What is site structure?

Site structure refers to the way that a site's content - its applications, text, images, videos, music, and more - is grouped, interconnected, and presented to human and non-human visitors. It establishes the order in which content is discovered, accessed, interpreted, and used. Think of it like you would a restaurant menu. You want people to get oriented quickly and to enjoy the experience of navigating the menu and deciding what they want to order. You don't want to overwhelm them with too many options at once. Instead, it is better to ease them in gently with selections laid out hierarchically, in a limited number of logical categories and subcategories. Appetizers go first, then main courses, salads, and desserts. No surprises. It is easy for visitors to quickly find what they came looking for and get on with their life.

How is site structure implemented?

Site structure is implemented using directories, folders, and links. Directories and folders group content into meaningful collections. Groupings determine how different pieces relate to one another and which ones are most important. On a website, content is grouped into directories and folders by assigning a parent (for pages) or category and/or tag (for blog posts). Links connect related content, both on and offsite. They ease and speed navigation. On a website, links are the unique web address or URL (uniform resource locator) for a specific piece of content, folder, or directory. The link allows human and non-human visitors to navigate to the content directly. When links have meaningful names, they help humans and search engines set expectations about what they're going to find when they arrive at their destination. Website menus and breadcrumbs are just another type of link. They provide context - helping visitors get oriented quickly, keep track of where they are, reduce the number of clicks needed to get to where they want to go, and generally ease and speed navigation. Some website development tools afford limited control over your site structure. It is best to consult with an SEO specialist before you make your purchase decision and begin design and development.