What Is Website Structure? How to Build an SEO-Friendly One

Website structure is not simply how pages are organized on a site. It also determines user experience and SEO performance. A sound website structure map not only helps users find the information they need easily, but also helps search engines understand and index pages effectively. So do you know what website structure is? Let's explore MONA Media this concept in today's article, together with the methods for building an SEO-friendly website structure that you cannot afford to miss.

What is website structure?

Website structure is the way content on a site is organized and arranged, in order to give users a smooth experience and to optimize for search engines. When a site's structure is well designed, users can easily navigate and find the information they need. 

A proper website structure also makes it easier for search engines such as Google to crawl and evaluate the content on the site, which improves your site's SEO ranking. Building the website structure correctly not only improves user experience but is also an important element of your SEO Technicalstrategy, helping your website stand out in a competitive online environment.

When building a website, many businesses focus on the look or on generic information, but overlook real content and trustworthiness, which is what decides credibility in customers' eyes. The video below will help you better understand why it matters to show real value on your website. 

What does a website structure include?

It plays an important role in building and optimizing your business's user experience. So what does a website structure include? Any website has three main parts, each with its own function. MONA will analyze them in detail below:

Header section

Header section is the top of the page structure. It appears on every page and plays an important role in guiding users and drawing them in. The main components of the Header include:

• Site ID: This is the site name or the business logo, usually placed in the top left corner. It helps users recognize the brand at first glance.
• Scan columns: Includes elements such as an advanced search box, a navigation menu, product introductions and contact information, helping users reach the site's main functions quickly.
• Search box: Placed in the right corner, with a simple design of a keyword field and a search button, it helps users find information quickly and conveniently.
• Navigation menu bar: Located in the Header, it provides links to important pages such as About, Products and Contact.
• Shopping cart: Usually in the right corner, this icon lets users keep track of the products they have chosen and the total amount to pay.
• Banner: Eye-catching promotional images designed to draw attention and convey a message about a product or service.
• Slider: Placed right below the Header, it can be an image or a video, usually with call-to-action (CTA) buttons to encourage users to interact.

-> Read more: Standard banner sizes for websites

Content section  

The place that holds the main content of the website. It usually includes: Breadcrumb navigation, Page title, Paging navigation (pagination navigation), an information bar, the main content of the page, and a bar with share buttons for the social networks linked to the website. This is where users spend the most time on a site, so it needs to be organized logically and attractively to keep them there.

The Page Footer

Page Footer is at the bottom of the page and usually holds contact details, copyright notices and other important links. The footer reinforces the site structure and provides necessary information with ease. A clear and sensible website structure not only improves user experience but also contributes to effective SEO.

-> You may also want to read: How to edit the Footer on WordPress

Types of website structure

With technology booming, websites now come in more forms, genres and topics. Naturally, to keep pace, website structure optimization has also diversified into more types. Below are the common types of website structure that MONA has collected over its years of practice:

Hierarchical website structure

Hierarchical structure is the most commonly used model, especially for websites with rich and varied content. In this structure, pages are organized in levels from top to bottom, like a folder tree. Users can navigate easily through main categories and subcategories, which helps them find information quickly and conveniently.

Matrix website structure

Matrix structure lets users freely choose their path through the website. Instead of following a fixed order, users can jump between different pages as they wish. Although it is no longer as common as before, the matrix structure still offers flexibility and suits sites whose content does not need to follow a set order.

Sequential website structure

Sequential structure is used when users need to be guided through a set series of steps, such as account registration or completing an order. This model makes sure users complete the required steps without missing any important information. It is ideal for sites that provide services requiring accuracy and care.

Database structure

Database structure combines data tables with a powerful search system. This lets users access information from a large database easily and quickly. This type of structure is commonly used for e-commerce sites, digital libraries and education platforms with rich data stores.

Why does a proper website structure matter for SEO?

A website's structure plays an extremely important role in SEO because it directly affects how users and search engines access and understand the content on the site. A well-organized website structure not only improves user experience but also makes SEO optimization easier.

In detail, website structure supports SEO effectively through:

• Improves user experience: A clear and logical website structure helps users find the information they need. When users feel comfortable navigating the site, they tend to stay longer, which lowers bounce rate and raises engagement, and in turn improves the site's ranking on search engines.
• Supports building internal links: Checking for a good website structure clearly shows the priority of the pages on your site and supports effective internal linking. This not only helps users move between pages but also helps search bots understand the importance of each page, which optimizes the indexing process.
• Faster crawling: Optimizing a clear website structure makes it easy for search engines such as Google to crawl information and understand the relationships between pages. It helps your website be indexed faster and appear more effectively in search results.
• Avoiding Keyword cannibalization: A good website structure helps avoid cannibalization (keyword cannibalization), which happens when several pages on the same website compete in search results because their content is similar. It makes sure that only the most relevant pages with the strongest content are displayed, which optimizes overall SEO performance.

The foundation of a website has a big effect on your SEO results later on. Investing resources in the website from the very first steps is important. So if you are looking for a reliable web design partnerthat can meet every requirement from basic to complex, MONA Media will be the right choice for you. Full-service website design by MONA can design every type of website, with custom features built to the client's wishes: An attractive, user-friendly interface: Modern, professional design that keeps up with the latest trends, so your website attracts visitors at first glance. Optimal security: Tight data security prevents customer information leaks and strengthens user trust. Friendly admin area: Content and features are easy to manage, so clients can adjust their website themselves with ease. SEO-standard structure: SEO optimization that helps your website reach its target customers. Integrated advertising tools: Support for managing advertising campaigns effectively and conveniently. Custom features on request: We meet every client need, from integrating API to designing unique vector interfaces. VR360 technology: Delivers a vivid, realistic experience that makes a strong impression on users. 24/7 support: Complete peace of mind throughout the service. The more than 8 years of experience and thousands of real projects, MONA has earned clients' trust through the quality of its products and services. MONA's staff are highly trained and ready to work with you from consulting and implementation through to after-sales support.  Let MONA Media be a trusted partner that helps you upgrade and grow your website, and through it, grow your business. To learn more and see the Professional website projects we have completed, you can visit the MONA website or contact HOTLINE 1900 636 648 for the most detailed advice.

