One of the most important things that any organization needs to consider to increase their online presence is SEO.
SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is an online growth strategy that comprises of keywords, research of competitors, optimization of the user experience and creative content.
When many think of SEO, they automatically refer to important keywords. While a keyword is very important in getting noticed on Google, one important aspect that often gets overlooked is site structure.
In short, the more user friendly and better your site structure is, you will exponentially increase your chances in ranking higher in prominent search engines.
The Importance of Structure
The primary reason why making the best site structure for SEO is important is because it enhances search engine optimization. First, a structured site will mean a much better user experience. If visitors to your site are able to get the information that they need quickly, they will come back. In turn, search engines will notice the traffic to your site and your listing will drastically increase.
A structured site will also mean better web crawling. The goal for crawlers such as Googlebot involves indexing the content to return it for search results. These crawlers will be able to access and index your content much easier if your website has a good structure. This proves to be imperative, especially considering that crawlers will not be able to automatically discover everything that your site has to offer.
You will also want to consider sitelinks. Sitelinks will give your site a gargantuan SEO advantage because because this will increase navigability. With increased navigability, visitors to the website will get directed to the most relevant information, improve trust with the user, increase the clickthrough rate and establish a positive reputation.
Google has a specialized algorithm that rewards sites with great sitelinks, and this is all predicated on the strength on the structure. If your site structure is poor, then you may never receive them. This will cost you traffic and conversions.
Follow these steps in order to maximize your SEO potential and ensure your site has a great structure.
Plan a Hierarchy
One of the first steps of making the best site structure for SEO is having an effective hierarchy. What does this mean? This all has to do with the categories you plan on dividing your site into. When starting a website from the ground up, you will be in an ideal position for having the best SEO. When making this hierarchy and planning it out, there are some important things to bear in mind.
Some of the most successful sites tend to have only between two and seven main categories. Having more categories than that can result in redundancy in navigating through the site. While platforms such as Amazon can be afforded that luxury, you may be struggling as a novice website.
You will also want to place emphasis in balancing out the subcategories within each category. Try to make the subcategories as even as possible to create the proper balance.
Have a Corresponding URL Strategy
Focusing on your URL usually comes after you have figured out what the hierarchy of your site is going to look like. The structure of the URL should correspond directly with how your site is set up. Your URL will have real words and have the proper keyword coverage.
For example, if one of the categories of your website is titled “Locations”, and you have one of those locations listed as a subcategory, the URL will have the category and subcategory in succession with each other.
Have Site Navigation Embedded Within CSS or HTML
Coding is one thing you will not want to oversimplify, especially when it comes to search engine optimization. The safest approach when dealing with site navigation is to work with CSS or HTML. This will be able to cover your site’s hierarchy and navigation adequately.
Focus Heavily on Internal Linking
In order to facilitate the best site structure for SEO, internal linking has to be a part of the game plan. There are a litany of reasons as to why internal linking is important, but here are just a few. Internal linking:
- Allows for smooth user navigation
- Establishes information about the site hierarchy
- Spreads ranking power across multiple platforms
Internal linking is essential to organizing the structure of your site. The best part is that it is not a complicated process. All you have to do is make sure that every page on your website has links to other portions of your site as well as links from another page from the same website.
Ideally, you what you will want to make sure of is that the linking directs the user to the main categories as well as the subcategories. When it comes to linking, this will inform the search engine as to which pages hold the most significance and how the user can get there. The more internal links you have, the better it bodes for your website.
As you can see, having a proper site structure is crucial for ranking well on search platforms and for SEO. It is imperative that the site is well organized and provides the user with not only a friendly, but easy experience. If you follow these tips, you will create the best site structure for SEO, and in turn, increase your website’s notoriety.
Many businesses tend to struggle with SEO and consult help in this regard. SunCity Advising specializes specifically in helping businesses of any kind properly structure their website to make it more search engine friendly. Contact us for a free website audit today!
Grayson Turley, SEO Specialist
Grayson Turley is an SEO specialist with an emphasis on local ranking and page speed optimization. With a background in both marketing and finance, Grayson has increased marketing ROI for many satisfied clients. SunCity Advising specializes in developing high performing websites, including services in SEO, paid media advertising, social media, email marketing and other digital marketing solutions.
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