Silo Structure Full Form
SILO Structure stands for Search Index Learning Objects Structure.
Silo Structure Definition
In the digital world, your website is the most important mode of communication between your business and your audience. A well-ranked website brings potential audience, and traffic, creates engagement, and drives conversions. However, it is not easy to rank your website on Google. To rank your website in SERP, you need to make sure that your website is well-structured logically and that the content is grouped according to the specific topic. But is there the fastest way to achieve the best results from SEO? Well, as per experts opinion, the authority sites always get advantage and rank faster as compared to others. But, building the authority website takes years. Now, you can not wait for years. Here comes the role of the Google Silo Structure that helps you to outrank even authority websites in your industry.
Now, if you are wondering what a Silo Structure is, its type, and how a Silo website optimization can help you in achieving your business goals, this blog is for you.
What Is Silo Structure In SEO?
Well, probably you have heard the term Silo before. But, have you heard the term “Siloing in SEO”? If not, do not worry; here, we will clarify every aspect of Silo Structure and why Silo is popular in SEO.
The Silo Structure SEO helps you establish your website as an authority and open the eyes of Google on a particular topic. It is a type of Silo organizational structure where you can categorize, isolate, and interlink the content about a specific topic. With the help of structure, you can easily categorize and subcategorize your website content. It helps the Google crawlers to determine the relevance of each topic.
Normally, many websites do not have the Silo Structure, commonly known as “Flat websites.” These websites do not indicate the relationships between the different pages of your websites. However, in a Silo-optimized website, the web pages are organized into a hierarchical cluster that represents the different topics. These clusters are known as the Silo, which represents a different category or a sub-category. Also, the Silo Structure passes the link juice to other blog posts, landing pages, or other relevant content on your website.
Silo Structure Examples
We hope that you have understood the Silo Structure meaning. It is always better to show than to explain. Below, we have provided the names of a few well-known websites that are using this Structure Silo.
SEO Silo Structure example:
Example 1: Search Engine Land
Example 2: GoDaddy
Example 3: Smart Passive Income
Structure Of Silos
You can create Silo Structure for SEO in two different Ways. Below, we have mentioned the two different principles involved in creating the Silo website.
Types Of Silo Architecture:
- Virtual Content Silos (using internal linking)
- Physical Content Silos (using categorization)
Let us have a quick look at both of the Silo architectures.
Virtual Content Silos (Using Internal Linking)
It is a category structure that is created by using the internal linking process. In this, you interlink the pages that are relevant to the main topic. The main type of internal links that are important while creating the links are contextual. It is a type of link that is found in the body of your content. The linking of relevant information suggests to search engines that you are a trustworthy supplier of information.
Physical Content Silos (Using Categorization)
The physical Silo is created by using the categorization technique. In this, the CRM system creates a URL structure with the parent page and a child page. Below, we have mentioned the example of a physical Silo Structure.
domain.com/tag/post/
domain.com/category/post/
Why Is Silo Structure So Popular?
Thinking about the importance of Silo Structure in a website? So, read this blog.
A Silo architecture usually refers to the process of grouping your content or backlinks properly so that it becomes easy for Google to navigate through your website. The goal of Siloing your website is to provide a better user experience by allowing them to easily navigate through your website. Content Siloing not only helps you in your SEO but also improves usability. It becomes easier for the user to find the relevant information. It is a great tactic used by businesses to outrank their website, even among authority websites. Let us have a look at how Silo helps SEO.
How Does Silo Structure Benefit SEO?
No way can explain why some websites rank on Google while others do not. However, undoubtedly, content is the King in SEO, which means that quality content helps businesses to perform better. Henceforth, you must categorize your website content according to the Silo Structure. Let us have a look at the various aspects of how Silo Structure can benefit SEO.
Backlinking And Interlinking
Link building is an important aspect of SEO. It helps the users to find the relevant content according to topics. Siloing helps you to create the proper backlinking and interlinking. By interlinking the pages with the same Silo, you establish the relevancy and authority of each page. The proper Siloing distributes the link juice.
Keyword Context
Keywords play a crucial role in ranking a website in SERP. The search engines take into account how relevant a keyword is to content. You must take long-tail keywords as they have a low search volume, and you can easily rank them. The long tail keywords are the niche search terms. Silos helps in organizing the content into the proper category and subcategory that helps in incorporating the relevant keywords.
