What is a good website structure - and why does Google care?

Have you ever clicked on a website and immediately felt lost? No one knows where to click, the menu feels cluttered and important information is hidden several clicks away. It's a sign of a poor website structure - and both visitors and Google notice it.

In this post, we'll look at what website structure is, why it's important and how you can improve it on your own site.

What is meant by website structure?

Website structure is about how the content of your website is organised and linked together. It includes:

• Menus and navigation
• Categories and subpages
• Internal links (how pages link to each other)
• URL structure (addresses that are clear and logical)

A good structure makes it easy for visitors to find what they are looking for - and for search engines like Google to understand your site.

Why is it important for Google?

Google wants to show its users the best results. To do that, Google needs to understand what your website is about. A clear structure helps Google to:

• Find all your pages by easily following links
• Understand which pages are most important, for example the home page or your service pages
• Show the right page in the search results when someone searches for your company or services

So a good structure allows you to get better visibility on Google and more relevant visitors.

How to build a good website structure - 4 simple tips

1. think like your customer

What information do they look for first? Place it high in the menu or near the home page.

2. Keep it simple

A main menu with 4-6 main categories is sufficient for most businesses.

3. use descriptive page titles and links

Good example: dittforetag.se/tjanster/vehicle-service

Bad example: dittforetag.se/page?id=123.

4. Link between related pages

For example, if you write a blog about vehicle servicing, link to your vehicle servicing page.

How do I know if my website structure is good?

Start by asking these questions:

• Can a new visitor quickly understand what we offer?
• Can you find contact details without searching?
• Do the most important pages get the most clicks from the menu?
• Do I have pages that are completely isolated without internal links?

If the answer to any question is "no" - then there is potential to improve the structure.

Executive summary

A clear website structure is the basis for both satisfied visitors and good visibility on Google. By organising your content smartly, you make it easier for both people and search engines to find what they are looking for.