Web

Website Architecture for SEO

As search engine optimisation becomes more complex and competitive, the need for good website architecture is clear

Unfortunately a common mistake with most websites is that too much attention is given to aesthetics and too little thought given to architectural aspects. This is important in terms of simplicity, scalability and usability. Making the most of the latest best practice web development techniques will help to create a functioning website that covers all the major aspects required to formulate a compromised solution.

When designing a website's “architecture” the functionality, rather than the appearance, of a complete working website is conceived. Good website architecture benefits the users of the site, the search engines and the website owner.

Simplicity

Database designs and other technical projects have standard approaches to their design and development and this is brought about through many years of progress and refinements. This is also the case in terms of website structure. Instead of reinventing the way websites are designed there are many tried and tested principles to follow in order to build an easily understandable system.

Scalability

The future growth of the website should be taken into account at the start. Although it is almost impossible to predict the future course of a website, defining certain procedures at the outset will make small and larger scale updates easier in the long-term. Many websites are regularly updated, either with new products, services or more information. It is important to consider what happens to the existing design; the menu for example needs to be able to accommodate new pages without infringing on the website's appearance or functionality.

Usability

Common navigational patterns that users take must also be considered. Menu systems, internal linking and the use of images are common factors that are designed into the concept. However more complex issues concerning branding and goal conversions need to take into account the way people actually use websites. Various user groups and demographics of people will inevitably respond in different ways and it would be impossible to design a website that appeals equally to novice and expert users.

Search Engine Optimisation

Since visual designs have little impact on a search engine spider, and other than contextual elements, the website’s architecture and the way it is put together is what a search engine is interested in. Creating an SEO friendly structure, or simply ensuring the website conforms to the requirements of SEO, will prove beneficial when optimising the website further. Complex search engine algorithms assign value to different pages depending on how they fit into the website structure. Hierarchal structure is one of the main concepts which considers how far back a webpage is away from the homepage.

The importance of good web architecture

Web architecture needs to form part of the initial concept and design of a website for it to achieve the desired results. Simply by its nature, changes to the architecture are impossible to make, once a website it built. At this point changes would be regarded as a new website in its own right.

For the website users, the owner/company and for search engines alike, the architecture of a website improves its whole performance and success.