How Poor Website Architecture Hurts Your SEO
(And How to Fix It with Custom Post Types)
You’ve optimised your keywords and created great content, but your website still isn’t ranking as it should. Often, the problem lies in your website’s architecture. A poorly structured site not only frustrates users but also makes it difficult for search engines to crawl and index your content.
One of the most effective ways to improve your site’s structure and SEO is by moving away from static pages and using Custom Post Types (CPTs) with categories and taxonomies. This approach not only streamlines your content but also boosts your SEO.
Why Poor Website Architecture Hurts SEO
- Deep, Hard-to-Find Pages: Important pages buried several clicks deep are harder for users and search engines to find.
- Duplicate Content: Poorly structured sites can create duplicate content, especially with complex filtering options.
- Broken Links & Poor Navigation: Static pages often lead to broken links and inconsistent navigation.
- Scalability Issues: Managing static pages becomes challenging as your business grows, leading to SEO and UX problems.
The Solution: Custom Post Types + Categories & Taxonomies
Custom Post Types (CPTs) let you create structured content for services, team members, testimonials, and more. Adding categories and taxonomies make CPTs even more versatile, improving content distribution and SEO.
Benefits of Using CPTs with Categories & Taxonomies:
- Improved Content Organisation: Group related content logically (e.g., services by category or team members by department).
- Better Internal Linking: Categories create natural pathways between content, improving SEO and user navigation.
- Enhanced SEO Structure: Clean URLs like yourwebsite.com/services/branding and filterable content help search engines crawl and rank your pages more effectively.
- Scalability: Easily add new content (like services or testimonials) without creating static pages from scratch.
Optimising CPTs for SEO Success
- Use a Flat Site Structure: Ensure key pages are within three clicks from the homepage.
- Optimise URLs & Slugs: Keep URLs clean and descriptive (/services/web-design instead of /page-id-123).
- Leverage Categories & Taxonomies: Create custom categories and filters to make content more discoverable and SEO-friendly.
- Improve Internal Linking: Connect related posts across CPTs using categories and tags.
- Optimise Images & Performance: Use responsive images, compress files, and implement lazy loading to improve page speed.
A well-organised website built with Custom Post Types, enhanced by categories and taxonomies, creates a scalable, SEO-friendly architecture. It improves user experience, makes content easier to find, and boosts search rankings.
At Digital Elements, we specialise in crafting smart, scalable websites that perform as beautifully as they look. Let’s connect and take your site to the next level.