Open your site in a private browser window. Ask yourself: If I knew nothing about this business, could I easily find:
- What this company offers
- How to contact them
- What makes them different
If not, your menu needs work.
External Resources
- NNG: Website Navigation Best Practices
- Smashing Magazine: Navigation Strategy
- UX Design: Creating Navigation that Works
Final Thoughts
Your website menu should help visitors move, not make them stop and think. By avoiding these five common website menu mistakes, you make your site easier to use, more intuitive, and more likely to convert.
Navigation is one of the first things I optimize when working with new clients. If your site feels cluttered or hard to navigate, start here. Simplify. Clarify. And always build with the visitor in mind.
Smart navigation is more than a design choice—it’s a business strategy. Clean menus lead to clear decisions. And clear decisions lead to better results.
Want Help Fixing Your Menu?
If your site’s navigation feels bloated, outdated, or confusing, I offer a one-time Website Menu & UX Audit to get things back on track.
- Detailed review of your current menu
- Clear action plan with best practices
- Optional hands-on implementation
