Proposed Navigation Structure
Purpose
This section translates the sitemap into a practical navigation system that works across devices, contexts, and user journeys. It defines how users move through the structure, not what the structure contains.
Navigation must serve three buyer archetypes identified in competitive research:
- Veteran Buyers (30%): Know exact part numbers, need speed
- Problem Solvers (50%): Know their application, need guidance
- Researchers (20%): Need to learn before buying, need education
The navigation system must provide multiple entry points without overwhelming any single user type.
Desktop Navigation Model
Primary Navigation Bar
The primary navigation appears as a persistent horizontal bar across all pages.
| Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Logo | Home link, brand identity |
| Primary menu | Main content sections |
| Utility navigation | Account, cart, region, search |
Primary Menu Structure
The primary menu contains five visible items plus search:
| Menu Item | Serves |
|---|---|
| Products | All archetypes |
| Applications | Problem Solvers |
| Industries | Problem Solvers, Researchers |
| Resources | Researchers |
| Brands | Brand-loyal customers |
Research basis: Competitive analysis shows winning sites provide “multiple navigation paths (by application, industry, product type)” rather than a single taxonomy. CrazyEgg data confirms users engage differently: MOCAP users prefer tables (46-54% of clicks on collection pages), Cleartec/Beckett users prefer visual navigation (44-52% on images).
Products Mega-Menu
The Products mega-menu is the primary navigation path. It is organized into five columns with subcategories.
| Caps | Plugs | Tubes | Packaging | More Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapered Caps | Tapered Plugs | Clear Tubes | Boxes | Tape |
| Flanged Caps | Center-Pull Plugs | Telescopic Tubes | Containers | Grips |
| Threaded Caps | Outside-Pull Plugs | Mailing Tubes | Closures | Netting |
| Straight Caps | Threaded Plugs | Hanging Tubes | Paper Products | |
| Tear Caps | Tube Plugs | Extruded Plastic Tubes | OEM Products | |
| Pipe Caps | Pipe Plugs | |||
| Vinyl Caps | Sheet Metal Plugs | |||
| Pull-Tab Caps | Flange Protectors | |||
| Finishing Caps |
Bottom Row (Featured Links)
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| All Products | Full catalog access with filtering |
| I Know My Part Number | Direct search path for Veteran buyers |
Applications Mega-Menu
The Applications mega-menu provides use-case navigation matching the eight application categories in the sitemap.
Applications
| Protection | Packaging | Repair | Featured links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masking Protection | Retail Packaging | Repair & Sealing | Featured Application Image |
| Thread Protection | Industrial Packaging | Application Advisor Tool Link | |
| Shipping Protection | Mailing Tubes | ||
| Speciality Containers |
Industries Menu
Simple dropdown listing the seven industry verticals from the sitemap:
| Industry |
|---|
| Automotive |
| HVAC & Refrigeration |
| Paint, Coating & Finishing |
| Appliances |
| Electronics |
| Medical Devices |
| General Manufacturing |
Resources Menu
Two-column dropdown matching resources sitemap:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Catalogs | Tools |
| Guides | Videos |
| Specifications | Certifications |
| FAQ | Business Resources |
Brands Menu
| Brand | Description |
|---|---|
| MOCAP | Protective caps, plugs, masking |
| Cleartec | Clear plastic tubes & packaging |
| Beckett | Telescopic tubes & tool storage |
| X-Treme Tape | Self-fusing silicone tape |
Utility Navigation
Utility navigation appears in the top-right of the header on desktop.
| Element | Behavior | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Search | Expands to full search bar on click | Prominent, always visible |
| Account | Dropdown: Sign In, Register, or Account menu if logged in | Shows name when authenticated |
| Cart | Shows item count badge, links to cart | Persistent across pages |
| Region | Dropdown selector | Flag icon + region code |
Search Behavior
Search is positioned prominently based on research showing 73% of customers (19 of 26 survey respondents) prioritize better search as a website improvement. Current search receives only 6-7% of homepage clicks, suggesting underutilization.
Search bar behavior:
- Collapsed icon on initial view
- Expands to full-width bar on click/focus
- Autocomplete shows results as user types
- Part number searches resolve directly to product (no results page)
- Application/keyword searches show categorized results
Search results organization:
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Products | Direct product matches |
| Categories | Matching category pages |
| Applications | Relevant application pages |
| Resources | Guides, specs, videos |
Research basis: Search log analysis shows most queries are part numbers (e.g., “RVC9044”, “SK4000S9”). Customers expect direct resolution for exact part numbers. Ildar Zibarov (Development) estimates 20-25% sales increase from fixing search alone.
Region Selector
Region selector displays current region and provides switching.
Regions available (matching sitemap regional structure):
| Region Code | Market | Language Options | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| us | United States | English | USD |
| ca | Canada | English, French | CAD |
| mx | Mexico | Spanish | MXN |
| uk | United Kingdom | English | GBP |
| de | Germany | German | EUR |
| fr | France | French | EUR |
| es | Spain | Spanish | EUR |
| it | Italy | Italian | EUR |
| pl | Poland | Polish | PLN |
| cn | China | Mandarin | CNY |
| hk | Hong Kong | English, Chinese | HKD |
Region selection persists via cookie/session. Language can be changed independently within regions that support multiple languages.
Mobile Navigation Model
Mobile Header
The mobile header prioritizes search based on research showing 12 survey respondents selected “quick product lookup (check specs)” as desired mobile functionality.
| Element | Position | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger | Left | Opens navigation drawer |
| Logo | Center | Home link |
| Search | Right | Opens search overlay |
| Cart | Right | Badge + link to cart |
Navigation Drawer
The navigation drawer opens from the left and provides full navigation access.
