Synaptic Navigation
Posted on | July 2, 2008 | jeff baker
Synaptic navigation is the art of presenting the web site user with a custom navigation experience. Synaptic navigation allows users to follow their own thought process while navigating your site. For example, if a user is looking at a specific product or service and sees a link or call out to related information, there is a chance that they will stay engaged on your site longer.
Usually backed up by linear or traditional navigation and robust search capabilities, synaptic navigation is a departure from directing users down a specific path to what you think they are looking for. The challenge is for designers and developers to think about all the ways content can link to itself throughout the site.
Most web sites attempt to follow the three click rule. If users can’t find what they need within three clicks, they will most likely move on to your competitor’s site. Users are becoming more savvy and want to build a relationship with you on their own terms. Synaptic navigation is one way to do this. Another way is through using PURLs (personalized urls). In the world of B2B and B2C, personalized URLs can make a significant impact on your users. We’ll take a look at PURLs in another post.
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