Website structure: What should you think about before creating a website?

Introduction

In the digital world, where every company is striving to create their own website, it is important to understand that the success of your online space depends on more than just an attractive design. Developing a website structure is a fundamental step that determines how convenient it is for users to find the information they need and interact with your brand. That is why website structure is the cornerstone of an effective online presence.

Section 1: Types and elements of website structure

Before diving into the question: how to create your own website, it is important to understand what types of website structure exist and what elements they consist of. After all, just like in construction, choosing the right foundation determines the strength and functionality of the entire structure. Let’s take a look at the main types of structures and their key components so that you can order a website structure that perfectly meets your needs.

1.1. Main types of structures

The structure of a WordPress website or any other platform can be implemented in different formats, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice of the optimal type depends on the size of the site, its goals and target audience.

The most common type is a hierarchical structure that resembles a tree with a clear hierarchy of pages. At the top is the home page, from which users navigate to sections, subsections, and individual content pages. This site structure is intuitive for users and search engines, making it easier to navigate and index.

The linear structure is a simple structure where pages are arranged sequentially one after the other, similar to the chapters in a book. It works well for small sites with a limited amount of content, such as landing pages or business card sites. However, the linear structure can be inconvenient for large sites, as it makes it difficult to access the information you need.

The most complex type is the network structure, where pages are interconnected by multiple links to form a complex network. This structure provides flexibility and freedom of navigation, but can be confusing for users and search robots.

Let’s look at a few examples of how different types of structures are used in practice.

• Online store: The hierarchical structure is an ideal choice for online stores, as it allows you to logically organise the product catalogue by categories and subcategories.
• Corporate website: A hierarchical or linear structure is well suited for corporate websites, where it is important to present information about the company, services and contacts in a clear and accessible form.
• Educational portal: A network structure can be effective for educational portals where users can explore different topics and materials by following links and interacting with the content.

It is important to consider when choosing the type of structure:

• site sizecontent typesite goalstarget audience
• тип контенту
• цілі сайту
• цільова аудиторія

We wrote about the latter two factors in our article about how to define goals and target audience.

Website structure is not a static element, it can change and adapt to the needs of your business and users. The main thing is to ensure a logical organisation of content and easy navigation, which will contribute to the success of your online space.

1.2 Elements of structure

The structure of a landing page or a multi-page website consists of certain elements that interact with each other, providing convenient navigation and access to information. Let’s take a look at the main elements that form the framework of your online space:

• Home page: The business card of your website, which should clearly and concisely convey to visitors the basic information about your business, products or services. The home page usually contains a navigation menu that leads to other sections of the site, as well as key elements that attract users’ attention.
• Categories and subcategories: Allows you to organise site content by topic or type, making it easier to find the information you need. For online stores, categories can correspond to different groups of products, and for blogs, to different topics of articles.
• Content pages: Contain the main information you want to convey to users. These can be articles, product descriptions, portfolios, contacts, etc.
• Navigation menu: Provides convenient site navigation, allowing users to quickly find the necessary sections and pages. The menu can be horizontal, vertical, drop-down or combined, depending on the design and structure of the site.
• Breadcrumbs: A visual element that shows the user’s path from the home page to the current page. Breadcrumbs improve navigation and help users navigate the site.
• Links: Internal links connecting different pages of the site help users navigate between sections and find additional information. External links lead to other websites and can be used to confirm information or provide additional resources.
• Search: Allows users to quickly find the information they need on the site by keywords. It is especially important for large websites with a lot of content.

The structure of a landing page differs from that of a multi-page website in its compactness and focus on conversion. A landing page usually consists of a single screen containing basic information about a product or service, a call to action, and a feedback form.

An effective website structure takes into account both the needs of users and the requirements of search engines. It should be logical, understandable and easy to navigate, providing a positive user experience and improving the site’s position in search results.

Section 2: Developing and optimising the structure

Now that we’ve dealt with the main types and elements, let’s move on to the practical part – developing the structure of the site. This process requires careful planning and analysis, as it determines how effectively your website will perform its functions. Let’s take a look at the key stages of creating a website structure and how to optimise it to achieve maximum results.

2.1. Stages of development

How do you create a website structure that is efficient and user-friendly? Let’s look at the main stages of this process:

• Analysis of the target audience: Before you start developing the structure, you need to clearly define your target audience. Who are your potential customers? What are their needs and interests? How do they search for information on the Internet? Answers to these questions will help you understand how to organise your website content to make it as relevant and interesting as possible for your audience.
• Defining the goals of the site: What do you want to achieve with your site? Increase sales? Attract new customers? Improve brand awareness? A clear definition of the goals will help you to form a website structure that will help you achieve them.
• Create a content list: Make a list of all the pages and sections you plan to place on your website. These can be pages about the company, products, services, blog, contacts, etc.
• Content grouping:
• Navigation Definition: Create a user-friendly and intuitive navigation menu that allows users to easily navigate between sections of the site. You can use a horizontal, vertical, drop-down, or combined menu, depending on the structure and design of your site.
• Creating a prototype: Before you start developing a website, it is useful to create a prototype of the structure. This can be a schematic image or a layout showing the location of elements and links between pages. The prototype will help you visualise the structure of the site and make the necessary adjustments before starting development.

Website structure development services from professional companies can include all these stages, providing a professional approach and taking into account all the features of your business and target audience.

