Purposive and useful first impression
Just think of using a mobile app that with first few tapings just does not lead you to the area or content where you intended to be. There are countless apps that suffer from similar symptom. Yes, if you cannot orient the user at first look and then direct him in a purposive way, the whole point of downloading the app is lost.
- Conventional icons and menu will save the hassle of finding anything.
- A search menu will offer a quick view of all the pages.
- A drop down menu can quickly give idea of the pages inside and makes navigation easier.
- Page order based upon the priority from user’s point of view is essential to make it look thoroughly purposive.
Call to action
Many apps just do not give enough priority to offering actionable buttons that relates to business output. Great navigation is also about this aspect which is referred as ‘call to action’. Your app has everything for enjoying popularity and user loyalty except the so called navigational buttons and flow of pages that takes users to business actions like in-app purchases. In such cases it must be said that your app lacks teeth to cut through the revenue that all apps are after.
- ‘Call to action’ buttons should be implemented on a priority basis.
- Integrate navigation through in-app ads forcing users much time in them.
- Offer actionable buttons as options, never as action at the end of a blind lane. Always make sure that the ‘skip’ button is there.
Priority of content over design
Content is the king not just in web but in apps too. Many apps are mobile friendly versions of their web page and users access them primarily for content. Navigation in every possible way should augment the readability and usability of content.
- Navigation buttons or icons must not disturb the way content is presented.
- Navigation and scrolling icons must remain hidden whenever full screen view is being opted.
- Dropdown menu, contextual hiding and showing of navigation icons, gesture based scrolling, these can add to the usefulness of navigation for prioritizing content.
Integrating device capabilities
Great user friendly navigation control in apps to a great extent depends upon integrating device capabilities. In an image editor app capability of accessing the device camera in just one or two tapings is ideal for the app to be perceived as convenient. Similarly, the fitness app may integrate accessing button for the native device timer and stopwatch. Integrating device and platform specific capabilities would make the app more enjoyable.
Intuitive navigation makes use simple
Intuitive navigation understanding and predicting the common user reaction offers appropriate options in buttons with color hierarchy. For example, you may skip or adhere to a particular step in a gaming app. Intuitively, the app offers you buttons to skip and progress further. Intuitive navigation saves precious time for the users.
Great navigation cast shadows over shortcomings
Finally, one must admit that great user friendly navigation actually hides your shortcomings in the app. Maybe your app still lacks in features and maybe that your app is backdated in respect of offering real user value. Definitely all of these shortcomings cannot be supplemented only with a great navigation but to a great extent the navigational ease can actually help you to sustain and find time breach the gaps.
Great app navigation quickly orients the user with the purpose and benefit of the app. At a time when vast majority of apps are struggling to hit good number of views by app store traffic, poor navigation is bound to be punished. Navigation still plays the central role among all design elements in mobile apps.
About Author:
Juned Ghanchi has spend more than 8 years in marketing and business development leadership positions with leading mobile application development companies, and now he is a founder of Indian App Developers leading web and mobile app developer company where he is head of marketing and sales department.