What are breadcrumbs and what do they have to do with SEO?
Have you ever heard of the term breadcrumbs in SEO?
No, not the tasty breadcrumbs we all know and love.
You might not have heard of the term breadcrumbs when it comes to SEO, but we can guarantee you have breadcrumbs when you are browsing on websites.
Simply put, breadcrumbs are navigational elements on a website to assist readers, enhance their user experience and also increase crawlability. It essentially works as a path tracker from the homepage to the page they have gotten to so they can recognise where they are on your website. They are most commonly found at the top of the page or under the navigation.
Maybe this image will help you know exactly what we’re talking about:
The benefits of using breadcrumbs properly doesn’t end at a user-friendly experience. Breadcrumbs also help improve your SEO.
According to the Search Engine Journal, recent Google algorithm changes have actually favoured websites that include breadcrumbs. They display breadcrumbs in search results and also use them to categorise information for user’s search. This can significantly improve your SEO, as Google can practically categorise and navigate the information on your website. There are different types of breadcrumbs that are suitable for any site.
Right now, you might be wondering “Well, what are the different types of breadcrumbs?”
The most common types of breadcrumbs are:
- Location Based Breadcrumbs
- Path Breadcrumbs
- Attribute or Keyword Breadcrumbs
Okay, let’s break it down
Location based breadcrumbs are the most common type, they tell users where they are on the website according to its structure and how to get back to the home page. This would be suitable to you if you are starting out with breadcrumbs.
Path based bread crumbs as the name suggests, is the path the user took to the current webpage they are on. Think of it like a little history path.
And lastly, attribute-based breadcrumbs use keywords and attributes that describe the page instead of using the page title. If you are an ecommerce website, this may be the right type of breadcrumb for you.
Let’s talk about all the benefits of using breadcrumbs on your website.
It is GREAT for SEO and rankings
Google have had breadcrumbs in their search since 2018! So why shouldn’t you mirror what google does and add it directly into your website. You help Google understand where exactly your page is on the website and give searchers a more accurate result. Google can categorise your information plain and simple with the use of your breadcrumbs – a BIG win!
They significantly enhance UX
As you have probably gathered, breadcrumbs are a great way for users to navigate your website and also help promote other parts of your website they may have missed. It’s an essential tool as it also show users any pages they may have missed, not to mention it has a positive effect for your average session duration.
Adding it on your site is simple!
The best part about breadcrumbs is how simple it is to add to your website. They usually have their own option or built-in feature in your settings or you might need to use a breadcrumb plugin. If you have any questions, feel free to contact or call us to happily help you out with this step!
A few final tips:
Don’t stress too much about the design of your website! Breadcrumbs should be there so even if you aren’t happy with them right now, you will definitely get used to the new addition soon. Also, make sure that the breadcrumbs are mobile friendly! Google definitely favours it just as much as users do.
Optimise your website now with breadcrumbs and notice the small changes that can positively impact your search rankings and also your user experience! Contact us if you need a hand at all!
