One of the first and foremost steps to be taken when planning a website is creating a website structure. The process of categorizing website content and creating the website structure forms the backbone of the future website as well as its potential success.

A website with well-organized content achieves a high level of usability, search engine optimization, aesthetics, visual appeal, and user satisfaction. Let’s look at the overall structure of any type of website.

website-structure

Take into account the following points when developing website structure:

• Consider potential target audience needs and expectations • Develop appealing, organized and easy to navigate main page (Home Page) • Categorize your website content and pages into sections and sub-sections • Use the rule of three clicks (website visitors should make no more than 3 clicks to find what they are looking for) • Separate and organize all the files of your website • Do not overweight the site with irrelevant information, buttons, icons, etc • Create the Sitemap

Basic Site Structure

There are basically two types of website structure: hierarchical structure and flat structure. Website designers and SEOs recommend using hierarchical approach in order to further generate navigation links and create site maps.

The good website structure iallows users to quickly and easily get to the content they want, without complicated navigation and confusing distractions.

Any website design and website structure should include the following basic pages:

Home Page

All websites have a main page/Home Page. Website Home Page is the first page visitors view when visit the website. Home Page is the most important page for obtaining search engine rankings.

About Page

The About Page describes what the website is all about: website subject, goal, as well as provide information about the website authors/owners/founders.

Contact Page

Any website should generally include various methods of making contact with the website owner, website admin or website developer.

Search Box

Most websites have the search box as a part of the website navigation system. Search box makes it easy for users to search for specific information.

Sitemap

The sitemap helps search engines to index website pages and content. Sitemaps are very useful for full-of-content websites, online businesses, e-stores and websites with pages that are hard reachable via links.

Here a few other types of website pages to consider: Portfolio, Company Story, Blog, News, Links, etc.

Anyone wanting to build a website should pay close attention to the development of website structure. If the website structure is logical, well-organized and easy navigable, then the website will succeed. And, if the website offers high-quality relevant content (articles, product/service descriptions, images/photos, etc), then the website will succeed 100%.

Before you design website, organize the content and create the website structure. A website is like a living thing where all systems are connected closely. Website developing is more than just creating good HTML codes, it is like creating a new living organism.