Look into the Small but Obvious Details
Site structure is very often overlooked.
It’s actually a super important factor in having successful SEO rankings.
While you may focus on backlinks and writing great content, sites with the most success create with structure in mind.
What is Website Structure?
It’s the way content, pages, and links are organised on a site.
A well-structured website lets search engines crawl and index its pages efficiently, making it easier for users to find information.
The goal is to provide quality user experiences and make sure search engines can understand the context of each page.
The Impact on SEO
Indexing and crawling:
Bots follow links to crawl and index web pages.
If your site has a clear and logical structure, it becomes easier for them to do this.
Bad structures can lead to indexing issues and impact your SEO rankings.
User Experience:
Good structure = Good UX.
Users can easily find info, spend more time on your site and reduce bounce rates.
Page Load Speed:
Page speed is a significant ranking factor.
Structure affects load speeds, especially if the code is cleaner and more efficient.
Mobile Responsiveness:
With the majority of users on mobile devices, search engines prioritise mobile-friendly sites in the rankings.
Structured sites can be easily optimised for mobile responsiveness.
Best Practices for Optimising WordPress Website Structure
Local Hierarchy:
Organise your content by using categories and subcategories.
This creates a clear and organised flow of information, making it easier for users to find relevant content.
It also allows search engines to better understand the context of the pages.
SEO-Friendly URLs:
Use keywords and descriptive words in your permalinks.
Avoid using vague or automated structures that offer little to no context.
Use Breadcrumbs:
This navigation shows users their current location within the site.
Breadcrumbs provide an additional way for search engines to understand the relationships between pages.
XML Sitemap:
Create and submit an XML sitemap to search engines.
It acts as a roadmap for bots, helping them crawl and index your content more efficiently.
Avoid duplicate content:
Be aware of duplicate content issues that can crop up from poor site structure.
Use canonical tags and 301 redirects to deal with those pages.
They will send search engines to index the preferred version.
Wrapping Up
Honestly, SEO-friendly site structures are the way to go.
Structuring your websites shouldn’t cause you a migraine, and eventually it will become second nature.
These tips are a great place to start, and you can always get help from professionals when you need it!
