Explore the impact of breadcrumbs on SEO and user experience. Learn how to implement and optimize breadcrumbs effectively for your website.
Breadcrumbs are a navigational feature for your website that can significantly enhance SEO and user experience.
Unfortunately, many websites overlook the implementation of breadcrumbs, missing out on their substantial benefits. Breadcrumbs improve SEO and are relatively simple to set up.
This article will cover everything you need to know about breadcrumbs, their impact on SEO, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Are Breadcrumbs in SEO?
Breadcrumbs are automated internal links that allow users to track location on a website and their distance from the homepage.
Typically found at the top of a website or just below the navigation bar, breadcrumbs function similarly to internal links by helping users navigate a website and locate the information they seek. Users who feel disoriented can use breadcrumb links to move one level up and continue their journey on the website rather than resorting to the browser’s back button.
4 Common Types of Breadcrumbs
Not all breadcrumbs are created equal! Understanding the different types of breadcrumbs is crucial for enhancing user experience and your site’s navigation. Here are the four main types of breadcrumbs, each with its unique purpose:
1. Hierarchy-Based Breadcrumbs (a.k.a., Location-Based Breadcrumbs)
Hierarchy-based breadcrumbs display the path from the homepage to the current page, showcasing the structure of your website. They help users understand where they are within the site’s hierarchy and quickly navigate to higher-level pages. This type benefits content-heavy websites with deep structures like e-commerce sites and prominent blogs.
Example: Home > Category > Subcategory > Product Page
2. Attribute-Based Breadcrumbs
Attribute-based breadcrumbs are ordinary on e-commerce sites and show a product’s various attributes. These breadcrumbs help users navigate different product attributes, such as size, color, and brand, allowing easy comparison and selection.
Example: Home > Electronics > Mobile Phones > Brand > Model
3. Forward or Look-Ahead Breadcrumbs
Forward or look-ahead breadcrumbs give users a glimpse of what lies ahead in their navigation path. This type is less common but valuable in interactive applications or complex websites where users need to understand the next steps in their journey.
Example: Step 1: Personal Information > Step 2: Address Details > Step 3: Payment Information
4. History-Based Breadcrumbs
History-based breadcrumbs display the sequence of pages a user has visited, effectively acting as a visual browser history. This type of breadcrumb is helpful for users who want to backtrack their steps without relying on the browser’s back button, making the navigation process smoother and more intuitive.
Example: Home > Previous Page > Current Page
Before adding breadcrumbs to your site, determine which type best fits your user experience goals. Selecting the appropriate breadcrumb type can enhance navigation, improve user engagement, and ultimately contribute to a more user-friendly website.
3 Benefits of Using Breadcrumbs
This sounds great, but what will breadcrumbs do for your website?
Discover their key benefits if you need clarification on whether breadcrumbs are worth the effort (spoiler: they are!).
1. Breadcrumbs Improve User Experience (UX)
Breadcrumbs significantly increase the user experience by providing precise and intuitive navigation paths. Users can easily understand their current location on your site and retrace their steps if needed. This reduces confusion and frustration, making it easier for visitors to find the information they seek. A positive user experience can go to increased satisfaction and higher chances of return visits.
2. Increase Time Spent on Site
By offering a straightforward way to navigate your site, breadcrumbs help keep users engaged and exploring more pages. Users who can quickly move back and forth through your content without getting lost are likelier to stay on your site longer. This increased engagement can go to lower bounce and higher conversion rates as users are much more inclined to discover additional products, articles, or services.
3. Improve Internal Linking
Breadcrumbs naturally enhance your internal linking structure by providing multiple links to higher-level pages. This makes it easier for users to navigate and distribute link equity with your site, improving your site’s overall SEO. Well-implemented breadcrumbs ensure that search engines can better understand and index your site’s content, leading to visibility and higher rankings in search results.
4. Rich Snippets in SERPs
Using breadcrumbs can also lead to rich snippets in search engine results pages (SERPs). When search engines like Google recognize breadcrumb navigation, they often display it in the search results. This enhanced visibility can make your listing more attractive and informative to potential visitors, increasing click-through rates and driving more organic traffic.
Incorporating breadcrumbs into your website can significantly boost user experience, increase onsite engagement, and improve your SEO efforts. These benefits make breadcrumbs a valuable addition to any website’s navigation strategy.
