3 SharePoint Online Tips and Tricks for Navigation

The following are three SharePoint Online tips and tricks for navigation:

1. Leverage the global navigation bar - 

Provides quick access to frequently used sites and resources.

Tips:

• Prioritize frequently used sites: Place the most commonly accessed sites towards the beginning of the navigation bar to facilitate quick access.
• Group sites logically: Organize sites into categories or departments to create a logical structure and improve discoverability.
• Utilize clear labels: Use clear and concise labels for each site to provide easy identification and avoid confusion.
• Maintain consistency: Ensure consistency in naming conventions and site labels across the navigation bar for a cohesive user experience.

2. Employ site navigation menus - 

Site navigation menus, provide structured navigation within individual sites. By effectively organizing and designing site navigation menus, one can guide users through the site's content in a clear and intuitive manner.

Tips:

• Limit menu depth: Keep navigation menus shallow, ideally with no more than two levels, to avoid overwhelming users with too many options.
• Prioritize content: Place the most important content items towards the top of the navigation menu to ensure users easily find key information.
• Use descriptive labels: Employ clear and concise labels for each menu item to accurately represent the content it leads to.
• Consider mega menus: Utilize mega menus, which expand on click to reveal a wider range of options, for sites with extensive content structures.

3. Utilize search refiners - 

Search refiners provide a dynamic way to filter search results based on metadata, allowing one to refine their search and quickly narrow down to the information they need. By enabling and configuring search refiners, one can enhance the search experience and improve the findability of content.

Tips:

• Enable search refiners: Ensure search refiners are enabled for the SharePoint Online sites to provide this filtering functionality.
• Customize refiner panels: Configure refiner panels to display relevant metadata fields that align with the content of sites.
• Position refiners strategically: Place refiner panels in a prominent location on the search results page to make them easily accessible.
• Educate users on refiners: Train users on how to utilize search refiners effectively to enhance their search experience.