In plain English
WordPress menus are built from pages, posts, taxonomy terms and custom links, then assigned to locations the theme provides.
The labels do more work than the structure. Navigation using internal service names rather than the words customers use is the most common reason a menu goes unused.
What to know
Built from any link type
Pages, posts, terms, custom URLs.
Assigned to locations
Which the theme defines.
Labels decide usage
Customer language, not internal.
Nesting works badly on mobile
Where most visits happen.
Why it matters
Naming navigation items in the words customers use is free and it changes behaviour. Nobody clicks a menu item they do not recognise.
Common mistakes
×Internal jargon as menu labels.
×Deep nesting that mobile users cannot reach.
×Too many top-level items.
×Menus not assigned to a theme location, so nothing appears.
FAQs
How many menu items should I have?
Five to seven at the top level.
Why is my menu not showing?
It probably has not been assigned to a display location.
WRITTEN BY TARIQ SALLAM
Marketing Consultant. Entrepreneur. Content Creator.
I'm a marketing consultant, entrepreneur and content creator. I help businesses grow through practical marketing, websites, SEO, content and AI.
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