Why do you need the proper logic of the site structure?
The first step to success is a properly designed structure because this is the base of the website, the first brick in its foundation. Each project is individual, so the approach to the structure for each particular site will be different. However, you should consider the specific requirements of the search engines because they must be followed. I suggest discussing this in detail today.
What is hiding behind the logical structure of a web resource?
The logical structure is such a site organization model where the pages are arranged according to a hierarchy. What do we mean? In this structure, pages are interconnected, and we can trace their belonging to different groups, such as categories, etc.
Website structuring is crucial because it decides whether it will be convenient to use this Internet resource. A well-built structure can save visitors time and speed up searches. The incomprehensible organization of the site will only push away the user. Therefore, your task is to build a structure so that site visitors can easily find exactly what they were looking for among the general information.
Why is error-free structure important to search engines?
Each search engine has its own requirements for the structure. If you follow the recommendations, you can significantly increase the success of your site. Let’s take a look at a few top tips.
Google Recommendations
- Logical hierarchy. The user should easily get to any page of your Internet resource. For convenience, use the navigation tape. This element will show the path in the structure from the main page to the current one on which the user is located. It is like breadcrumbs that will help you not get lost on the site and quickly return to the section you need.
- Using text links. Unlike banner links, the text has certain advantages. For example, search engines will better assess the relevance of such sources.
- Creation of a navigation page. Googlebot will help you speed up the search for changes in your structure. This requires an HTML resource map and a Sitemap.xml file.
- Creation of 404 information pages. When a user accidentally navigates to a page that does not exist, make sure there is a link to the main page and short navigation. This will help them to continue searching and not leave your website.
- Create understandable and straightforward page addresses, the so-called human-readable URLs (friendly URLs). Pages written in a simple format are more accessible to the visitor.
- Simple directory structure. This will make the site easier to understand.
- Each site must have one unique address.
Yandex recommendations
- Keep clarity in the hierarchy. Separate sections for each of the documents.
- Use the sitemap. Work with Yandex.Webmaster – add a Sitemap file or a link to Robots.txt. This will help the search robot work on indexing and analyzing documents quickly and efficiently.
- Restriction of indexing information. For this purpose, use the Robots.txt file.
- Uniqueness of the URL.
- Use of links in the text form. Search engines better perceive text links.
- Symlink correctness. If these links are incorrect, you can get a URL that will grow in an endless progression (site.com/apple/apple/apple/apple/apple/).
Proper website structure: why?
The structure of the site, equipped according to all the rules, is needed by both parties: visitors and search engines.
I suggest considering the pros:
- The “usability”, or ergonomics, growth.
It is in your interest to make the navigation as convenient as possible for the user, giving them a chance to find the needed information as fast as possible. Thus, you can keep visitors on the website and increase your rankings.
- Make indexing even better.
The logic of the site structure helps the search system better understand what is of higher priority for the user. It is better to follow the rules of 3 clicks: do not place the most necessary pages far from the main one, a maximum of three clicks. Otherwise, it will lead to a non-indexed or indexed later page that ultimately will affect its priority.
- Reduce the level of technical errors.
If your structure is correct, you will not encounter the problem of many duplicate pages.
- Internal link weight.
Link weight is calculated based on the value of the pages. Those that need to be actively promoted should have a lot of internal links. All these because search engines determine more important the pages to which there are many links.
- Scope of requests.
If you create auxiliary categories for narrow groups of queries, you can get ranking for keywords, which in turn will increase traffic and make it more organic.
Variety of structures
Let’s consider different types of structures and compare the pros and cons to understand which one is best for you.
There are the following types:
- Sequential. Pages are laid out in a line. Visitors of such a site can only move along the specified route – first, they start from the main page and turn over everything else like book pages. There is no hierarchy here but equality between pages. Such a web resource structure is mainly suitable for business card sites or presentation sites. It will be challenging to attract visitors with this kind of structure because only the main page can be subject to the promotion.
- Matrix model. There is also a line structure, but additional branches appear in the chain. This structure can also be used for business card resources but with more advanced information. It is also perfect for author blogs or online books.
- Hierarchical or tree model. In the structure of this type, we observe a hierarchy – there will be enough branches from the main page into different categories, subgroups, product cards, etc. Each following page is always linked to the previous one and is a part of it. This system is very popular and is used by online stores. A tree structure is the best for successful promotion.
- Database model. A system of this type is much more complicated than the previous ones. The pages are in different branches. The user can navigate between them vertically and horizontally. However, the block structure is usually used on catalog sites or any particular service or product. It is not often that you see the use of the lattice structure since there is a high probability that the site can be confusing, and the user will have to search for the necessary information for a long time.
Common mistakes
Avoid mistakes because they can cause irreparable damage to your site. We suggest considering typical errors:и:
- Various intents.
There is no need to optimize the page for different values that may appear with the user’s request.
- Double pages.
If the site has two or more identical pages, competition may arise between them in the search engine. For the later, it is not clear which particular page should be shown, so the page ranking process and its relevance decrease.
- High nesting level.
Pages at this level are difficult to index.
Here you need to adhere to the “three clicks” rule.
If your web page is huge and such a level cannot be avoided, you need to correctly compose the navigation and internal linking to see the priority pages.
- Missing navigation.
Sitemaps are a must.
For large Internet resources to work correctly, it is better to have two of them:
- for search robots. This is where the Sitemap.xml file comes in handy. Thanks to this, the little helper sees all the pages that need indexing.
- a page with a list map of the website is created for users. This makes navigation easier.
If your web resource is small, then, most likely, a missing map will not be a critical error.
- Error in the page section.
When creating new pages, keep the previous pages in mind. For example, beds are in the Bedroom section and not the Kitchen section.
Remember and Apply
- The logical structure of the site – the base of your Internet resource. Take a significant amount of time to properly design the structure that will bring you and your website success.
- Consider the rules of search engines when creating your site structure.
- Pay attention to the types of structures and what advantages you can get for your web resource from the correct structure.
- Avoid common mistakes.
