The menu at the end of a page or application interface is important for navigation. If the user scrolls to the end of the page, it's good to have a map of actions instead of a dead end. An expanded menu in the footer does just that and helps the user go further around the site or app.
Therefore, you should not ignore the footer menu and make it truncated and simple. It is better to expand all possible navigation items and show them at once. This way it will be easier for the user to find something inside the site.
Many sites and applications use sticky navigation. When users scroll through a page, the menu is fixed at the top of the screen and moves with the content. Sticky navigation is about solving a non-existent problem and creating a new problem.
1. It overlaps the content, especially on small screens. It's terrible.
2. Users already know that the menu is at the top of the page and will scroll up if necessary. This is not a problem.
3. Content should have call-to-action or tell users to navigate all the way to other sections of the site or app. If the content doesn't contain onward direction, the navigation won't help.
4. The bottom of the page should be pointers to where the user should go next. It's a good pattern to show the user a map of where to go next instead of a dead end.
So it is better not to use sticky navigation in any case or any way.
Users don't recognize the 'burger' icon as a control to show the menu. And they can't find the navigation on the site or in the app because of it, although this has long been a common pattern of showing hidden navigation.
This problem is especially evident in desktop versions of sites when users do not expect any hidden menus and the shape of three dashes 'burger' just do not perceive them as a control — expecting a normal, expanded menu on the page of the site.
On mobile versions, the 'burger' icon is a more expected pattern, but nevertheless can also go unnoticed. In reality, sites drop significantly in the number of views and conversions within the site if the 'burger' icon is not emphasized enough and looks ambiguous.
The problem is solved if you add the word 'Menu' or something similar next to the 'burger' icon. The label gives unambiguity and clearly indicates that it is a menu.
It is not worth experimenting with the 'burger' icon. Let it remain the usual symbol of the three lines. Any other kind of this icon can only confuse the user.
It is bad when there is no navigation at the end of a blog post or article. It's always better to navigate to the next or previous post. It can be just a header with an arrow or even a header with the image that tells the user what to read next.
In fact, this is true of almost any content on the site, not just blog posts or other texts. It's always good to show the user-related pages of the site or something else on the topic.
This navigation greatly increases page views and visitor engagement.
A good solution is to use the 'Mega' menu instead of dropdowns, especially multi-level ones. 'Mega' menu immediately shows all internal navigation items and helps you conveniently group them into specific categories, which makes it much easier to navigate the site. The user always has a map at hand.
Also, there is no problem if the mega menu has two or more rows of links and categories. It's still better than wandering through dropdown.
Inside the mega menu can be links and any objects that lead the user further on the site.
The best way to navigate the site is to search. Filters, categories, and sorting are secondary and should only help filter out the results.