User Experience
The smallest mistake in your website drops off your visitors from your website as soon as they visit your web page. Henceforth, your website must be good enough to retain your potential audience. The properly structured content helps users easily find out what they are looking for. Once the users find the proper information, they will stay on your website. Sioling helps in creating a better user experience by decreasing the bounce rate.
Visible Content
It categorizes the content according to the parent category and then sub-category. Also, the proper linking of the content makes it easy to navigate through the website. Users do not spend their precious time searching the content. They can easily navigate to another content from one content.
Boost Ranking
Another benefit of using Silo in a website is that it boosts the ranking of your website. A well-structured website helps the Google crawler to go through each page of your website. Better engagement boosts the ranking of your website. Also, it helps in increasing the organic search visibility. By organizing the content properly, targeting the relevant keywords, and implementing the proper interlinking, you increase the chances of ranking in search engines organically.
No More Left Pages
Siloing helps in categorizing the content according to categories and sub-categories. It informs the Google crawler about the structuring of your website. As each page of your website is properly interlinked, it ensures that Google has crawled every page of your website. Siloing decreases the chances of left-out pages for indexing.
Easier Site Management And Scalability
Silo Management Structure: It becomes difficult to manage your website when the content grows. However, a proper website Silo Structure helps in managing the website. The logical hierarchical planning allows you to add new pages or expand the existing Silos without compromising the overall website structure quality. You can organize and manage your website in a much easier and smoother way.
Better Site Structure For Mobile Optimization
Having a mobile-optimized website is a necessity of the modern era. The Silo website optimization helps create a mobile-friendly structure that ensures a smooth mobile-friendly experience.
Facilitates Topical Authority
Siloing helps in creating a better hierarchical structure for your website. Siloing helps in establishing your website, even among authoritative websites, by categorizing the content according to categories and sub-categories.
How To Implement Silo Structure In Your Website?
A proper Silo Structure is the foundation stone of a successful SEO strategy. Implementing the Silo Structure in your website is not as easy as playing with hashtags and categories. It involves a lot of planning. There are several steps involved in implementing a Silo Structure on your website. Below, we have explained the essential steps to create a Silo Structure.
Start With A Keyword Research
The basic step is to start your keyword research effectively. Figuring out the relevant keywords is the most crucial part of implementing the Silo Structure in your website. There is no way you can implement the Silo Structure without refining the relevant keywords. Make sure you target the long tail, low, competitive, and relevant keywords in your content. It helps you to rank your website easily.
Also, while choosing the keywords, always make sure you choose keywords of various sub-niches. There are various keyword research tools available – paid and free, which help in finding the relevant keywords.
Determine The Main Category And Sub-Category
Once you have identified your keywords according to your category and sub-categories, the next step is to break down your topic. You must use the pyramid structure for your website. The structure starts with the broader topic and then drills down into the specific topics. Make sure the content you create is evergreen, epic, and of better quality than your competitors. There must be proper images to make your content more user-friendly.
Create A Logical Hierarchy
You must use a logical hierarchy for your content. Once you have divided your content into categories and sub-categories, create a logical and intuitive structure.
Optimize Internal Linking
Once you have identified the long tail keywords and created meaningful, high-quality content relevant to the sub-topic, you must create proper internal linking. The proper interlinking helps the search engines to understand the hierarchy of your website. Also, it increases the user experience by allowing them to easily find relevant and necessary information.
Streamline URLs
The URL structure plays a key role in optimizing your content and improving your website SEO. So, make sure your URL is simple. Make sure the URL shows the Silo Structure, making it easier for the crawlers and users to navigate through your website.
Consistent Navigation
Also, make sure that there is proper, consistent navigation across your website.
Monitor And Refine Silo Structure
Regularly review and refine your website based on the feedback, performance metrics, and the latest market trends.
By following the above-mentioned steps, you can easily create a Silo-optimized website that ensures a better user experience and SEO performance.
SEO Silo Structure Best Practices To Follow
Creating the Silo Structure takes time and effort. However, investing in the Silo Structure is worth it. It helps increase the user experience and improves the ranking of your website. Here are some best practices to follow when planning to create and implement a Silo Structure on your website.
