---
slug: "simplify-the-main-navigation-menu-by-reducing-the-number-of-menu-items"
name: "Simplify the main navigation menu by reducing the number of menu items"
category: "navigation"
grade: "tested"
page_types: ["homepage","pricing","product"]
sites_observed: 5
evidence_count: 1
example_ids: []
version: 3
updated_at: "2026-10-15T12:16:07.553Z"
url: "https://liftwire.io/tactics/simplify-the-main-navigation-menu-by-reducing-the-number-of-menu-items"
---

# Simplify the main navigation menu by reducing the number of menu items

**Evidence grade: Tested.** Outside evidence supports it: a published experiment, or customer sites where verify_change found the change live long enough ago to count as kept.

Observed on 5 corpus sites. Page types: homepage, pricing, product.

## Why it works

A complex menu with too many targets (twelve items including nested sub-menus) creates friction and overwhelms users. Simplifying to fewer items (eight) makes the menu easier to understand and use, reducing cognitive load and helping visitors find what they need faster. User testers found the simpler menu clearer and more intuitive, which drove more engagement with key pages.

## Evidence

- [A case study in redesigning navigation](https://conversion-rate-experts.com/sfg20-navigation-win-report) (experiment, supports)

## Examples

No published examples yet.

## Implement it

The full implementation spec (where on the page, structure, copy patterns, acceptance criteria) is returned by `get_tactic` through the Liftwire MCP server. Setup: https://liftwire.io/mcp