Keep legal and policy links out of the main navigation
The main menu is for shopping, not for terms and privacy links. Move legal links to the footer where shoppers look for them.
2 min read
Area
CRO & UX
Severity
Low
Fix effort
Small
Stores failing
8%
Of 99 stores we scanned where this check applies, 8% fail it and 92% pass. See all benchmarks.
The main navigation should help shoppers find products. Legal and policy links such as terms of service and privacy belong in the footer. This check flags a main menu that carries them.
Why it matters
Menu space is limited and valuable. Every policy link in the header pushes a category out or crowds the bar. Shoppers who want policies know to look in the footer.
What the audit looks at
The audit reads the main navigation items on the home page and flags legal or policy entries.
What usually causes it
- A menu built by adding every page in the admin
- A theme default menu with policy pages included
- A cut-and-paste from an old site
- A template that merges header and footer menus
How to fix it
Move legal and policy links out of the main navigation. The effort is small, usually a setting or a paste and under 30 minutes.
- Privacy, terms and returns links in the main menu take space from the pages that sell and signal a store that is not thinking about the shopper.
- Keep them in the footer, where shoppers and regulators look for them.
On Shopify
- Online Store > Navigation: open the main menu and remove the legal items, then add them to the footer menu. The theme footer shows that menu.
On WooCommerce
- Appearance > Menus: remove the legal pages from the primary menu and add them to the footer menu location.
How to check it yourself
- List every item in your main menu.
- Move any legal pages to the footer menu.
- Check mobile menu structure as well.
Frequently asked questions
Where should returns information live?
In the footer, and also near the buy button where the question arises.
Is an About page a legal link?
No. An About page can sit in the menu if it helps your brand.
Related checks
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