4 Mistakes When Using Breadcrumbs for SEO
Using breadcrumbs is a straightforward way to improve your site’s SEO and give a better user experience. However, if not done correctly, breadcrumbs can sometimes cause more harm than good. Here are a few common breadcrumb mistakes you’ll want to avoid:
1. Don’t Go Too Big or Too Small – Aim for Just Right
Breadcrumbs should be concise and informative. Overloading them with too many levels or providing too little information can confuse users. Aim for a balanced approach that offers straightforward navigation without overwhelming visitors. Ensure each breadcrumb link is meaningful and guides users effectively.
2. Don’t Just Repeat Your Navigation Bar
Breadcrumbs should complement your site’s navigation bar, not duplicate it. Using the same structure as your primary navigation can be redundant and unhelpful. Instead, design your breadcrumbs to provide a unique and hierarchical path that reflects the user’s journey through your site, offering additional navigational context.
3. Don’t Ditch Navigation Bar in Favor of Breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs are meant to enhance your site’s navigation, not replace it. While they provide valuable context and pathways, they should work alongside a well-designed navigation bar. Relying solely on breadcrumbs can limit user options and make navigation more challenging, especially for first-time visitors who might need to become more familiar with your site structure.
4. Use the Right Type of Breadcrumbs
Choosing the appropriate type of breadcrumbs for your site is crucial. Hierarchy-based, attribute-based, forward, and history-based breadcrumbs each serve different purposes. Selecting the wrong kind can confuse users and diminish the effectiveness of your breadcrumbs. Evaluate your site’s content and user needs to determine the most suitable breadcrumb type to implement.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can always ensure that your breadcrumbs effectively improve SEO and user experience, enabling your site easy to navigate and more engaging for visitors.
How to Implement Breadcrumbs in WordPress
Breadcrumbs are a beneficial navigation element for users and search engines — and they are very easy to add to your site. Here’s how you can implement breadcrumbs in WordPress:
Use Yoast SEO
If you already use Yoast SEO, adding breadcrumbs will only take a few steps. Log in and follow all these steps to implement breadcrumbs:
- Go to the Yoast SEO plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to the “Search Appearance” section.
- Click on the “Breadcrumbs” tab.
- Enable breadcrumbs and customize the settings as needed.
- Add the breadcrumb code to your theme where you want the breadcrumbs to appear.
WordPress Plugins
Several WordPress plugins can add breadcrumbs to your site with just a few steps. One popular option is Breadcrumb NavXT:
- Install and activate the Breadcrumb NavXT plugin.
- Go to the plugin settings at WordPress dashboard.
- Customize the breadcrumb settings to fit your site’s needs.
- Add the breadcrumb code to your theme or use a shortcode to display the breadcrumbs where desired.
WooCommerce Breadcrumb Plugin
For e-commerce sites using WooCommerce, consider using the WooCommerce Breadcrumb Plugin:
- Install and activate the WooCommerce Breadcrumb Plugin.
- Go to the WooCommerce settings in your WordPress dashboard.
- Customize the breadcrumb appearance and behavior.
- The plugin will automatically replace the default WooCommerce breadcrumbs with your customized version.
Theme or Site Builder Features
Many WordPress themes and site builders come with built-in breadcrumb features:
- Check your theme’s documentation or settings to see if it includes breadcrumb options.
- Enable and customize the breadcrumbs through your theme or site builder settings.
For sites built on other platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace, enabling breadcrumbs is usually a straightforward process:
- Go to your site settings.
- Look for navigation or SEO settings.
- Enable the breadcrumb feature and customize it as needed.
Following these steps, you can quickly implement breadcrumbs on your WordPress site, enhancing user experience and SEO.
Breadcrumbs Are Very Easy-to-Grasp Way to Navigate Your Website
Think of breadcrumbs as the butter for your bread, the animal sauce to your In-N-Out burger.
You get the point.
Breadcrumbs are a simple yet effective way to help your site stand out on search results pages. While they might not guarantee a significant boost to your SERP rankings, they are incredibly beneficial for users and search engines.
As a bonus, breadcrumbs are easy to implement using a plugin like Yoast. With just a few clicks, you can make your site easier to navigate, improving user experience and search engine rankings.
If you need help, check out our monthly SEO packages and let the experts help you.
