What is a mega menu? How to create one in WordPress

A mega menu is an essential tool in modern website design. Most websites today use one, not only to look better but also to help visitors find information quickly and easily. So what exactly is a mega menu, and how do you add one to WordPress? Find out with MONA Media Read the article below for the details on this useful tool.

What is a mega menu?

Mega menu is an advanced type of menu designed to show many categories and options at once, vertically or horizontally. It organizes large sections into smaller, clearer submenus, which makes information easier to find. Because it is visual and easy to use, a mega menu is common on websites with a lot of varied content. For a real example of how it works, look at the MONA website below.

Although a mega menu has many benefits, it is not always the right choice. A mega menu is usually built as one or more large panels split into groups of categories, giving visitors a wide range of options.

Categories in a mega menu are usually shown as text, image blocks and sometimes icons for a more visual look. All the content appears at once, so visitors don't have to click into each subcategory or scroll down to find information.

In a mega menu WordPress, the panel-style menu can be set up in 3 common forms:

• Custom horizontal menu: In the “Product categories", the list from level 1 downward is attached to the horizontal menu, and the panel appears when the visitor interacts with it.
• Product left menu: shows the categories on the left side of the layout.
• Product horizontal menu: Options are laid out horizontally, which suits many kinds of e-commerce websites.

To create a menu in WordPress, go to the admin area, choose Customizer, then find the Menu section. There you can turn the main menus into panels with as many columns as you like. The options for a WordPress mega menu are also shown and easy to configure in this section. Using this tool improves the user experience and makes your website look more professional.

Why use a mega menu?

Professional website design needs more than a nice look. It also has to be practical so visitors get a smooth experience. That is why the mega menu is a top choice for modern websites. If your menu feels dull and lacks appeal, a mega menu can "breathe new life" into the design and give it a fresh, striking look.

A mega menu is about more than looks. It also organizes content in a logical, visual way. Visitors find what they need without scrolling through many pages or clicking deep into subcategories. This helps most on websites with a lot of content or a complex structure, with detailed categories and product groups.

A mega menu also supports your full-scope SEO strategy. Because you can put internal link (internal links) right in the menu, it improves your ranking in search engines and also the path visitors take through the site. They reach the content they want quickly, which raises engagement and keeps customers on your site longer.

A mega menu is also a good place to get creative with content. You can combine images, unique icons and text in a neat but eye-catching panel, so visitors are interested from their first visit. With all these benefits, it is no surprise that the mega menu is a popular tool for building websites that look good and work well.

By now you can see how much a mega menu matters for a smooth user experience and for the business results of your website. A well-organized, tidy, attractive menu helps customers find information and makes your site look more polished and professional.

Don't miss the chance to reach millions of customers online. Let MONA Media help you build a custom website that is professional and SEO-ready, with a well-optimized, striking mega menu. We listen to every requirement, turn your ideas into reality, and deliver a unique, creative website in your brand's colors.

Contact with MONA Media today to turn your ideas into reality and own a website that looks great and performs even better. 

Why create a mega menu on a WordPress site?

For websites with a large and varied amount of content, a WordPress mega menu is almost a must. It shows many categories and subitems in one menu while keeping the layout tidy and easy on the eyes.

When you run an e-commerce website with a mega menu for WooCommerce it organizes products and categories visually, which improves the shopping experience for customers.

Big brands such as Starbucks, Buzzfeed and Reuters all use mega menus to organize their navigation. A mega menu shows information visually, so it looks better and also improves interaction with visitors. Customers can find the information or product they need without scrolling through many pages.

WordPress offers default menu options with dropdowns and icon support, but these are sometimes not enough for a complex website. A WordPress mega menu gives you more room, holds more information, and keeps things clear and professional. This improves the user experience and also helps your website perform better.

So if you want to build a menu SEO-friendly website that looks good and is easy to navigate, creating a mega menu is a smart move.

Popular types of mega menu

A mega menu is an essential tool in website design. It improves the user experience and organizes content logically. Here are the popular types of mega menu in use today, from e-commerce sites to blogs.

• Grid layout (grid mega menu): the most popular type of mega menu, often used on e-commerce sites or websites with a lot of content. Categories and subitems are arranged in a grid, with each column showing a list of links or product images.
• List layout (list mega menu): A mega menu that arranges subitems in a vertical or horizontal list, usually used when the content is not too complex. Each category expands into a list of secondary links.
• Image-based mega menu: a menu that combines text with images or icons to make a visual impression. The images can represent categories or featured products, which makes the menu more attractive and encourages visitors to interact.

How to create and customize a mega menu quickly

You can now create and customize a mega menu on your website quickly, for example by:

Using a plugin to create a mega menu

If you only need a basic mega menu, you can use a free plugin such as Max Mega Menu. It has all the features you need to build a multi-level menu and customize it without technical knowledge.

If you want a more striking mega menu with a polished look and more advanced features, WP Mega Menu is worth considering. This plugin makes the menu look better and adds options such as images, icons, widgets and a range of effects, which suits websites with high standards for looks and interaction.

Creating a mega menu with code 

Code usually calls for specialist knowledge of WordPress development. If you are not familiar with code, you will spend quite a lot of time figuring it out, and building a mega menu with code is still very difficult.

Using the mega menu built into your website theme

Many theme templates come with a built-in WordPress mega menu and look polished and professional. You can switch it on and customize it without writing code or installing another plugin. Themes with a built-in mega menu include Avada, Divi, Ocean WP and Astra. This is a convenient option if you want to create a mega menu on your site quickly.

Steps to set up a mega menu in WordPress with a plugin

To create and configure a mega menu with a plugin such as Max Mega Menu, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Install and activate the Mega Menu plugin

First, go to your WordPress Dashboard and choose Plugins ⮕ Add New ⮕ search for the plugin Max Mega Menu, click Install Now, then choose Activate to activate the plugin.

After activation, a Mega Menu item appears in the admin panel. This is where you configure and customize the menu.

Step 2: Check and copy the color code

The default settings and colors work on almost any website. If you want your own color tone, you can change the menu color to fit your theme's main colors.

Change the mega menu color to match your navigation menu. To check the color, use the built-in tools of your web browser: right-click the navigation menu and click Checking.

Then copy the hex color code for the menu background and paste it into a plain text file so you can use it later.

Once you have the color code, save it somewhere. Then open the mega menu settings and click the "Menu Themes" tab, then choose "Menu Bar”

Step 3: Configure the mega menu

Once the colors are set, it's time to configure the complete menu. These simple steps make the setup easy.

First, choose Appearance ⮕ Menus to add the top-level menus to the navigation bar.

On the Menu screen, enable the mega menu by ticking “Enable” under "Max Mega Menu Settings".

Once it is enabled, a Mega Menu button appears on the navigation menu tab.

Now click the menu button to open the settings window. You can add any widget to your mega menu, and choose how many columns the menu shows. Remember to save your settings after you set up the widget. When you are done, close the settings window and go back to your website.

The last step is to see the result. A menu with all the features you need now appears, and you can try out your website.

A mega menu is a useful tool for everyone. It makes your website look better and holds more information. Adding a mega menu is a great way to give visitors the best experience, and it can even turn visitors into regular customers. So add a mega menu to make your website more appealing.

We hope this article has helped you understand what a mega menu is and how to add one to a WordPress website. Good luck!

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