Plan your website
Check the structure before you build pages.
Website structure is the way pages, navigation and internal links work together. A small, clear structure helps visitors find information and helps search engines understand the relationship between pages.
Organise around visitor needs
Group pages by the questions visitors have, not by internal department names or every possible business activity. Keep top-level navigation focused on the most common routes.
Make key pages easy to reach
A visitor should be able to reach important pages through normal links from the homepage, navigation and related content. Do not depend on only a site search field or a JavaScript interaction.
Practical checklist
- One purpose per page.
- Descriptive navigation labels.
- No duplicate pages for the same intent.
- Key pages linked from more than one relevant page.
- A useful 404 page for unavailable URLs.
Review before adding pages
Before creating a new URL, ask whether an existing page can answer the question more clearly. Add a page only when it has a distinct user purpose.
Further reading