When crafting a website, the site structure is often overlooked or treated as an afterthought by designers and marketing strategists. However, a well-organised structure is crucial to user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). A clear and intuitive site structure helps visitors navigate easily and find the information they need, while also signaling to search engines the relevance of your content.
Our outsource digital marketing packages team looks at some of the most important components of an excellent site structure, which you can incorporate into your client’s site builds going forward.
Why Does Site Structure Even Matter?
A well-structured website is crucial for several reasons. It improves the user experience by providing a clear and logical layout that helps visitors easily find what they’re looking for, which reduces bounce rates and increases engagement.
Additionally, site structure plays a key role in SEO. Search engines crawl and index websites, and a well-organised structure makes it easier for them to understand the relationships between different pages and topics, leading to better search rankings.
It can be quite a lengthy process to fix a site’s structure for SEO reasons after the site has been built, so focusing on it upfront will save you and your client time down the road. Having a clear structure ensures better content organisation, making it easier for you to manage, update, and scale your website effectively.
The Home Page
The home page is the first impression visitors get of your website, and it should provide a clear overview of your content while encouraging further exploration.
To achieve this, several key elements are essential:
- First, a clear navigation menu should be prominently displayed, making it easy for users to access your most important sections from any page.
- A strong call to action, like “Contact Us” or “Shop Now,” should guide visitors toward their next steps.
- A compelling hero image or video can instantly capture attention and set the tone for the entire site.
- Along with this, a brief overview of your business should be included, highlighting your unique selling points in a concise manner.
- Lastly, organising your content with a clear structure will make it easier for visitors to navigate, ensuring a better user experience and easier content management.
Pages
Pages are the primary categories that organise the content on your website, offering structure and clarity for visitors. Each section should be broad enough to cover various topics but specific enough to maintain a clear focus.
Common sections include “About Us,” which provides information about your company, mission, and team, and “Services,” where you detail the products or services you offer. A “Portfolio” page can highlight examples of your work to showcase your expertise, while the “Blog” page serves as a space for sharing news, tips, and industry insights. The “Contact” section offers visitors an easy way to get in touch with you, ensuring that communication is accessible.
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Sub-Pages
Sub-pages are an essential tool for further organising your website’s content, allowing for a more granular breakdown of topics within each main section. They provide a clear hierarchy that guides visitors through your website, making it easier for them to navigate and find exactly what they need without getting overwhelmed by too much information at once.
For instance, within a “Services” section, sub-sections like “Web Design,” “SEO,” and “Content Marketing” allow you to highlight specific offerings in more detail, giving potential clients a deeper understanding of your expertise in each area.
Incorporating sub-sections can also improve your site’s SEO, as it allows for more keyword-rich pages, which can help search engines better understand and rank your content. Additionally, sub-sections enhance the user experience by reducing the need for endless scrolling or guesswork.
For example, an e-commerce site might use sub-sections under “Products” to categorise items by type, such as “Clothing,” “Accessories,” and “Footwear,” making it simpler for visitors to find the specific products they’re looking for.
Individual Posts
If you have a blog or news section, individual posts are the articles or updates you publish, serving as vital components that engage your audience and provide valuable information. Each post should have a unique title that captures attention and accurately reflects the content, making it easier for readers to find relevant topics.
A clear and compelling introduction sets the stage for the post, outlining what the reader can expect and why it matters. To enhance readability, structure your content with well-defined headings and subheadings, which not only break up large blocks of text but also help guide readers through the article’s main points.
Incorporating bullet points or numbered lists can further improve the user experience, making essential information more digestible. Plus, including images, infographics, or videos can enrich your posts and provide visual appeal, helping to maintain reader interest.
It’s also beneficial to incorporate internal and external links within your posts. Internal links direct readers to other relevant content on your site, while external links can lend credibility and offer additional resources.
Trust our white label website design team to code or design the perfect website structure for your client. We also offer a wide range of supporting digital marketing packages. Outsource your client’s projects to us today.
