A lot of fancy menu systems are out there. Adobe Flash, java script, images, flat menus are some of the menu tools that aid in navigation. Navigation systems should be spiderable and well organized.

Spider-able Menu Systems 

Search engines use programs called spiders to move around on the internet or "world wide WEB". Get it? These spiders store links and page content so the engines can apply their algorithms and give a value to the page as well as determine what the page is about.

Really, it doesn't matter what technology you use as long as two things remain part of your navigation system: the navigation links must be visible to Google and other search engines in one form or another and the navigation must be easy to use.

Google can't see links on Flash. Some javascript also prevents search engine spidering. This means that search engines may not be able to find all of your pages and only your home page will get credit for its content. The rest of the site may never be found in an engine. Most designs today, including blogs will steer clear of these technologies. Look at Yahoo, Google, MSNBC, Microsoft, etc. They only use flash for presentation but rarely is it used for menus. If they use javascript they ensure the site is navigable by search engines. Many apply RSS so the site is syndicated to search engines.

Some web browsers also struggle with advanced menus. Users may not be able to get around in the site at all if the menus don't work.

Images should be used sparingly when linking. Search engines can see the link but they can't see the images so they don't have any context to pass along page rank.

Some sites are too large to show all of the navigation options in the same area. If you must have a Flash, javascript, or image menu then make sure the main links are listed at the bottom or somewhere else on every page so search engines can get through the site.

The best navigation is textual. Take blogs or any other popular, successful site for example. They nearly always use text links to get from page to page. They want to make it as easy as possible for secondary pages to be seen.

Organized Menus

If you go to a restaurant you are given a menu. What would happen if all of the drinks were mixed in with the food items? What would happen if the salads were mixed with the desserts? The same applies to your web site. Don't make your user search the site to find the content they seek. Point them in the right direction using intuitive categories and link titles. It should be easy to glance at the menu and "drill down" to the desired content.

Make the most important content easiest to find. Emphasis for content that is for specific people or situations but not really that important to everyone can be minimized.

Spend time organizing the menus so they can be read easily. Use keywords in the links and category titles so users and search engine can find what they want: great real estate content.

For more real estate web site technology ideas visit the Table of Contents - Technology page.