The Website Standards Association has found that confusing navigation and bad design of many Australian
websites are driving traffic away, failing to meet basic international standards.

• According to WSA, website navigation standards are:
  • consistent positioned main menu
  • sub menus (each of them has no more than two levels)
  • underlined and colour-changeable hyperlinks
  • maximum three clicks to go to another page
  • secondary menu on every site
  • a sitemap that is accessible from every page
  • a secured contact instead of displaying email addresses which will attract large amounts of spam emails.

• Design standards are:
  • a logo that links back to the home page at the header of every page
  • a uniform font
  • dark main content on a light background
  • headings and links consistent in colour
  • short paragraphs with bullet points
  • a single layout
  • avoid inserting text as images as well as using large flash animation areas.

Source: Website Standards Association