What is Site Architecture?
Site architecture refers to the way a website’s pages are structured and organised. It includes how content is grouped, how pages are linked, and how easily users and search engines can navigate the site.
A well-designed site architecture helps visitors find information quickly and enables search engines to efficiently crawl and index pages.
Key components of site architecture include:
- URL structure
- Navigation menus
- Internal linking
- Hierarchy of pages (home, categories, subcategories, product pages)
Why Site Architecture Matters
Good site architecture improves both user experience and SEO. It ensures that important content is easy to access and helps distribute link equity across the site. It also plays a role in how quickly and accurately search engines can discover and rank your pages.
Benefits of effective site architecture include:
- Easier crawling and indexing
- Better rankings for key pages
- Reduced bounce rates through logical navigation
- Improved discoverability of deep content
- Support for scalable growth as content expands
Poor architecture, on the other hand, can lead to orphan pages, crawl issues, and confusion for both users and search engines.
Example in Use
A website with clear site architecture might follow this structure:
Home > Services > SEO > Local SEO
Each level is logically linked, and users (and crawlers) can understand the relationship between pages. A flat architecture, where important content is accessible within a few clicks from the homepage, is generally recommended.
Related Terms
- Internal Linking
- URL Structure
- Crawling
- Navigation
- Technical SEO