How to Add Breadcrumbs to Your Website?
Adding breadcrumbs to your website is a simple process that takes a few minutes. There are a few methods to add breadcrumbs to your website.
1. Using your CMS:
If you are using a CMS like WordPress, the process is straightforward. You can install several plugins that will add breadcrumbs to your website. For example, the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress will add breadcrumbs to your website automatically.
2. Inserting the code yourself:
You can add the code yourself if you are not using a CMS. Adding code involves some HTML or CSS, which can complicate beginner knowledge. The code for breadcrumbs is straightforward and is available online. Follow the steps found here.
3. Using a third-party service:
Suppose you don't want to add the code or know how to use a third-party service to add breadcrumbs to your website. Several services offer this for a small fee.
Irrespective of whichever route you choose, here are the steps to add breadcrumbs SEO on your web page.
1. Decide what type of breadcrumbs you would like to use on your website. Breadcrumb navigations can be structured in different ways, for example, “Home > Category > Sub-Category > Product” or “Company > Solutions > Product”.
2. Design the on-page breadcrumb navigation. Create a clear and visually appealing design that matches the style and feel of your website. Consider the suitable color, size, and font of the breadcrumb navigation.
3. Create a breadcrumb file. This will store the breadcrumb navigation structure for the various pages on your website. This file should contain the code for the navigation structure, including titles and URLs for the pages or categories.
4. Add the breadcrumb navigation to the header or footer of your website. Use HTML and CSS code to add the breadcrumb navigation to the header or footer of your website.
5. Insert the breadcrumb navigation code into the pages of your website. Insert the code into the header or footer of each page on your website to make it visible to users.
6. Test the breadcrumb navigation functionality. Visit each page on your website and click on the breadcrumb navigation links to make sure they are working correctly.
Read Google documentation on how to implement breadcrumbs SEO.
On-Page Breadcrumbs v/s Schema Breadcrumbs SEO
Many people confuse on-page and schema breadcrumbs with each other as they are both related to website navigation and structure. On-page breadcrumbs are typically HTML codes on the web page that displays a navigation trail with links to various pages on the website. Schema breadcrumbs are a type of markup code added to the page to provide a structured data format for search engine crawlers to understand the page content and context better.
The difference lies in understanding the difference between structured data and HTML code. Structured data, such as the code used in schema breadcrumbs, is code added to the page to provide more information to search engine crawlers. In contrast, on-page breadcrumbs are HTML codes on the page that provide website visitors with a visual navigation path.
Adding both on-page and schema breadcrumbs to a website is recommended. On-page breadcrumbs provide website visitors with a visual navigation path and can enhance the user experience.
Schema breadcrumbs provide search engine crawlers with additional information about the page so that they can better understand the context and content of the page. This helps to improve the website’s search engine ranking and visibility.
SEO Best Practices when Implementing Breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs optimize your website for search engines (SEO) by following various best practices. Make sure to do the following to improve the SEO of your breadcrumbs.
1. Organize your content:
Before you consider including breadcrumbs in your site design, ensure you have a clear and organized content strategy and have structured your site content appropriately.
2. Choose logical paths:
When setting up your breadcrumbs, consider how your visitors move through your site. A line of questions and path creation will help guide your breadcrumb path breakdown strategy.
3. Use a consistent breadcrumb sequence:
The order in which you display your breadcrumbs should be the same on every website page. Avoid shifting the order or changing it from page to page, as this can confuse users.
4. Use keyword-rich breadcrumb titles:
The titles of your breadcrumbs should be keyword-rich to help improve your website's search engine ranking. Use descriptive and short words that are easy to understand for users.
5. Verify breadcrumb links are crawlable:
Ensure your breadcrumb links are crawlable by search engines using text links instead of image links.
6. Avoid excessive breadcrumb usage:
Too many breadcrumbs can clutter your website's navigation, confusing users and hurting your website's search engine ranking. Use only as many breadcrumbs as are necessary to help users find their way around your website.
7. Test your breadcrumbs:
Test your breadcrumbs to ensure they are working correctly before launch. You can use the Google Search Console to test your breadcrumbs.
