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Directory structure for category pages, and siloing

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by grobar, Oct 18, 2010.

  1. #1
    No "guesses" please. Only respond if you have a reference.

    In this example:

    Booksite.com/poetry/contemporary.html
    Booksite.com/poetry/avantguard.html
    Booksite.com/poetry/elegies.html
    Booksite.com/poetry/freeverse.html
    Booksite.com/poetry/limericks.html
    Booksite.com/poetry/haiku.html


    In the example, where would the first level "category" page be for the "poetry" category?

    Would it be at:

    booksite.com/poetry/ (which is actually booksite.com/poetry/default.html)
    or

    booksite.com/poetry.html
    (note the difference is that the first option is one directory level deeper than the second.)
     
    grobar, Oct 18, 2010 IP
  2. Brad Callen

    Brad Callen Peon

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    #2
    I would opt for individual pages under /poetry/, nice structure that is easy to follow for both humans and bots alike.

    Many people don't know that Bruce Clay is not only a celeb of sorts when it comes to SEO, but he also really knows what he is talking about, and he and his company are always doing tests. They have a lot of good info on silos (fir instance, http://www.bruceclay.com/newsletter/volume29/themepartone.html) and Bruce himself swears by siloing.
     
    Brad Callen, Oct 18, 2010 IP
  3. grobar

    grobar Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Thanks for the reply Brad. I've actually studied all of of the Clay writings on siloing.

    I know that the individual pages would be under /poetry/ but my question was, where is the best place for the category/index page to go? (the page that lists all of the individual pages in the poetry category)
     
    grobar, Oct 19, 2010 IP
  4. ezestseo

    ezestseo Peon

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    #4
    Hi "grobar",

    If you want place lists all of the individual pages in the poetry category then it must go with the second option i.e. poetry.html and here you place all the individual pages.
     
    ezestseo, Oct 19, 2010 IP
  5. grobar

    grobar Well-Known Member

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    #5
    great, thanks for the note.

    I tend to agree, but can you support your claim with a reference?

    What evidence do you see to support what you have said?
     
    grobar, Oct 19, 2010 IP
  6. grobar

    grobar Well-Known Member

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    #6
    So you are saying the best way is option 1 below, right?

    like, take this image of a "siloed" web site - meaning a website about "powertools" (say, powertools.com) wants to organize content in this way:

    [​IMG]

    Now, look at the three "category" or "silo landing pages" at the top. I would probably create this, physically, like this:

    Option 1
    • powertools.com/default.html[/B] (the global nav would have 4 items, a home link, and a link to the next three pages.
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools.html (landing page for silo #1)
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools.html (landing page for silo #2)
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools.html (landing page for silo #3)
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article3.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article3.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article3.html

    Option 2
    BUT - many sites do it THIS way. I'm asking which one SHOULD be used, and WHY (where did you learn that? where did you read that? Is there an article you can reference or point me to?)

    • powertools.com/default.html[/B] (the global nav would have 4 items, a home link, and a link to the next three pages.
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/default.html (landing page for silo #1, the "default.html" may be invisible, with the url rewritten to just "powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/")
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/default.html (landing page for silo #2, the "default.html" may be invisible, with the url rewritten to just "powertools.com/electric-power-tools/")
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/default.html (landing page for silo #3, the "default.html" may be invisible, with the url rewritten to just "powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/")
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/cordless-power-tools/article3.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/electric-power-tools/article3.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article1.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article2.html
    • powertools.com/gasoline-power-tools/article3.html
     
    grobar, Oct 20, 2010 IP