Faceted Navigation

We have the data, but can't quite figure out the interface

[arieng]

On large ecommerce sites, I find that I really like faceted navigation structures that help me zero in on the product I want using the descriptive data I choose: brand, price range, size, color, etc.

I'd like to implement a similar navigation structure on a site I work with. We have all the specification data we need, but we are really struggling with the interface. The handful of solutions our programming team have turned out just don't cut it. We've looked at purchasing some software, but everything I've found is enterprise level starting in the high 5-figures and going up quickly from there.

Isn't there a lower cost solution out there for smaller ecommerce sites? Is this technology so complex that it is only available to the upper echelons of the web?

[arieng]

Scratch that. I was just using the wrong keywords. I just came across two solutions under $1,000 that might just work.

So we don't completely waste a thread, are any of you using faceted metadata navigation structures? Are you using it in category navigation or search results? Do you think its improving the usability of your site?

[lorax]

I'm curious (and others may be too) what you found!

[arieng]

The one I'm currently exploring calls itself a "facet mapping" software. You upload a basic XML feed with your faceted metadata, and it builds the dynamic interface. You can choose from three different styles, all appear to be text-based.

I was looking for something with drop-down boxes, through after playing with the tool I can't find any reason other than just personal preference not to go with text links. Per Matt Cutts, this navigation structure will be excluded from SE spiders so its strictly a usability issue.

[caribguy]

I've recently seen a Plone demo of faceted navigation, will look it up and post back...

Edit: link [plone.org...]

[lorax]

Organization/navigation is a serious problem for large ecommerce websites. Having multiple paths to the same content is key - but it's also an art form.

In some cases, the best sites, are those that choose to use containers that are based on use or need - these are risky because the merchant must really know their customers very well. But - if they do know their audience, this approach often works very well.

The bottom line is it requires a lot of GUI, A/B testing and sampling of buyers and visitors when possible to help refine a behemoth into an intuitive and user friendly interface.

I'm curious Arieng, how did you determine the need for this navigational tool? You said you personally find the tool handy but what led you to think your site needs it?

[arieng]

We have some categories of products that are very uniform in nature. Looking at an image of the product, it is difficult to discern it from any one of several thousand other products. Even the products' descriptions are fairly uniform. For a user to select the right product, they need to review a table of specifications and our taxonomic breakdown makes this very hard to do. However, is they could navigate using those specifications it would make finding just the right item fairly straightforward.

I agree that it is difficult to do this right, and easy to do it wrong.