How do we ensure that a website has crawlability?

Short Answer: To ensure a website is crawlable, all pages should be linked through the navigation menu, supported by additional links in the footer, and enhanced with internal links within the pages themselves. This setup creates a better crawlability structure by making sure search engines can easily navigate through the entire site.

Full Explanation

Crawlability refers to how easily search engine bots can access and navigate all the pages of a website. A well-structured site with comprehensive linking helps search engines discover every important page efficiently. The primary way to achieve this is by including links to all your pages in the menu. When users and crawlers visit these pages, there should be more links present, especially in the footer area of the website. Additionally, embedding internal links within the content of each page further supports navigation and enhances overall crawlability.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Include All Pages in the Menu: Make sure your site’s main navigation menu contains links to each significant page so they are easy to find.
Add Links in the Footer: On every page, provide additional links, typically in the footer section, giving search engine bots alternate routes to important content.
Use Internal Links Within Pages: Insert links inside the page content to other relevant pages, ensuring a layered linking structure that helps with deeper site navigation.

Real Examples

Imagine you have a website with several different sections like “About Us,” “Services,” and “Blog.” Each of these sections is linked from the main menu at the top of the page. Once a user or a crawler clicks on “Services,” the footer still contains links back to the “About Us” page and the “Blog.” Besides, within the “Services” page content, there might be links pointing to specific blog posts or related services, creating a network of accessible links across the site.

Common Mistakes

Not linking all pages in the main menu, which can lead to some pages being hard to find or completely hidden from crawlers.
Failing to provide additional links in the footer, which reduces alternative navigation paths for search engines.
Neglecting internal linking within page content, making the site structure flat and less crawlable.

FAQs

Why is having links in the menu so important?: Because the menu acts as the primary navigation tool, including all pages there ensures easy access and discovery by search engines and users.
Are footer links necessary if the menu already links to all pages?: Yes, footer links provide additional navigational paths, improving crawlability and user experience.
How do internal links within the page content help crawlability?: They create extra pathways that allow search engines to find related pages and understand the site’s structure better.

Key Takeaways

Ensure every page is linked in the site’s main menu for direct access.
Include additional links in the footer on all pages to reinforce navigation routes.
Utilize internal links within each page to connect relevant content and improve crawlability.