A custom menu helps visitors move around a WordPress website without having to search through every page. It can link to important pages such as About, Services, Contact, Blog, privacy information and selected categories. A clear navigation bar also gives a new website a more organised appearance than the default WordPress welcome screen.
WordPress offers two main ways to manage navigation. Classic themes use the Menus screen under Appearance, while newer block themes use the Navigation block in the Site Editor. The labels and controls can vary slightly, but the underlying process is similar: choose links, arrange them, select a display location and publish the changes.
For an Australian website, navigation should suit local expectations and legal requirements. A small business in Melbourne may need links to delivery areas and store hours, while a tradesperson in Brisbane could highlight service suburbs and emergency contact details. An online shop should also make privacy, returns and delivery information easy to find.
Start by deciding what visitors need most. A primary menu usually contains between four and seven key links. Common choices include Home, About, Services or Products, Blog, Contact and FAQs. If every page is added to the navigation bar, the result can become crowded, particularly on mobile phones.
Think about the audience and the way people use the site. An Australian café might link directly to Menu, Locations, Bookings and Order Online. A local consultancy could use Services, Industries, Case Studies and Contact. Short labels are easier to scan than phrases such as “Learn more about all of our available services”.
Create the pages before building the menu where possible. WordPress can add custom URLs, categories and individual posts, but a stable page structure makes navigation easier to maintain. Check each page title and URL as well. A page called “Contact us” with a simple address such as /contact/ is generally clearer than an automatically generated URL containing dates or unnecessary words.
With a classic WordPress theme, sign in to the dashboard and open Appearance, then Menus. Select Create a new menu, enter a name such as “Primary navigation”, and choose Create Menu. The menu name is for administration; visitors will not normally see it.
Use the panels on the left to add Pages, Posts, Custom Links or Categories. Select the items required, then click Add to Menu. Each item can be dragged into a different position. A menu item moved slightly to the right beneath another item becomes a sub-item, creating a dropdown. Keep dropdowns shallow so users do not have to navigate several layers.
The Menu Settings area usually includes display locations such as Primary, Header, Footer or Mobile. The available names depend on the theme. Select the location used by the site’s header and click Save Menu. Visit the front end in a new browser tab to check that the links, wording and dropdown behaviour work as expected.
Block themes use a different route. Open Appearance, then Editor, and select the header or template part containing the Navigation block. Choose the block, open its settings and add or remove links. A new menu can be created from the block itself, and changes are generally saved through the Editor. If Appearance does not contain Menus, the site is probably using this newer editing system.
To add an existing page, tick its checkbox and choose Add to Menu. For a category archive, use the Categories panel. This is useful for websites with regular content, such as an Australian news blog covering Sydney, Perth or regional communities. Category links should describe the content accurately rather than use internal terms that visitors may not recognise.
Custom Links are useful when the destination is outside the website. Enter the full address, including https://, and write a concise navigation label. For example, a business could link to an online booking platform, a Google Business Profile or an Australian payments portal. Check external links periodically because services change their URLs and some booking systems expire sessions or move pages.
A parent item can act as a label for a dropdown, although it is often better for it to lead to a useful overview page. For example, “Services” might link to a services landing page while its dropdown contains “Electrical repairs”, “Lighting” and “Smoke alarms”. This gives visitors a destination if they tap the parent label instead of opening the submenu.
| Navigation item | Suitable destination | Practical purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Homepage | Provides a quick route back to the main starting point |
| Services or Products | Overview page | Explains the main offer before detailed pages |
| Locations | Area or store page | Helps visitors find suburbs, cities or service regions |
| Contact | Contact page or booking form | Makes enquiries and appointments easy |
| Blog or News | Post archive | Groups updates, advice and announcements |
| Privacy | Privacy policy | Supports transparency about personal information |
| Delivery or Returns | Policy page | Clarifies arrangements for Australian customers |
Many Australians browse while commuting, comparing products in a shopping centre or looking for a local service from a phone. Test the menu at narrow screen widths, including approximately 375 pixels, rather than checking only on a desktop monitor. Confirm that the menu button is visible, the text is readable and dropdowns can be opened with a tap.
Avoid relying on hover effects. Hover works with a mouse but does not translate reliably to touchscreens. A mobile menu should open when a user taps the menu control, and each important destination should remain accessible without precise gestures. Check that the close button is obvious and that the menu does not cover the entire page without a clear way to return.
Use descriptive link text instead of vague labels such as “Click here”. “Book a Melbourne consultation” or “View delivery information” gives visitors and search engines more context. Keep the wording consistent: use either sentence case or another style throughout the navigation, and avoid mixing “Our Services” with “contact us” unless that contrast is deliberate.
Accessibility matters as well. Make sure keyboard users can reach every menu item, focus indicators remain visible and colour contrast is strong. A theme or plugin may alter these settings, so test the published site rather than assuming the editor preview reflects the final experience.
Australian websites that collect names, email addresses, phone numbers or payment details should make their privacy information easy to locate. The Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles can apply depending on the organisation and its activities. A menu link to a current privacy policy does not replace proper legal advice, but it makes important information easier for visitors to find.
Online retailers should give customers clear access to delivery, returns and refund information. Australian Consumer Law creates guarantees for many goods and services, so a returns page should not promise less than the law allows. Link to these details from the footer, and consider adding “Delivery” or “Returns” to the main menu when they strongly influence a purchase.
Local details should be accurate and maintained. If a business serves only the Gold Coast, listing every Australian capital city can mislead visitors and weaken the site’s credibility. Include relevant suburbs, trading hours, public holiday changes and Australian Eastern, Central or Western time references where appointments are involved. A Sydney business and a Perth business may need different wording for service areas and operating times.
Finally, test every link after saving the menu. Open pages in an incognito window, try the menu on a phone, submit a test contact form and check any external booking or payment destination. Review the navigation whenever a page is renamed, a service is discontinued or the site adds a new section. A well-maintained WordPress menu remains concise, predictable and useful as the website grows.