Focus On Content Relevancy
Content plays a key role in structuring the website according to Silo Structure. Always focus on creating a post that is relevant to your website. The biggest mistake that users make is by creating posts that do not match their Silo Structure. Most of the users just create and publish irrelevant posts. The irrelevant posts affect your website in a bad manner. So, always make sure you focus on the relevancy.
Ensure Content Quality
Every year, SEO is changing, but the two things that remain consistent are content “relevancy” and “content quality.” It does not matter in which niche you are writing what you are writing. If you need to rank better, you need to create high-quality content that is relevant to your website.
Take Care Of Proper Navigation
Silo Structure Design: Whenever you are designing the Silo Structure, make sure it is easy for the users and search engines to navigate through your website. Ensure that you are providing clear and proper navigation that can lead the users from one section to another without any confusion.
Follow Pyramid Structure
Do not forget to follow the pyramid structure in your website whenever you are breaking down the content into categories and sub-pages. The top of the parent category is accessible from the home page. At the same time, the sub-pages or sub-categories are accessible from the parent category.
Link To Post, Not To Categories
Another mistake that most SEO persons make is linking the content to categories. There is no actual use of linking the content to the categories. So make sure that you are liking the post so that users can easily go through the posts. Also, linking to posts passes the link juice to one particular page instead of the whole category.
Review Your Post
It is always advisable to link your post to one particular category. If you have linked one post to more than one category, deselect them all and link it to one single category. Also, the main aim of implementing the Silo Structure is to enhance the user experience. So, structure your website properly, which will increase the engagement.
What Are The Issues With Silo Architecture?
Impressed by the usability of Silo in SEO and is ready to implement it in your website. Wait a little bit. Apart from the benefits, some issues are also linked to the Silo Structure. Wondering what is the problem associated with Silos and why most people advise not to implement them on your website? The answer to your question is that forbidding internal linking is a silly thing.
The cons of using Silo architecture in your website are:
Over Optimization Risk
There is a chance that you over-optimize your website. The over-optimization of your website for search engines will result in penalties in case the search engine detects that you are artificially trying to boost your SEO ranking.
Navigation Complications
Proper navigation is one of the key aspects of Silos. However, if you have not done navigation properly, it will make navigation complicated. The users get confused and will leave your website. The chances of complicated navigation increases for the larger website that is dealing with numerous Silos.
Difficult To Maintain
Adding a new page on a Silo-Structured website is difficult. Once the website is structured according to Silo, you need to adjust your entire website to add a new page or to make changes.
Time-Consuming Setup
Establishing a Silo-Structured website is a time-consuming process as it involves a lot of planning. You need to create the proper categories and sub-categories. Also, you need to thoroughly audit your website and restructure the content accordingly.
Limited Flexibility
There is limited flexibility. As each Silo focuses on a specific keyword or a theme, it becomes tremendously difficult to fit the content that does not fit into your re-defined Silos.
Despite its limitations or pros, it is always advantageous to implement the Silo Structure in your website. If you have understood the basic principle of the Silo and implement it correctly in your website, it helps you in ranking your new website among authority websites.
How To Create Silo Structure In WordPress?
No wonder Silo Structure enhances your website's SEO, boosts its ranking in search engines and makes it easy for the users to find the relevant information they are looking for. We have already described implementing a Silo Structure on a website. But think of a scenario when you already have a WordPress website. Can you still implement the Silo Structure on it? Yes, you can fully enjoy the benefits of Silo Structure on your WordPress website. All you need is to implement it correctly.
You can implement a Silo Structure WordPress website in two ways.
- Implement through plugins
- By creating parent and child pages
Below, we have explained both methods in a simple language.
Implement Through Plugins
You can make use of plugins to implement the Silo Structure WordPress website. There are various Silo Structure WordPress plugins available. To name a few, WP Cash Links LITE, SEO Ultimate, custom sidebars, Yoast SEO, Redirection, and many more. These Silo-Structured WordPress plugins allow you to create categories and subcategories according to your content type. Moreover, these plugins allow you to improve the traffic on your website. You can also add meta descriptions and keywords to your posts that help improve your website's ranking in SERP.
By Creating Parent And Child Pages
Apart from using these Silo Structure plugins, you can implement the Silo Structure WordPress theme by creating parent and child pages. It helps you to drive the organic traffic to your website. It is a long process that includes categorizing the content according to parent and child categories, structuring URLs, and setting the permanent links.
