Site Architecture for SEO

Design URL structure and site hierarchy for optimal SEO and user experience.

Principles

1. Flat Structure (3 clicks to any page)

Homepage → Category → Page

Not:

Homepage → Section → Subsection → Category → Subcategory → Page

2. Descriptive URLs

Good: /features/real-time-collaboration Bad: /page?id=12345

3. Consistent Hierarchy

/features/
/features/real-time-collaboration
/features/version-history

/pricing/
/pricing/teams
/pricing/enterprise

4. Internal Linking

• Link from high-authority pages to important pages
• Use descriptive anchor text
• Create topical clusters (pillar + cluster pages)

Process

Step 1: Map Content Types

• Marketing pages (features, pricing, about)
• Blog/content
• Product docs
• Legal pages

Step 2: Define URL Structure

/features/[feature-name]
/blog/[post-slug]
/customers/[customer-name]
/vs/[competitor-name]

Step 3: Plan Navigation

• Primary nav (top 5-7 links)
• Footer nav (comprehensive)
• Breadcrumbs (for deep pages)

Step 4: Create Internal Linking Strategy

• Pillar content links to cluster content
• Cluster content links back to pillar
• Related content links (end of blog posts)

Output

Site architecture diagram + URL structure guidelines.

Quality Bar

• Flat structure (3-click rule)
• Descriptive, consistent URLs
• Clear navigation hierarchy
• Strategic internal linking