Association: the recipe for creating the ideal navigation menu

The time for the first decisions has come! But you are not sure where to begin — do not panic: we are here to help you create an effective navigation menu.
To write this article, the inbound marketing agency in Lyon HTTP5000 studied around ten French association websites. This analysis of navigation tabs draws on our expertise in creating websites for associations.

This article will be fairly concise. We are simply going to reveal the 7 tabs that visitors expect to find in your navigation menu.

Creating a navigation menu: the 7 essential tabs for your association

Before you start writing your website content, you will need to define a first draft of its structure. From there, you can create your association's navigation menu.

1. Who are we? / The association (present on 80% of sites). In your association's menu, this tab allows visitors to learn more about the history of your association.
2. Our cause (present on 80% of association sites). This tab will allow visitors to gain a better understanding of the detail behind your association's commitment. If you support research into a particular illness, you can describe here what that illness is. You should describe its day-to-day implications.
3. Become a volunteer (present on 70% of sites). This tab shows visitors that you need new talent to carry out your mission.
4. Donate. By making online donations to your association easy, you allow the greatest number of people to contribute to funding your activities.
5. Our actions. Members, volunteers, existing or prospective donors — many people want to know what actions you have taken. In the same vein, everyone wants to know what actions you are preparing to take.
6. Our locations. Visitors to your site may need to meet you in person. Give them every opportunity to find you as easily as possible so you can offer them your help.
7. Contact. This menu tab is essential on your association's website. It must allow your visitors to get in touch by email or via a form, whatever the reason for their enquiry.

Why not more navigation tabs?

We strongly advise against choosing more tabs than these when you create your navigation menu. Everything must be done to simplify your visitors' navigation experience. The choice of tabs (or menu headings) will have a direct impact on how people behave on your site.

If all tabs are accessible in a single click, you give your visitors the ability to navigate simply within your site. As a general rule, links are unlikely to be visited if they are more than three clicks away from the homepage.
When you create your association's menu, your choice of navigation tabs should enable straightforward navigation that gives quick access to all your content.

If you wish, you can choose fewer tabs in your menu — take inspiration from the UNICEF website's navigation menu, which is remarkably effective.