Architecture sounds like an intimidating word, and many businesses seeking a website might stop right there. But the term applied to websites simply means to give thought to the structure of pages before the development begins. There is a balance to be achieved between visual appeal, ease of use, and search engine optimization. An experienced Phoenix SEO guy will understand that balance and help guide you to the best architecture choice.
Too Flat or Too Deep
Think of your website architecture as one of those old-fashioned steel climbing structures – monkey bars, if you will – found on older playgrounds. If the structure is too flat, maybe only one or two levels, it is uninteresting and will not hold the attention of your visitors for very long. But if the structure is too deep with too many levels, the experience can be confusing, even daunting. Visitors will make a quick exit if they cannot easily find the information they want. Search engines, too, can have difficulty indexing the entire site in one pass if the architecture is too convoluted.
The Site Map
To navigate the monkey bars, the best Arizona SEO companies know that it is important to include a site map. These maps are not helpful to visitors. But when properly placed and adequately maintained, a search engine can index all of your website pages on one visit. This is an important part of search engine optimization and supports the website’s page ranking.
Always Go Home
The least frustrating architecture includes a link to the Home Page from every page. This is crucial for visitors. It allows them to return to neutral territory if their climb through the monkey bars of your pages gets them confused. But search engines will recognize the link, too, and will recognize that your website has a consistent structure.
Don’t let the thought of planning your website’s architecture keep you off the playground. To maximize your SEO, these best practices will have you climbing the page rankings in no time.