If you have a small business, want to get noticed by Google, and want to improve your website structure, you should learn about breadcrumb navigation. Breadcrumb navigation shows your current location or page on the website. It helps people move around your website quickly, and search engines like it. It can boost your website’s ranking in search results. However, some website owners might need to learn about breadcrumb navigation and its use in SEO.
This article will explain what breadcrumb navigation is and how it can help your business.
What are the Different types of Breadcrumbs?
There are three types of breadcrumbs we will discuss here.
Hierarchy-Based Breadcrumbs
The breadcrumb trail helps users see what level they are at on a website. Big websites have many levels, from the top down to the bottom. They display the path from the main page to the current page, moving through various categories and subcategories. The trail goes from the main page to different categories and groups until you get to where you are. Pages higher up have more general info, covering many topics. Lower down, you find more specific stuff or search results. The trail shows how deep you have gone into the website, like a path through a forest, starting from the main road and going into smaller paths as you explore.
Path or History-Based Breadcrumbs
Path or history-based breadcrumbs reveal users’ steps to arrive at their current location on a website. Unlike hierarchy-based breadcrumbs that show the site’s structure, these breadcrumbs display the specific pages visited in sequence. This breadcrumb style is beneficial when users navigate search results or follow links from external sources. By visualizing their browsing history, users gain better awareness of their navigation path within the website. Path-based breadcrumbs are like leaving a trail of footprints in the sand, guiding users back along the way they came. They enhance the user experience by providing context and aiding in orientation, ensuring users can easily retrace their digital steps.
Attribute-Based Breadcrumbs
Attribute-based breadcrumbs are helpful signs on a website that guide users to what they want using specific details. Instead of showing how the website is set up or where users have been, these breadcrumbs focus on more information about the content. For example, a shopping site might show brand, category, size, color, or price. These breadcrumbs make it easier for users to explore content by letting them filter it based on their interests. Users can change the filters to narrow their choices and find what they want. They are beneficial on websites with many different things to choose from, like online stores or directories. They help users sort through all the options and quickly find what they want based on what they like.
Tips for Using Breadcrumb Navigation for SEO
Your breadcrumb trails should help users and search engines work effectively. Here are some tips to ensure your breadcrumb trails are doing their job well.
Only Use Breadcrumbs if it Makes Sense for your Website
Using breadcrumbs navigation is one of the best SEO tips to improve your ranking in search results. But, you might not need a breadcrumb if your website has few pages. And if your website needs to be organized in a structured way, something other than breadcrumbs might be helpful. Only use them if they will help your users move around your website more easily. Only put breadcrumbs on your website if they fit how your website is organized. If your website is significant and organized well, breadcrumbs can help people find things more manageable. But if your website is small or needs to be finalized, you might not need breadcrumbs. Think about if they’ll help your visitors before you use them. The most important thing is to ensure your website is easy for people to use and figure out.
Decide Which type of Breadcrumb Trail you Need
There are three types of breadcrumb trails: attribute-based, history-based, and location-based. This article post mainly discussed location-based breadcrumbs, which tell users where they are on the website’s hierarchy. Attribute-based breadcrumbs are similar because they show users the category the page belongs to, which is functional for product pages. History-based breadcrumbs show users the path to reach the current page, which is helpful on websites with complex layouts. Consider which breadcrumb type will be most beneficial for your customers.
Follow the Structure of your Website
It’s best if your breadcrumb trail matches how your website is organized. This way, if someone is on a deep page, they can quickly return to top-level pages and find more helpful stuff. For example, each category level should have a link if your website has categories. It helps people find more articles on the same topic for articles or blogs. For online stores, it helps people find products they want to buy. Imagine if a baking website was selling bread online. After reading about eggy bread, you should see other types of bread to buy. A good breadcrumb trail shows options people might like and every step from the homepage to the current page.
Make your Breadcrumb Trail Clickable
It’s helpful to make the pages in your breadcrumb trail clickable. It lets users quickly return to any of the listed pages. Instead of just showing users where they could go next, make each part of the trail clickable so they can go directly to that page. But make the current page clickable in the breadcrumb trail only if it’s helpful. Making the trail clickable helps users move around your website more efficiently, improving their experience and helping them find what they need faster. Clickable breadcrumbs simplify navigation so users don’t have to backtrack through many pages.
Make it Subtle and in Keeping with your Design
Users might overlook the breadcrumb trail unless they search for it, so it doesn’t have to be too fancy. It should fit in with your website’s style but still be easy to see when needed. Like other parts of your website, Breadcrumb Trails can help in many ways. They make your website look nicer, help users move around, improve how easily people find your site on search engines, and make more visitors become customers. Ensure your breadcrumb trail matches your website’s look but only stands out a little. It should blend in nicely but still be easy to find when users want to use it.
Conclusion
Breadcrumb navigation is like leaving a trail for users to follow on a website or app. There are three kinds: hierarchy-based, history-based, and attribute-based, each with its job. By using breadcrumbs smartly, picking the right type, making them clickable, and blending them nicely into your design, you can improve users’ experience and help your site rank higher in searches. Breadcrumbs help users move around easily, find things quickly, and reach their business goals. So, whether your site is big or small, using breadcrumbs well can make it easier for people to explore and understand what’s on your site.
