When and why to include breadcrumbs on the website
Breadcrumbs are a website navigation feature that consists of a series of links separated by separators, allowing the user to always know where they are within the site structure and to easily return to previous pages. Including breadcrumbs in your website design can improve user experience, reduce site abandonment rates, and increase page visibility, thereby improving search engine optimization. Let's see together when why insert breadcrumbs on the website.
What is a breadcrumb and why is it important
Definition of breadcrumbs
The term "breadcrumb" comes from the story of Hansel and Gretel, in which the two characters leave a path of bread crumbs to find their way home. In web design, the breadcrumb is a navigation path that indicates the user's position within the hierarchical structure of the website.
Evolution of breadcrumbs in website navigation
Initially, breadcrumbs were only used in complex websites with many pages. However, today they have also become common in simpler websites, as they allow the user to find their way easily within the structure of the site and to quickly find the information they are looking for.
Benefits of using breadcrumbs on the website
User experience improvement
Breadcrumbs allow the user to always know where he is within the site and to easily return to previous pages, without having to use the browser's "Back" button. This makes navigating the website easier and more intuitive, improving the overall user experience.
Reducing the frequency of abandonment of the site
A website with a complex and confusing navigation structure can lead the user to feel frustrated and abandon the site. The inclusion of breadcrumbs can help reduce the frequency of abandonment of the site, as it allows the user to quickly find the desired information and to easily find their way around the site.
How to create an effective breadcrumb
Choosing the position and shape of the breadcrumb
The breadcrumb should be placed at the top of the page, preferably under the site header. The shape of the breadcrumb can vary depending on the website design, but it should be easily recognizable as a navigation path.
Keyword inclusion and consistency with site structure
The breadcrumb should reflect the hierarchical structure of the website and include keywords relevant to the page the user is on. This can improve search engine optimization and help the user understand the relationship between pages on the site.
Best practices for using breadcrumbs
Use breadcrumbs consistently and clearly
Breadcrumbs should be used consistently throughout the website, with the same shape and placement. Also, the text of breadcrumb links should be clear and concise, so that the user can immediately understand where they are.
Avoid using too many depth levels
A too detailed breadcrumb with many levels of depth can make website navigation confusing and unintuitive. Generally, it's best to use no more than three or four levels of depth in your breadcrumb.
Impact of breadcrumbs on search engine optimization (SEO)
Increased visibility of pages and their position in the site hierarchy
Including breadcrumbs in your website structure can increase the visibility of pages and their position in the site hierarchy. This can improve the indexing of your pages by search engines and help you find the information you are looking for more easily.
Use of breadcrumbs for indexing pages in search engines
Breadcrumbs can be used as part of website structure to help search engines understand the relationship between pages and site hierarchy. This can improve page indexing and overall website optimization.
Insert breadcrumbs into your site to improve the user experience
In summary, including breadcrumbs on your website can improve user experience, reduce site abandonment rates, and improve search engine optimization. It is important to choose breadcrumb placement and shape carefully, including relevant keywords, and maintain consistency throughout the website. Also, using breadcrumbs with a limited number of levels deep can make website navigation easier and more intuitive for the user.
