On the Web: Secrets of Profitable Navigation Exposed

4. Shop by Product Type is the most common form of navigation, and its placement is where shoppers expect to find it — at the top of the page.

5. Search is what most shoppers use when a site's navigation fails to help them find the products they're looking for. It's best to place the search box in the upper right corner, as OfficeMax does. Most shoppers read a site from the top, down the left side, across the bottom, then up the right side. The upper right is the last place shoppers look before leaving a page or site. If the navigation hasn't helped, a search box offers the last chance for shoppers to find what they're looking for before leaving.