Width, Not Depth
“Link depth” refers to the number of times a user has to click on links to get from point A to point B. Or, in simple terms, how much navigation is necessary to get to a given page from the homepage. For purposes of search engine optimization, it’s generally better to have a wider link structure than a deeper one. As a rule of thumb, it should take no more than three clicks to get from the homepage to the deepest level of the web site architecture. Not only is this better for SEO purposes, it also makes navigation easier for the user, and in fact those two concepts often go together.
Breadcrumbs
In complicated web page architecture, breadcrumb navigation (those tags at the top that contain links back to pages you’ve already navigated) can help simplify things. Again, apply the rule of thumb: if it helps a human being to navigate your site, it will probably do the same for a spider. And if it makes things easier for the spider, it helps your search ranking. Breadcrumbs aren’t so important when your site is simple enough that you can employ pull-down menus without having more menu than page, but once your page reaches a certain size and complexity they become a must.
Page Names
It’s also helpful to give your site pages names that are easily understood and identified. No matter how a user is navigating through your site, be it by breadcrumbs, drop-down menus, or internal links, a page name that is simple and comprehensible, and that relates well to what you are selling or offering on your page, is much easier to understand and hence to navigate. Names that are difficult to understand are easy to get lost in. If it’s easy for a person to get lost, then it will probably be easy for a spider to get lost, too, and you don’t want that.
“Link depth” refers to the number of times a user has to click on links to get from point A to point B. Or, in simple terms, how much navigation is necessary to get to a given page from the homepage. For purposes of search engine optimization, it’s generally better to have a wider link structure than a deeper one. As a rule of thumb, it should take no more than three clicks to get from the homepage to the deepest level of the web site architecture. Not only is this better for SEO purposes, it also makes navigation easier for the user, and in fact those two concepts often go together.
Breadcrumbs
In complicated web page architecture, breadcrumb navigation (those tags at the top that contain links back to pages you’ve already navigated) can help simplify things. Again, apply the rule of thumb: if it helps a human being to navigate your site, it will probably do the same for a spider. And if it makes things easier for the spider, it helps your search ranking. Breadcrumbs aren’t so important when your site is simple enough that you can employ pull-down menus without having more menu than page, but once your page reaches a certain size and complexity they become a must.
Page Names
It’s also helpful to give your site pages names that are easily understood and identified. No matter how a user is navigating through your site, be it by breadcrumbs, drop-down menus, or internal links, a page name that is simple and comprehensible, and that relates well to what you are selling or offering on your page, is much easier to understand and hence to navigate. Names that are difficult to understand are easy to get lost in. If it’s easy for a person to get lost, then it will probably be easy for a spider to get lost, too, and you don’t want that.