Let us look at each of the methods in detail.
Step 1: Create Child And Parent Pages In WordPress
The foremost step to implement Silo Structure in WordPress is to create the child and parent pages. If you are wondering what the parent and child pages are, a parent page is the main page with the other pages, usually termed as child pages. As the name suggests, it is a parent-child hierarchy where the child pages inherit the properties of the parent page. This hierarchy tracks down the relationship between the pages.
Step 2: Organize Content Within Silo Categories
Next, you have to organize your content into the various created categories. The Silo categorization is the best way to segregate the entire website content according to the topic. Apart from improving the website's overall structure, it helps the users and crawlers easily find the content. You need to identify your website's main categories and then sub-categorize them. The sub-categorization helps you refine your content in a better manner.
Note: You should create at most seven categories and at least three categories.
Tips to follow while categorizing the content within Silo categories.
- Identify your targeted audience and create categories according to them.
- The title must be concise and depict its meaning per its name.
- Remember to add the descriptive tags in your categories.
- Add proper images and videos wherever necessary to make your content more engaging.
Make sure that your posts have the right keywords. Also, the categories must have the proper description if your Silo Structure WordPress theme supports it.
Step 3: Structuring URLs As Per Silo Structure And Creating Permanent Links
Next, you need to structure the URL based on categories, as it is the most popular way to organize the content in WordPress.
After structuring your page URL, it should look like: www.yoursite.com/category/postname.
Make sure that your category URL structure matches your canonical URL structure. If the category slug is found after restructuring the URL, use the Silo Structure WordPress plugin to remove it.
Tips to follow while creating the permanent links and URLs for Silo Structure are:
- Make sure to make long and simple URLs.
- Maintain consistency while creating the URL structure.
- Instead of using the underscore, use hyphens in the permanent links.
- Remove the duplicate content.
- Create permanent links that are easy to remember and type.
- Remember to optimize your links.
Step 4: Optimize The Content For Silo Structure
Once you have categorized the content into various Silo categories and subcategories, you need to optimize your content. While organizing the content, ensure the user can easily navigate from one content to another. Make sure you are using clear and concise titles, and there is a proper internal linking. Also, remember to add relevant keywords to your content. These keywords are users' search queries and drive traffic to your website.
Tips for keyword placement and on-page optimization are:
- Find the right keyword for your content.
- Do not stuff your keywords. Instead of stuffing, use them naturally in your content.
- Make sure your content is easy to read and is scannable.
- There is a proper internal linking, so the users can easily navigate your website from one page to another.
- Make sure your website is user-friendly and the page load time is less.
- Also, remember to add the LSI keywords in your posts.
Hopefully, these steps clear all your doubts regarding implementing the WordPress Silo Structure.
Common Tips For Implementing The Silo Structure In WordPress Website
Below are some common tips for implementing the Silo Structure WordPress theme website.
- Make the proper child and parent pages.
- Do categorize your content accordingly.
- Add descriptive titles for your pages.
- Use a consistent hierarchy throughout your pages.
- Make proper internal linking to connect every page of your website.
- Remember to add the proper images and videos to your content wherever needed.
- Provide the proper headings and subheadings in your content to make it more organized.
- Optimize your content accordingly.
- Do promote your content on various social media platforms and other websites.
Is Siloing Dead In 2023?
Suppose you are thinking that Siloing will be dead in 2023. Then, you need to think again. It is the best tactic to outrank your website. With the help of this technique, you can rank your new website. A Silo boosts your on-page SEO; however, it is best to implement the Siloing in the below-mentioned situations.
- In case your website is not properly organized and you wish to create a new website.
- When you are targeting a few keyphrases for a website.
- In case your website is new and you wish to rank it among the authoritative websites.
- When your website has a plethora of high-quality, relevant content, your organic traffic is nearly zero.
Ready To Dive Into Silos?
By now, probably you are aware of the Silo Structure and its value. And Are you ready to implement a Silo on your website? But, you are confused about how you can implement this concept in your website. Implementing the Silo SEO Structure on your website is a confusing and challenging task. You need the help of a professional expert who can help you in implementing this concept. Here comes the role of Advology Solution. We are the best SEO company in India, offering various digital marketing services such as website designing, search engine optimization, content writing, and more.
Get in touch with our wizards today to know more.