What does a good website structure look like?

It plays an important role in optimizing user experience and improving search engine rankings. A good website structure must make sure all content is organized logically and is easy to reach and understand. Specifically:

• Organized in a sensible hierarchy, with main categories covering everything, followed by detailed subcategories.
• Grouping related content by topic helps users find information easily.
• Highlight the most important content and pages.

In this case, a flat website architecture is often seen as a better choice than adeep website architecture. A flat structure reduces the number of clicks needed to reach content deep in the site. With this structure, users can reach any page on your website in no more than 4 clicks. This improves user experience and the speed at which search engines crawl your data.

Finally, make sure that every important page on your website has at least one internal link pointing to it. This not only helps users move between pages but also helps search engines crawl more effectively, and avoids “lonely pages” (orphan pages) that are hard to rank.

How to design a good website structure

Designing a website structure is not just about arranging pages sensibly. It must also be optimized for both users and search engines. Checking your website structure strongly affects user experience, how easily information can be found, and even your site's ranking on search engines. 

Below are the basic principles you need to know to create a good website structure:

Use internal links to optimize your website structure strategically

Links from one page to another within the same website help search engines better understand your site structure, and also help users move between related pages. When building an internal linking strategy, focus on linking to important pages that are closely related to what users are searching for. 

Example: You can use pillar pages as the hub and link related articles in topic clusters (topic cluster). Besides improving rankings on search engines, this way of structuring a site also improves the experience of people visiting your website.

Create a flat website structure

A flat website structure lets users reach information quickly and efficiently. The basic principle is to make sure every page on the site can be reached in 3-4 clicks at most from the home page. A flat structure also makes it easy for search engines to crawl, so important pages get indexed quickly.

To check the depth of your website structure, you can use tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush. If you find a page that needs more than 4 clicks to reach, consider simplifying the structure by optimizing internal links or rearranging the pages.

Create an easy-to-follow navigation menu and check your website structure

The navigation menu plays an important role in guiding users to information on your website. A good navigation menu helps users find the content they need without spending too much time.

There are many kinds of navigation menus, such as horizontal menus, vertical menus, dropdown menus and side menus. Depending on the design and purpose of your site, you can choose the type that fits. What matters is that the menu is intuitive and easy to use, so users can find the information they need quickly.

Use Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs is a form of text navigation that helps users see where they are on your website. Breadcrumbs not only support navigation but also help search engines better understand how your website structure is optimized.

Breadcrumbs usually appear at the top or bottom of the page and show the path from the home page to the current page. This lets users easily go back to earlier pages without using the browser's “Back” button. Using breadcrumbs can also improve SEO by helping search engines better understand the relationships between pages.

Optimize website URLs

A professional URL A good URL needs to be short, clear and contain a keyword related to the page's content. Google and other search engines use URLs to understand site structure and judge how relevant the content is. Make sure your URLs are short, easy to understand and contain the main keyword. 

Before publishing a page, check and adjust the URL so it fits the page's content. Avoid changing the URLs of pages that are already live, but if you must, make sure to set up a proper redirect (redirect 301) so you do not lose traffic.

Declare an HTML and XML Sitemap

Sitemap is a file containing a list of all the pages on your website. A sitemap helps search engines understand a website's structure and crawl data more effectively. 

There are two main types of sitemap: HTML Sitemap and XML Sitemap. An HTML Sitemap is usually designed for users and helps them find information easily. An XML Sitemap is created for search engines, helping them understand the site's structure and index pages quickly.

Submitting your XML Sitemap to Google through Google Search Console is an important step to make sure the important pages on your website are discovered and indexed by search engines.

If you already have a finished website but have not optimized it for SEO, consider combining it with SEO services so your business can grow stronger. MONA Media is worth considering if you have not yet found the right SEO expert.  We are proud to be one of the leading SEO service providers in Vietnam, and we have successfully carried out more than 300 SEO projects for businesses in many different industries, from small shops to large corporations. When you choose SEO services at MONA, you are assured of benefits such as: Commitment to results: MONA always puts clients' interests first. We aim not only for high Google rankings for your website but also for a higher rate of conversion into real customers. A team of experienced SEO experts: With a team of experienced SEO experts, MONA keeps researching and following the latest Google algorithms and applies modern trends to deliver the best results for each project. Custom SEO strategy: MONA will develop a dedicated SEO strategy that fits your business goals, from content and technical optimization to building a system of quality backlink that helps your website not only reach a high position but keep it over time. The more than 12,000 clients in Vietnam and abroad trust in us, MONA has proven its reputation and effectiveness in SEO. Let MONA work with you to win a top Google position and grow your online business. CONTACT US with MONA via  HOTLINE 1900 636 648 to get detailed advice from our team and an accurate quote for your business.

Building an website structure that follows SEO standards is essential for improving your website's performance and user experience. When you apply the right principles, users can easily find what they want on your website, and search engines find it easier to crawl and evaluate your site. We hope today's article from MONA has answered your questions about the concept of website structure, and that you now know how to invest time and effort in designing a sound website structure for long-term benefits.