Navigation-Need to Learn Right Way To Set Up

I have my site working and running, if not yet beautiful nor launched to friends, family, and whatwho. (Embarrassed at sparse content!)

Now I want to learn how to really set it up right. But searching isn’t helping me find out what the right way and wrong way.

I know I am to incorporate parent and child pages, breadcrumbs, well-thought-out categories, and so much more…but right now it’s a mishmash to me.

Can anyone advise of a resource for me?

OR–I could hire someone briefly to talk.

Thanks.