The understandable and not lost structure of the site is what it is worth striving when developing and subsequent management. It is necessary to optimize the structure not only for the convenience of users, but also in order not to have problems with its indexation by search robots.

The components of the site structure

The site structure is the hierarchy of sections, subsections and pages, on which the content hosted on it is located. The structure must be clear, convenient and comply with the type of information that is on the resource.

There are several types of structures in each of which elements are located in a certain way:

• Linear structure is a sequential presentation of information. The user opens one page after another, gradually getting acquainted with the information presented on them. Standard navigation For such books, this is the transition to the main, previous or next page. Linear structure may have several branches from the main page.
• A tree structure - in this case a hierarchy is built, in which the user goes to the sections from the main page. Subsections can be opened to any section, and their subdivisions of the following level, as well as the final internal pages can be opened.
• The lattice structure is similar to the previous one, but represents a more complex option when from any partition, from any page you can go to any part of the site, in completely different branches.

Most often, the tree structure is found as the most optimal, convenient - it does not make it difficult for the work of the search, if everything is done correctly, and helps to make a comfortable visitors, understandable navigation.

How to optimize the structure of the site?

So that nor visitors nor the bots of search engines did not spend a lot of time searching on the site of the desired information, the structure should be built according to certain rules. The most frequent errors should be avoided, which occur when developing a site map and navigation method on it.

Requirements for the main page

The main page is the face of the site and the brand to which it belongs. It is very important to work out every little thing here and make that the visitor continues to get acquainted with the site and information on it. With regard to SEO, the requirements for this element of the structure are as follows:

• It is necessary to eliminate the presence of a duplicate of the main page available at different addresses. To find a duplicate, you can enter into the search string of Yandex or Google Title the main in quotes.
• The main page is used as a starting point for navigation, a resource presentation with a brief information on it. It is better not to post requests and not promote it.
• In the prominent place should be the phone and address of the organization (if its activity implies the possibility of a client to come at its location), the name written by the text (not a picture or not only picture). Typically, such information is placed on top, in the header of the site.
• On the main one must be a convenient navigation directory to go to other sections and to separate pages.
• Elements such as meta tags should contain the name of the organization. They should be made short, capacious, without not carrying any information signs.

Optimization of sections

Sections on the site make it possible to divide information by groups corresponding to different directions, topics that unite homogeneous goods or services.

In the sections it is advisable to start promoting high-frequency queries on the appropriate subject. They should be included both in the text and in meta tags, the URL.

Sections with information content on the subject of the site should create even commercial portals to attract a larger number of visitors. For example, on the website of the mobile device store, reviews can be published, news about the coming new items of the market.

System and not intended for visitors sections should be hidden from indexing, configuring the ban on their visibility in "robots.txt". This does not concern sections responsible for adaptive design (if the adaptive layout was used when creating a site). Periodically, you need to track whether these sections were not deleted or renamed to update information in the file.

Work with cyclic references

Adding links to them on them, causes doubts from SEO specialists. You can leave a cyclic link in the navigation menu, but using it in the text does not justify itself and does not bring any effect.

Dynamic site map

Using the dynamic site map in XML format allows you to significantly increase the speed and efficiency of the resource indexing by search robots. You can use the All in One SEO Pack plugin to configure such a map.

Monitoring the level of pages

A large degree of page nesting is driving the structure of the site. Pages with large nesting is worse than search engines. To identify pages with a high level of nesting, you can use the Xenu Link Sleuth resource.

What is bread crumbs in SEO?

Under the bread crumbs is a navigation element that is displayed on each page and represents a description of the path to this page from the main, or hierarchy of levels that lead from the main page to the one on which the visitor is located. For example: Home / Cars / Toyota / Toyota Land Cruiser 200.

This allows the user to better focus on the site, to be able to return to the level of the hierarchy you need at any time.

Using the copywriting sign

To show that the site is protected from copying, you can install copyright protection icon - ©. This is a stylized letter "C" from the English word Copyright, which means "copyright".

Place this symbol on the site usually at the bottom, in the "Footer" element. To use it brings the desired effect, and later it was possible to use the fact of its presence when protecting its exclusive ownership of the site, it is necessary to arrange it in accordance with the law. The standards for designing the sign in the Document GOST R 7.0.1-2003 and Article 1271 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation are regulated.

To comply with all requirements, you must put the following information on the site:

• The icon itself is as required by GOST (Latin Letter "C", placed in a circle);
• The owner of the rights to the object (in this case, the site) is the surname, name, patronymic, if it is an individual, and the name specified in the official documents on registration, for organizations;
• Year when the site was posted on the Internet.

Correct notification view of copying: © Kisel LLC, 2000-2017. It is all important here - even the postulation of punctuation marks. The date range is indicated if new data, materials periodically appear on the site. If there are no updates, you can only specify the site of site placement. Specifying the copywriting will add a solidity site and, if not scared the fraudsters, then its presence can increase confidence in the portal of customers and partners.

