Also known as website architecture, website structure refers to how a website’s content and pages organised and arranged. It is a framework that guides users and search engines through different sections of your site.
Why is Website Structure Important?
A good website isn’t just about looks—it’s about functionality. With a clear website structure and hierarchy, users can quickly and easily find the information they’re looking for and means they’re more likely to stay on your site and engage with your content.
From an SEO perspective, a clean, logical structure allows search engines to crawl and index your site more effectively. When a search engine understands what the most important pages of a site are, it can prioritise them in search results, helping those pages rank higher.
Types of Website Structure
There are four common types of website structure’s, each with their own characteristics, attributes and applications that best suits a specific audience. These include:
- Hierarchical Structure: This is the most common type, where pages are organised in a pyramid structure with a homepage at the top, followed by categories, subcategories, and individual pages. It’s ideal for most websites, like eCommerce stores or blogs with multiple topics.
- Sequential Structure: This structure guides users through a step-by-step process, often used in tutorials, courses, or checkout processes, where navigation follows a specific order.
- Matrix Structure: A matrix allows users to choose their path of navigation. This flexible approach gives visitors multiple ways to reach the same content, often seen in sites that allow users to filter or customise their browsing experience.
- Database Structure: This structure is data-driven, ideal for websites with a lot of information, like online stores or directories. Content is stored in a database and displayed based on user queries or actions. Online forums, news sites, social media platforms are some of the most common database based websites.
Choosing A Website Structure
Fortunately, when it comes to setting up a website, you are not limited to just one type of structure. The best choice will depend on the type of content, the goals of your site, and how you want users to navigate. As many of the website structures have overlapping features, you might even combine elements to create a more user-friendly experience.
