Common Issues with Official Website Page Structure
The page structure of a corporate website is the foundation of user experience and search engine optimization. A clear and logical structure allows visitors to quickly find the information they need and helps search engines understand the site's content. However, during actual development, many websites encounter structural problems due to poor planning. Below are common issues identified.
Unreasonable Navigation Design
Navigation serves as a guide for users browsing the site. Common issues include too many or too few navigation items, vague labeling, and deep dropdown menus. For example, some websites place dozens of services in the top-level navigation, causing clutter, while others use broad terms like "Product Center" or "Solutions," leaving users unsure of the specific content.
Recommendation: Keep top-level navigation to 5-8 items, with specific and understandable labels. If content is extensive, use category aggregation to avoid displaying all sub-items at once.
Deep Page Hierarchy
Ideally, users should reach their target content within no more than three clicks from the homepage. However, many websites create multi-level paths like "Home > Products > Series > Model > Details" to segment content. Deep hierarchies increase user effort and hinder search engine crawlers.
Recommendation: Plan a flat structure, placing important pages at shallow levels. For pages that must be deep, use breadcrumb navigation and internal search to assist users in locating content.
Information Silos and Unconnected Pages
On some corporate websites, certain pages lack internal links, forcing users to click "Back" or close the page after viewing. This is common in case study pages, news detail pages, etc., where there is no entry to related content.
Recommendation: Add "Related Content" or "Recommended Reading" modules at the bottom of pages to establish connections. Also, insert internal links within articles or product details to guide users to further browsing.
Overlapping Sections and Duplicate Content
Similar content appears in multiple sections, or different sections have similar names, causing confusion. For example, some websites have both "News" and "Company Updates" with overlapping content, leading to redundancy.
Recommendation: Clearly define each section's purpose, ensuring unique content attribution. Merge similar sections or use subcategories to differentiate. Regularly review the sitemap to avoid duplicate content.
Neglecting Mobile Structure Adaptation
Many websites have a reasonable structure on desktop but fail to adapt for mobile, resulting in issues like collapsed navigation that cannot expand, tiny buttons, and compressed or distorted content.
Recommendation: Use responsive design and test structure performance on different devices. On mobile, prioritize core content, simplify navigation menus, and use touch-friendly interactions.
Lack of Content Update and Maintenance Planning
After launch, the page structure remains unchanged for long periods, and new content is randomly placed in unrelated sections, gradually causing structural chaos. For instance, a new service page might be temporarily placed under "About Us," making it hard to find later.
Recommendation: Establish content management guidelines, ensuring new pages are placed in appropriate sections according to the planned structure. If structural adjustments are needed, conduct a global assessment to avoid temporary changes that disrupt integrity.
Summary and Actionable Tips
Website structure is an ongoing optimization process. It is recommended that businesses plan sections during the initial site development, referencing best practices from similar industries but avoiding direct copying. After launch, regularly collect user feedback and use tools like heatmaps to analyze user behavior, promptly adjusting structural issues. For revamping older sites, first map out existing page relationships before deciding to retain, merge, or delete.
If your website already exhibits the above issues, consider conducting a comprehensive structural assessment, re-planning navigation and page hierarchy from a user perspective. For professional assistance, consult relevant service providers for targeted advice.