Today, we are going to talk about a very important topic in website design called site architecture and siloing. Don’t worry if these terms sound complicated, I’m here to break them down for you.
Site architecture refers to how the pages on your website are structured and organized. Just like a building needs a solid foundation and a clear blueprint to be organized and functional, your website also needs a well-thought-out structure.
Siloing, on the other hand, is a strategy used in site architecture that involves organizing your website’s content into distinct categories or themes. Imagine having different “silos” on your website, where each silo contains a specific topic or subject. This helps search engines and users understand the hierarchical structure of your website and makes it easier for them to navigate and find relevant information.
So, why is site architecture and siloing important?
First, a well-structured website with a clear hierarchy makes it easier for search engines like Google to crawl and index your pages. When search engines can easily understand your website’s structure, they are more likely to rank your pages higher in search results. This means more visibility for your website and more organic traffic.
Second, site architecture and siloing help users navigate your website more efficiently. Imagine you are on a website looking for information about different types of pets. If the website is well-organized and has a clear siloing structure, you will easily find a section specifically dedicated to dogs, another one for cats, and so on. This saves you time and frustration trying to find the information you need.
To create a solid site architecture and implement siloing on your website, here are a few steps you can follow:
1. Identify your website’s main topics: Think about what your website is all about and what are the main themes or subjects you want to cover. These will become the main silos on your site.
2. Break down each main topic into subtopics: Once you have identified your main topics, think about how you can further categorize and organize the content within each topic. These will become your sub-silos or subcategories.
3. Create a clear navigation structure: Use menus, sidebars, and internal links to create a clear and intuitive navigation system. Make sure each silo and sub-silo has its own dedicated page and that the links between them are easily accessible.
4. Optimize your URLs: As you create new pages within each silo, make sure to include the main topic or silo keyword in the URL. This helps search engines understand the relevance and hierarchy of your content.
5. Interlink your pages: Link relevant pages within the same silo together using anchor text that includes keywords related to the main topic. This helps search engines understand the relationships between different pages within each silo.
Remember, the goal of site architecture and siloing is to make your website organized, easy to navigate, and optimized for search engines. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance the user experience and improve your website’s visibility in search results.
