This vital work must now be done through a navigation approach that creates the best possible context. When you are driving, you become acclimated not just to what the road signs say, but also to their size, shape, and color. If you are driving along following a set of signs that suddenly change shape, size, and color, your immediate response is one of confusion and hesitation. Thankfully, few countries change the design of their road signs from region to region or town to town. Not so on the Web, where navigation can change in an ad hoc manner, even within a particular Web site.
Readers often turn to navigation when they're confused or lost.
Don't confuse them even more by displaying an inconsistent or unfamiliar navigation design. For example, if you decide to put your navigation menu on the left side of your home page, don't switch the navigation menu to the right side of the page in another section of your Web site. Being consistent with language is critical for successful navigation. That will only confuse readers. Establish the language and terms you are going to use in your navigation approach, and use them consistently throughout each page of your Web site.