Drawer Sections
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Account Area | Sign In link (unauthenticated) or My Account link (authenticated) |
| Primary Navigation | Products, Applications, Industries, Resources, Brands |
| Region Selector | Current region with change option |
| Support Links | Contact Us, Support |
Expand/Collapse Behavior
Navigation items with children display a chevron indicating expandable content.
Tap behavior:
- First tap expands/collapses submenu
- Submenu items indent and display beneath parent
- Back arrow or tap outside collapses
Products Expanded State (example)
| Level 1 | Level 2 |
|---|---|
| Products (expanded) | Caps |
| Plugs | |
| High-Temp Masking | |
| Tubing | |
| Packaging | |
| Tape | |
| Grips | |
| Netting | |
| Paper Products | |
| OEM Products | |
| All Products | |
| I Know My Part Number | |
| Applications (collapsed) |
Search-First Rationale
Mobile navigation places search prominently in the header rather than hidden in the drawer based on:
- Customer data: 12 respondents selected “quick product lookup” for mobile use
- Archetype fit: Veteran buyers (30%) need part number search on mobile
- Use case: “I’m standing in front of equipment needing cap size confirmation”
- CrazyEgg finding: MOCAP mobile shows 31% of clicks on hamburger menu alone. Over-reliance on hidden navigation reduces discoverability
Search overlay on mobile provides:
- Full-screen search experience
- Large touch target for input
- Autocomplete results
- Recent searches (if logged in)
Mobile Category Navigation
On category listing pages, filters appear in a collapsible panel rather than an always-visible sidebar.
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Collapsed | ”Filter” button visible above results |
| Expanded | Full-screen filter panel |
| Applied | Active filter chips display, count shows on button |
Research basis: CrazyEgg shows sidebar navigation underperforms on both MOCAP (9-13% of clicks) and Cleartec/Beckett (5-8% when present). Mobile users should access filters on demand rather than sacrificing screen space.
Footer Navigation
The footer provides comprehensive navigation for users who scroll to page bottom, typically researchers seeking specific information.
Footer Sections
| Products | Resources | Company | Support | Brands | Legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caps | Catalogs | About Us | Contact Sales | Mocap | Terms |
| Plugs | Guides | Quality | Contact Support | Cleartec | Privacy |
| Tubes | Specifications | Sustainability | Request Samples | Beckett | Accessibility |
| Packaging | Videos | Materials | Request a Quote | X-Treme Tape | Cookies |
| Tape | FAQ | Locations | Shipping Info | ||
| High-Temp Masking | Certifications | Careers | Returns | ||
| Grips | Trade Shows | Business Hours | |||
| All Products |
Footer Grouping Logic
| Group | Purpose | Typical User |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Quick access to product categories | Users comparing options |
| Resources | Educational content access | Researchers |
| Company | Corporate information | New customers, partners |
| Support | Help and contact options | Users with questions |
| Brands | Brand landing pages | Brand-loyal customers |
| Legal | Required legal links | Compliance, procurement |
Navigation and Sitemap Relationship
The navigation system provides multiple paths into the sitemap structure:
| Sitemap Section | Navigation Access Points |
|---|---|
/products/* | Products mega-menu, footer, search, application cross-links |
/applications/* | Applications mega-menu, industry cross-links |
/industries/* | Industries dropdown, application cross-links |
/brands/* | Brands dropdown, footer |
/resources/* | Resources dropdown, footer, product page links |
/company/* | Footer only (low-traffic corporate content) |
/account/* | Utility navigation (Account dropdown) |
/cart/* | Utility navigation (Cart icon) |
/support/* | Footer, header contact links on specific pages |
Multiple Paths to Same Content
The navigation deliberately provides multiple paths to the same products:
| User Intent | Path |
|---|---|
| ”I need caps” | Products → Caps |
| ”I need masking for powder coating” | Applications → Masking Protection → Products |
| ”I work in automotive” | Industries → Automotive → Recommended Products |
| ”I want MOCAP products” | Brands → MOCAP |
| ”I know part number RVC-250” | Search → Direct to product |
This reflects the research finding that customers approach product discovery from different contexts: Veteran buyers know what they need, Problem Solvers know their application, Researchers explore options.
Regional Variations
Language-Specific Navigation Labels
Navigation labels translate for each language.
| Examples |
|---|
| Products |
| Applications |
| Industries |
| Resources |
| Search |
| Account |
| Cart |
Region-Specific Content Variations
Some navigation elements vary by region:
| Element | Variation |
|---|---|
| Contact phone numbers | Region-specific numbers display |
| Business hours | Display in local time zone |
| Certifications | Region-relevant certifications highlighted (ISO prominent for automotive/medical) |
| Currency display | Prices in local currency |
| Shipping info | Region-specific shipping details |
Navigation Consistency Across Regions
Despite content variations, navigation structure remains consistent:
- Same menu hierarchy in all 11 regions
- Same mega-menu organization
- Same mobile drawer pattern
- Same footer structure
This consistency ensures users moving between regional sites experience familiar patterns. Content is 90-95% identical across regions per brief analysis.
Summary: How Users Move Through the Structure
| User Type | Primary Path | Secondary Path |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran Buyer | Search → Product → Cart | Products menu → Category → Product |
| Problem Solver | Applications → Landing → Products | Industries → Landing → Products |
| Researcher | Resources → Guides → Products | Products → Browse → Compare |
| Brand-Loyal | Brands → Brand Section → Products | Direct URL to brand |
| Mobile Lookup | Search → Product → Specs | Drawer → Products → Category |
The navigation system provides:
- Speed for Veterans through search and “I Know My Part Number”
- Guidance for Problem Solvers through Applications and Industries
- Education for Researchers through Resources and comprehensive browsing
- Flexibility for all users through multiple equivalent paths