Implementing SEO for your website can significantly augment its visibility for search engines, rank higher on SERPs (search engine result pages), bring in more traffic, and increase CTRs (click-through ratios). This would naturally help you generate more leads, improve conversions, and make more sales.
However, before you even start applying optimization tactics, any SEO company would inform you that a focus on your website structure is essential. Let’s take a closer look at how you can benefit from the correct website structure and gain more impact with applied SEO strategies.
What is Website Structure?
The website structure is how the content of your website is organized. With a variety of content on related topics presented as posts and pages, the site structure deals with how this content is grouped, linked, and presented to the visitor.
Why is Website Structure Important for SEO?
The site structure is a vital aspect of an SEO strategy because it shows search engines like Google which pages are the most important. This can influence which content gets to be ranked highest in search engines. One way to improve a website’s structure is to improve the usability or user-friendliness of your site by making it easier for users to find what they are looking for.
Types of Website Structures?
The majority of website structures can be classified into the following categories:
- Database – These are one of the most complex website structure types and use a bottom-up approach requiring special attention to tagging and metadata to create a searchable database for users.
- Hierarchical – These website structures are suitable for e-commerce websites where high-level product categories flow into smaller categories that further flow into individual product pages.
- Linear or Sequential – These website structures are good for simple websites of smaller businesses where there are only a few essential pages.
- Matrix – This is one of the oldest website structure types on the internet, which is complex and non-traditional. Plus, it is best navigated using internal links and search options.
How to Structure Website for SEO?
To structure your website for the best SEO implementation and acquire paramount results, you need to do the following:
- Apply breadcrumbs to your website, which makes it user-friendly for visitors to go back and forth on your website.
- Create interlinks to improve dwell time and allows users to go deeper into your website.
- Incorporate a heading hierarchy for each landing page of your website, making use of H1, H2, H3 tags, etc.
- Keep navigation throughout your website accessible, easy, and effortless so users can traverse through the content in just a few clicks.
- Make a sitemap and implement it on your website.
- Optimize website for both bots/crawlers and people.
- Perform keyword research and implement up-to-date keywords within your content, URLs, headings, alt-text of images, meta tags (title and description) of pages, and anchor text of internal links.
- The URL structure is also important and should closely mimic the website structure of your choice. URLs should be kept short and precise using a logical path method.
- Use schema markup or structured data on your website as Google has recommended since 2014. It can drastically improve your website’s visibility.
Final Word
Getting your website’ structure right is a crucial element for implementing SEO; however, site owners and administrators more often overlook it. A website should never be in a state of clutter or mess where pages are randomly added. In fact, your website should be neatly organized, making it easier for both users to navigate your website and search engine crawlers to index your web pages. I hope this post could offer you some valuable insights on how you can go about structuring your website and optimizing it for the best SEO outcomes. Cheers, and all the best for your future endeavors!
