How to Improve Site Structure
Improve the structure of your URLs : Simple-to-understand URLs will convey content information easily, Creating descriptive categories and file names for the documents on your website can not only help you keep your site better organized, but it...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Improve the structure of your URLs : Simple-to-understand URLs will convey content information easily
URLs are displayed in search results, remember that the URL to a document is displayed as part of a search result in Google, below the document's title and snippet.
Use words in URLs, and Avoid using lengthy URLs with unnecessary parameters and session IDs, choosing generic page names like "page1.html". -
Step 2: Creating descriptive categories and file names for the documents on your website can not only help you keep your site better organized
, "domain.com/page.htm" and "sub.domain.com/page.htm". , Think out your navigation based on your homepage, All sites have a home or "root" page, which is usually the most frequented page on the site and the starting place of navigation for many visitors.
Unless your site has only a handful of pages, you should think about how visitors will go from a general page (your root page) to a page containing more specific content. , Create a naturally flowing hierarchy, and Avoid creating complex webs of navigation links, e.g. linking every page on your site to every other page Use mostly text for navigation instead of Flash or any other means.
Put an HTML site map page on your site, and use an XML Sitemap file.
If possible use a 404 error page. -
Step 3: but it could also lead to better crawling of your documents by search engines.
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Step 4: Create a simple directory structure
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Step 5: and Avoid having deep nesting of sub-directories like ".../dir1/dir2/dir3/dir4/dir5/dir6/page.html"
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Step 6: using directory names that have no relation to the content in them.
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Step 7: Provide one version of a URL to reach a document
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Step 8: and Avoid having pages from sub-domains and the root directory access the same content - e.g.
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Step 9: Make your site easier to navigate : Navigation is "very" important for search engines
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Step 10: It can also help search engines understand what content the webmaster thinks is important.
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Step 11: Prepare sitemaps: may be one for users
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Step 12: and must one for search engines.
Detailed Guide
URLs are displayed in search results, remember that the URL to a document is displayed as part of a search result in Google, below the document's title and snippet.
Use words in URLs, and Avoid using lengthy URLs with unnecessary parameters and session IDs, choosing generic page names like "page1.html".
, "domain.com/page.htm" and "sub.domain.com/page.htm". , Think out your navigation based on your homepage, All sites have a home or "root" page, which is usually the most frequented page on the site and the starting place of navigation for many visitors.
Unless your site has only a handful of pages, you should think about how visitors will go from a general page (your root page) to a page containing more specific content. , Create a naturally flowing hierarchy, and Avoid creating complex webs of navigation links, e.g. linking every page on your site to every other page Use mostly text for navigation instead of Flash or any other means.
Put an HTML site map page on your site, and use an XML Sitemap file.
If possible use a 404 error page.
About the Author
Charles Hughes
Specializes in breaking down complex practical skills topics into simple steps.
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