2.2. SEO optimisation

The SEO structure of a website plays a key role in improving your site’s position in search results. Search engines such as Google analyse the structure of a website to understand its content and relevance to users’ search queries. A well-organised and optimised structure helps search engine crawlers to efficiently index your website pages and determine their importance.

What can be improved on the website for SEO:

• Logical hierarchy: The structure of the site should be logical and understandable for both users and search robots. Use a clear hierarchy of pages, starting with the home page and moving down to sections, subsections, and individual content pages.
• Easy Navigation: Provide easy and intuitive site navigation. Use clear and concise navigation menus, breadcrumbs, and internal links to help users and search engine crawlers navigate your site easily.
• OURL optimisation: Use clear and informative URLs that reflect the structure of the site and the content of the pages. Avoid long and complex URLs with a lot of parameters.
• XML sitemap: Create an XML sitemap that contains a list of all pages on your site and their URLs. This will help search engine crawlers to quickly find and index all the pages on your site.
• Internal linking: Use internal links to connect pages on your website with each other. This will help distribute link weight between pages and improve their visibility in search results.

Tools for analysing the structure of a website:

• Google Search Console: A free tool from Google that allows you to analyze the structure of your website, detect errors and get recommendations on how to improve SEO.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A paid tool that allows you to scan a website and analyze its structure, detect broken links, duplicate content, and other problems

Section 3: Structures for different types of sites

Although the basic principles of creating a website structure remain universal, different types of websites may have their own peculiarities and requirements. Let’s take a look at how the website structure is adapted to the specifics of online stores and landing pages to ensure maximum efficiency and achieve your goals.

3.1 Online shopping

The structure of a website for an online store has its own peculiarities, as it should provide convenient navigation through a large catalog of goods, facilitate the search for the right products, and promote conversion.

• Categories and subcategories: Logically organize your product catalog into categories and subcategories, taking into account the type of products, their purpose, brands, and other characteristics. This will help users quickly find the products they need and compare different options.
• Filters and sorting: Provide users with the ability to filter and sort products by various parameters such as price, brand, size, color, etc. This will allow them to quickly find products that fit their needs and budget.
• Search: Integrate search on the site so that users can find the products they are looking for using keywords. Search should be fast and accurate, with the ability to auto-complete and filter results.
• Product pages: Create informative and attractive product pages that contain detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, customer reviews, and other useful information.
• Shopping cart and checkout: Provide a simple and convenient checkout process, with a minimum number of steps and clear instructions.
• Personal account: Provide users with the ability to create a personal account where they can track their orders, store their purchase history, and manage their data.

The structure of a small business website may be simpler than that of a large online store, but it should also be well thought out and optimized for SEO.

• Home page: Clearly and concisely present your business, products or services, focusing on your advantages and unique offer.
• About Us page: Tell us about your company, team, values, and mission.
• Services page: Describe in detail your services, their benefits, and cost.
• Portfolio: Showcase examples of your work or successful projects.
• Testimonials: Post testimonials from satisfied customers to increase the credibility of your business.
• Contact Us: Give users different ways to contact you, including phone, email, and a feedback form.

The structure of a website for an online store and small business should be adapted to the specifics of your business and the needs of your target audience. A well-designed structure will help improve user experience, increase conversion rates, and boost sales.

3.2. Landing pages

The structure of a landing page plays a crucial role in achieving its main goal – conversion. As a landing page usually consists of a single screen, it is important to make the most of the space and arrange the elements in such a way as to attract the attention of users and encourage them to take action.

• Clear headline: The headline should be short, bright, and informative, clearly conveying the main offer of the landing page to users.
• Eye-catching visual content: Use high-quality images, videos, or animations to grab users’ attention and visually reinforce your offer.
• Persuasive text: The text on the landing page should be persuasive and informative, emphasizing the benefits of your product or service and motivating users to take action. Use clear calls to action (CTAs), for example, “Order now”, “Register”, “Learn more”.
• Feedback form: Place the feedback form in a prominent place so that users can easily leave their contact information or ask questions. The form should be simple and easy to fill out.
• Social proof: Add testimonials from satisfied customers, logos of well-known companies, or statistics to increase the credibility of your brand and offer.

The structure of a website for services has a lot in common with the structure of a landing page, as its main goal is also to attract customers and convert them.

• Home page: Clearly and concisely present your services, their benefits and value to customers.
• Services page: Describe in detail each service, its cost, and the process of providing it.
• Case studies: Showcase examples of successful projects and the results you have achieved for your clients.
• Testimonials: Post testimonials from satisfied customers to increase the credibility of your services.
• Contact: Provide different ways to contact you, including phone, email, and a feedback form.

The structure of a landing page and website for services should be as conversion-oriented as possible, providing easy navigation, clear calls to action, and compelling content that encourages users to interact.

Conclusion.

The structure of your website is the foundation of your online space, which determines its success and effectiveness. The right choice of structure type, logical content organisation, and easy navigation determine how easily users will find the information they need and interact with your brand. Optimising your structure for SEO helps you improve your search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic. Regardless of whether it’s an online store, landing page, or service website, a well-designed structure is a key element of a successful online presence.

Resource

https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/web-structures-explained/

https://seranking.com/blog/website-structure

https://yoast.com/site-structure-the-ultimate-guide

Vlad Lykhovid

Co-founder

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