Changing top level navigation between site sections

[gwelch]

We've got an internal proposal to change our top level nav depending on the section of the site. For example, on our homepage it might read: Products, Library, About with relevant links dropping down below.

As we have varied products, the drop down underneath it would include the various families. When arriving on the product family page the top-level nav would change to represent more specific offerings.

For example:

xxx.com

1. Products; 2. Library; 3. About

xxx.com/xxx

1. Product family 1; 2. Product family 2; 3. Product family 3; 4. Library; 5. About

What are the SEO/UX implications of this? It seems confusing but allows more specific navigation via the main nav depending on the section of the site. Also it seems that an alternating TLN might not be too Google-friendly.

[gwelch]

Thanks to both of you. We currently handle it via a sub-nav and intend to keep doing so. I wanted to bounce the request off of some other folks before I go back to the group who proposed it.

Thanks again.

[DannyHoodless]

Kristen is right, before you even think about the SEO implications, think about the user experience. If the navigation changed while you were browsing the chances you would notice are slim. You begin to come confused and if i saw something like that i would assume the website is poorly developed. Adding a sub navigation is the better option, I would use a vertical navigation for the product groups at the side of the site.