| A proper structure is an important part if you want | | | | sure to keep researching the keywords that you are |
| to successfully make a website. You might have | | | | going to target per page. |
| great content but that isn't enough. Your content | | | | Now, these tier-two pages should each link to further |
| also has to be easily navigable, this is true for both | | | | sub-pages with tightly targeted content. This is tier |
| human visitors and search engine bot alike. | | | | three. |
| Hence, it is important to think about both your | | | | For example: Your tier-two page "Siamese Cat Breed |
| hierarchy and organization before you get start to | | | | Facts" gives a general overview targeted to this |
| make a website. Otherwise you may have to go | | | | topic. Furthermore, this page contains links to your |
| back and reorganize a lot of content, which is no fun. | | | | sub-pages "Siamese Breed History", "Is the Siamese |
| This may also adversely effect your search engine | | | | the Right Breed for You?", "Siamese Cat Breed |
| ranking, so take the time to plan thoroughly. | | | | Standard", "Temperament", "Appearance", etc. |
| When you make a website, the visual layout should | | | | See how your pages become topically more and |
| be split into a content area and a sidebar with | | | | more granular the further we dive into your website? |
| navigational links. You can also try a top (horizontal) | | | | When we came through the front door (the |
| navigation, and the sidebar can be floating to the left | | | | homepage), the topic was "Siamese Cats". Then we |
| or right, but many of your less Internet savvy | | | | clicked on "Siamese Cat Breed Facts" and went from |
| visitors will respond better to a sidebar on the left. | | | | there to "Is the Siamese the Right Breed for You?". |
| Think about who you are making this website for | | | | Giving your website a proper hierarchy will both help |
| and decide accordingly. After all, your content and | | | | your human visitors navigate and allow search |
| design decisions should be there to please your | | | | engines to index and rank your website a lot easier. |
| visitors and not to boost your ego. If your visitors | | | | If you are running your site on WordPress, there are |
| are older or less Internet savvy, make sure not to | | | | two possibilities for you to easily structure your site |
| go overboard on graphics and gimmicks. Less is more. | | | | like this: |
| By all means, don't make your navigation too | | | | Option 1: Use categories. These categories will |
| complicated! If people are not able to figure out how | | | | become your tier-two pages. Make sure to fill out the |
| to navigate your site, or if your site does not display | | | | category descriptions to give your tier-two pages |
| properly in a variety of browsers, you are just | | | | some content. Categories will automatically display |
| hurting your business and loosing visitors. But that's | | | | any posts therein. |
| what you want to make a website for! | | | | Using this method may require you to make |
| Your sidebar should contain a link to your homepage, | | | | modifications to your theme templates. For one, the |
| as well as links to your second tier content pages | | | | posts that you publish in each respective category |
| (see below). You will probably also want to link to | | | | will show in many themes in full. This is not a good |
| your "contact" page, possibly a site map, and "about" | | | | idea. Instead you will want to only show an excerpt |
| page and similar. | | | | or even a just a link to your tier-three posts. |
| When you make a website, think of your site as | | | | Second, many themes don't display the category |
| several tiers deep with content. The first tier is your | | | | description. That means, your tier-two pages would |
| homepage. This is practically the front door that | | | | practically be empty. In this case, place a php tag |
| many human and bot visitors will enter through. All of | | | | with "echo category_description();" in your theme's |
| your pages, and in particular your homepage, need to | | | | category.php template file. |
| give your visitors an instant impression of what your | | | | Option 2: Use pages. In WordPress, pages are not |
| site is about. | | | | tagged or assigned to categories as posts are. They |
| If you make a website about Siamese cats, you will | | | | are treated as two completely different types of |
| want to say on your homepage something about | | | | content in the WordPress backend. Giving your pages |
| why your website is the greatest of its kind on the | | | | a hierarchy is very easy. |
| web, what you have to offer and where people | | | | In fact, you can simply select a parent page from |
| should go from here (namely, browse your website). | | | | the corresponding menu under "Attributes". This will |
| Remember, your visitors will instantly hit the back | | | | make it easy for you to keep the overview on your |
| button if they are not able to tell within the first | | | | page structure. Make sure to link from your tier-two |
| couple of seconds what your site is about. | | | | pages to the tier-three ones like you normally would. |
| Now comes the second tier content. All of your | | | | No matter which option you choose, there should be |
| tier-two content pages should split your main topic | | | | a widget available for you to automatically add your |
| (we are going with Siamese cats for this article) into | | | | tier-two pages to your sidebar navigation. This can |
| logical sub-categories, for example: Siamese Cat | | | | be either the "Pages" or "Categories" widget from |
| Breed Facts, Siamese Health Problems, Book | | | | the Appearance menu, or a similar widget. WordPress |
| Reviews, Siamese Photo Gallery etc. | | | | is extremely flexible and developer friendly, make |
| If you have read my other articles, you will know | | | | sure to search the available plugins for a fitting one. |
| how important niche and keyword research is. Make | | | | |