How to answer this request from a client?

[alexhoug]

Hello Mozzers,

I just launched a website for one of my clients and one of the update requests they had was to add the first link in the navigation again when the navigation drops down.

Here is an example of the navigation now: http://screencast.com/t/K6ooX0I9pe

For example, they would want "About" showing up again, they want this for every navigation item.

I know this wouldn't be right. How would you respond to them?

[DavidKonigsberg]

I am assuming the hover on top of about brings the drop down menu and a click goes to that page.

If so explain to them the about link is only needed when people click on the about and it opens the drop down menu of options not when you use a hover.

Or you can rename the about to "Who we are"  in the drop down and give them what they want

[webg]

These are good alternatives

[NHA_DistanceLearning]

Hey Alex,

I'd photoshop that picture and add the extra item, then e-mail it to the client and explain that it looks confusing to me, let alone to a site visitor. There's already a (clickable?) main navigation item with that name directly above it (maybe mention that it doesn't have any added SEO value whatsoever). If they are still persistent, I'd ask them to explain to me why they are so keen to add the duplicate item and go from there.

I've been on the receiving end of those requests all too often and sometimes, the logic of a client is hard to explain from a developer's point of view. I think it's best to let the client rule out his own logic in that case

[NateStewart]

Hello Alex,

I was about to give you a different answer but as i was typing i changed my mind!

So at first i was thinking that you can't do this as it would create duplicate content but then i realized that was wrong cause it is only a link. DUH!

That being said, I suppose you could add the "about us" to the drop down but there is no point and it would look silly. I suppose you could do it and show them and hope they change their mind. If they are a tough client then maybe you can change the first "about us" to something else and not link it so it won't do anything and then add the second "about us" to the drop down. Otherwise I would just tell them that it is redundant and can make things confusing for the users.

Again, if they are a stubborn client then just simply give them what they want. Other than being confusing for the user it shouldn't hurt anything. Well I suppose it might make for a confusing sitemap, not that people actually use those.

Good luck!