"Bread crumbs" (from the English. "BreadCrumbs") is a navigation chain on the site that reflects the path from the main page to the current one. They were first used in the Norton Commander or Volkovander file managers and showed the path to the root folder.

Why use this duplicate navigation on the site? How does it affect usability and SEO? How to implement it? Look for answers to the most popular questions about "bread crumbs" in our new post.

What are the "bread crumbs" are used?

In 1995, Yakob Nielsen formulated 10 principles of usability, the first of which is "the visibility of the status of the system". Its essence is that the user should always know in which part of the site it is. It is for the implementation of this principle "bread crumbs" is needed. The famous designer Artemy Lebedev in the "house" writes that the duplicating navigation is appropriate when there is a logical content nesting, that is, almost on all information sites. We add that the navigation chain is also needed online shopping and corporate sites.

From the point of view of usability, "bread crumbs" solve three tasks:

• inform the user about its current location on the site;
• clearly demonstrate the structure of the resource;
• allow you to quickly move to a higher level of nesting, bypassing the "Back" browser button.

In addition to the positive effect on usability, the duplicate navigation provides SEO effect:

• it is a natural element of pages overclocking;
• improves behavioral metrics (time on the site and view depth) by simplifying navigation;
• subject to the configured micrographic size improves the appearance of the snippet in the search, namely forms a navigation chain, and increases its clickability (supported only in Google).

What are the "bread crumbs"?

The navigation chain can be organized by different principles:

Linear principle. This is the most common option - indicates the full path from the main page to the current one. Example - in the figure below:

The following nesting structure is shown here: Main page - "Furniture Center", follows the product catalog page, hereinafter - the section "Kitchen", hereinafter - "Kitchen headsets" and, finally, the name of a specific headset.

With a very complex structure of the site, a trimmed version of the "bread crumbs" is found:

The Amazon store "crumbs" starts not from the main thing, but from the name of the catalog section. The screenshot shows that the "Home & Kitchen" store is seen.

Principle "Back". The essence of the method is that instead of the navigation chain, there is a link "On the previous page", "back to the catalog", etc., in fact, the duplicate button of the browser "back". This approach is convenient if the search function is used on the site.

In the screenshot, the "Results" button leads from a product card to a page with search results for "Shoes".

Combination of the two previous options. In this case, a linear navigation chain is also available, and the "Back" button. In the right execution, such a combination is suitable for pages that users have found through the search function on the site. But it also happens and unsuccessful execution when the "Back" button is present on all the cards, regardless of whether they were looking for them through the search or not:

Attribute principle. Used online shopping and online catalogs. The content and path of the page is formed on the basis of user-defined properties and filters.

Removing and adding properties, the user every time forms a unique "path" to the product page.

How to create the right "bread crumbs"?

Create a navigation chain can be in different ways: using PHP, CSS, plug-ins for popular CMS Wordpress, Joomla! And other engines - on the network you can find a lot of solutions. Whatever way you choose, follow the following advice:

• "Bread crumbs" are created primarily for site visitors, for their convenience, so use them when they really will be useful; You are not obliged to add them to each site - for example, single-bars live perfectly and without "bread crumbs";
• "Bread crumbs" is not replacing the main menu, but only auxiliary navigation tool;
• do not specifically customize text anchors in navigation references for key phrases; Exception - if key phrases harmoniously fit into the navigation logic;

if you use a linear navigation, prescribe the path to the very end so as not to shoot down visits:

Good day, dear readers!

How the bread crumbs affect the search engine optimization and how to make them on the site with WordPress. This will be discussed in today's article. Looking ahead, I will say that BreadCrumbs help your users orient on the site. They also have a positive effect on SEO.

Bread crumbs (in English. BreadCrumbs) are tips on the site that show the user where it is located. A shadow chain that is created for navigation.

They are clickable, it means that the visitor at any time can go to the "level" above - to the subheading or heading. As a rule, BreadCrumbs have this kind: Home - Category - Sadrigra - Article. The last element is very often removed, believing that it creates unnecessary duplication.

It is believed that this name is a reference to a fairy tale, where children when hiking to the forest left a path from bread crumbs for navigation. On this track, they had to come back. The linked chain is also a track, the farther to the site, the greater the elements in it. And in fact, on this chain, you can go back to the main page. Just as in a fairy tale.

How affects SEO

The use of navigation tape is considered a good tone in the world of search engine optimization.

First, it improves behavioral factors. And this is, as you know, almost the most basic indicator of the quality of the site. If usability will be at a good level, the use and navigation will be understandable and convenient, then visitors will definitely appreciate it and remain on the resource longer. In addition, the better behavioral factors, the higher your resource will be in extradition.

Secondly, the presence of BreadCrumbs is already considered a good factor for the search engine. Robots see that the project has a navigation system, structure, and it is well affected by ranking.

Naturally, one navigation panel will not display your resource in the top. It works along with other aspects of competent SEO-optimization.

If you summarize, BreadCrumbs help:

• improve behavioral factors and usability,
• make the structure of the site understandable and affordable,
• easy to move on pages
• improve SEO in technical terms,
• make overclocking.

