Breadcrumb navigation, often referred to as breadcrumb navigation, is a helpful tool to improve user navigation on websites. It shows visitors the path they have taken within the website and makes it easy to return to higher-level pages. This article explains what breadcrumbs are, why they are important for SEO, and how you can implement them on your website.
What are breadcrumbs? #
Breadcrumbs are a type of navigation that shows users where they are on a website. They are usually displayed at the top of the page and consist of a chain of links that represent the path to the current page. The term “breadcrumb” comes from the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”, in which the main characters scatter breadcrumbs to find their way back home.
Why are breadcrumbs important for SEO? #
Breadcrumbs not only improve the user experience by providing a clear structure, but also have a positive impact on SEO. They help search engines to better understand the structure of a website and index content more efficiently. This can lead to better visibility and higher rankings in the search results.
Step-by-step instructions for implementing breadcrumbs #
- Decide on a breadcrumb type: There are different types of breadcrumbs (hierarchical, attribute-based, or historical). Choose the type that best suits your website structure.
- Design and placement: Breadcrumbs should be clearly visible but not dominant. Place them at the top of the page, below the navigation bar.
- Implementation: Use CMS plugins or manual coding to add breadcrumbs to your website. Make sure that every page is linked correctly.
- Testing: Check whether the breadcrumbs work correctly and whether they are displayed consistently on all pages.
- Monitoring and adjustment: Observe how the introduction of breadcrumbs affects the user experience and SEO ranking and make adjustments if necessary.
FAQs #
Q: Are breadcrumbs suitable for every website? A: Yes, breadcrumbs can be useful for almost any type of website, especially those with multiple levels of content and categories.
Q: Can breadcrumbs directly improve the SEO ranking? A: Indirectly yes. By contributing to the website structure and improving the user experience, they can positively influence user behavior, which in turn is a factor for SEO ranking.
Q: How do breadcrumbs affect the mobile user experience? A: Breadcrumbs also improve navigation on mobile devices. However, you should ensure that they are mobile-friendly and do not take up too much screen space for users.
Summary #
Breadcrumb navigation is an effective tool to improve the user experience on your website and contribute to SEO optimization. By clearly displaying the website structure, breadcrumbs help users to find their way around and at the same time support search engines in indexing your content. Implementing breadcrumbs is a simple step that can bring great benefits to your website.
Sources:
[1] https://onlinemarketing.de/lexikon/definition-breadcrumb
[2] https://www.loewenstark.com/wissen/bread-crumb/
[3] https://www.seo-kueche.de/lexikon/breadcrumb-navigation-brotkrumennavigation/
[4] https://www.evergreenmedia.at/glossar/breadcrumb/
[5] https://www.seo-analyse.com/seo-lexikon/b/breadcrumb/
[6] https://www.eology.de/wiki/breadcrumb
[7] https://www.advidera.com/glossar/breadcrumb/
[8] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotkr%C3%BCmelnavigation