That is, the use of navigation ribbon is strictly necessary for those who want his project to be comfortable, practical and visited.

Types of bread crumbs

Yes, they have both varieties. They are not so much, but still worth considering this moment.

Linear

An ordinary strip that shows the path from the main page to the article. The most common type of bread crumbs .. We just have a linear type of navigation panel.

Button "Back"

Very uncomfortable type of navigation, which is very often found in online stores. As a rule, users are not particularly satisfied with this and use a similar button in the browser itself. For the information site, this option is practically useless.

Hybrid

This option unites two previous ones. That is, there is a linear navigation and the "Back" button on the resource. It can be said that this is a compromise that helps to please everyone. But, as I said above, the button "Back" people enjoy extremely rarely, preferring her button in the browser itself - the benefit of these in all modern applications.

Usually the navigation panel is located on all pages, except the main one. In WordPress, these are rubrics, tags, articles and other taxonomy.

How to create bread crumbs on WordPress

The easiest option to create a navigation ribbon on WordPress and other sites through HTML. Rather, it will be HTML and PHP hybrid - otherwise you have to register each navigation chain manually, and this is not a very pleasant lesson.

Using a template

It will be reasonable to choose a template immediately with bread crumbs. If you only think about the further site and have not yet begun to create it - it is worth looking into some WordPress templates store and search there with this feature (I advise ROOT).

It will be the most practical option, because you do not have to install additional plugins. At the same time, you do not have to manually add something or edit, everything will work, which is called, out of the box (immediately after installation).

Plugins

You can set the navigation tape along with the plugin. But consider that each plugin can load your CMS even more. If plugins and so much, then another new one can simply spoil all the work of the site.

Yoast SEO - detailed instructions for setting up crumbs

If you use as SEO plugin - I have excellent news for you. BreadCrumbs is present in the functionality, so you can only configure them.

This is a general instruction that must be used by most users. It is based on the information that the plugin authors themselves give.

So, in order for the navigation tape in Yoast SEO, we must accommodate the following PHP code in the files of our template:

Usually this code is inserted into general page templates - single.php or Page.php. Also, some users insert this code in Header.php - at the very end. Whether it will work specifically in your case or not - I do not know, but you can try.

General page templates can be edited through built-in WordPress tools. We go to the "appearance" - "editor", we find the desired file in the list.

Here is a PHP code and HTML markup. An unprepared user can get confused, but you need to get together and try to understand what and where.

Specifically, in my theme, bread crumbs are already provided, immediately after Header there is a function that causes a native navigation chain. You will have this code, but the general meaning remains unchanged.

It is best to place BreadCrumbs right under Header - the Get_Header () function; - just serves to call it. Therefore, it will correctly be the code from Yoast SEO right below it.

But note that for customization of the navigation tape, you may have to work with CSS styles. They are also provided by the plugin themselves, but may not come up.

You can use bread crumbs even in articles. You just need to leave such a shortcode in the right place :.

But neither code nor a shortcode will work if the function of the navigation chain is disabled in the plugin itself. To enable it, you must switch to the settings of the plugin ("SEO tab") - the display in the search results - bread crumbs.

Switch the slider to "enabled", after which you scroll down the page down and click "Save Changes". From this point on, bread crumbs will start working.

If you wish, you can customize them. For example, set the separator between the elements, to register the link text to the main page, the prefixes for taxonomy, etc.

You can also highlight the last page (or the name of the material) fat. To do this, switch the corresponding slider.

If Yoast SEO does not particularly suit you, you can pay attention to other plugins that allow you to create a BreadCrumbs on your site. In the free catalog there are a lot of them, but I will allocate the most popular options.

BreadCrumb Navxt.

A simple plugin that can create a BreadCrumbs for your project. At the moment he has more than 800 thousand active users. The plugin has its own control panel and is suitable for most WordPress sites.

In BreadCrumb Navxt, you can configure almost everything. Appearance, displayed elements and their order. There are much more opportunities than in the same Yoast SEO (it is relative to the setting of the navigation chain).

This extension can be installed absolutely free from the WordPress directory. You can find it by keywords.

BreadCrumb.

Another extension that can be installed directly from the catalog. Unlike the previous one, this plugin does not have such a large audience. Total 10,000 active users. But if we consider that many give preference to other options for creating navigation chains, then this is quite a good result.

Plugin is simple and easy. It has a beautiful design (see Screenshot), you can change colors. For use on small projects it is enough with interest.

There are other plugins. They are less popular, but you can still try them. Just go to the plug-in directory and enter the keyword BreadCrumbs. WordPress will immediately give you several dozen suitable options.

Conclusion

Bread crumbs is a great way to navigate the site. They improve SEO, increase behavioral factors and enable users to navigate on the site pages.

Almost all modern sites are trying to pay attention to this. Web designers are not lagging behind, now the absence of BreadCrumbs in the template is considered a very significant disadvantage. Someone will even refuse to buy such a template, just because of this seemingly minor little things. Be sure to take into account this fact and try to make your website convenient for users.

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