Blog categories are a very important aspect of your website. They should be carefully thought out and used. Here’s the typical scenario: You create a blog website and add categories as you need them. You write one article and create one category, and repeat this over and over again with each blog post that you add. Before you know it, you have 50 categories, and each with just one or two blog posts assigned to them. Your category list will be far too long and make little sense to visitors. Don’t let your category list get out of control or lose focus. Think about them ahead of time and create a logical hierarchy. The following are a few tips on organizing blog categories for a better user experience and search engine optimization.
Creating and Organizing Blog Categories
You probably have a rough idea of the types of information you will be adding to your website. Create a logical hierarchy of upper level categories. Think about the supermarket. There is a section for drinks, dairy products, etc. Within drinks, you may have subcategories of juices and sodas. You do not need categories for every brand or flavor of soda. Use post tags for those instead. Categories and subcategories should remain an overview of your topics,..similar to what you may see on the sign for a supermarket aisle.
Real Estate Sample Category List
For real estate websites, the category hierarchy may look something like this.
Real Estate Topics
- Home Buyer Tips
- Home Seller Tips
- Market Statistics
- Recent News
- Featured Properties
Mortgage Tips
- Financing Programs
- Mortgage Process
- Market Updates
When someone visits your site and sees the categories above, they will quickly know what that site offers real estate and mortgage information, and they can select the desired category or subcategory that interests them.
Search Engine Optimization of Category Names
Category names do have value to search engines, so give some thought to the actual wording. For example, instead of “homes”, it is better to use “homes for sale” for its keyword value. You may also decide on “real estate for sale” instead.
Category Mistakes to Avoid
- Creating Too Many Categories
- A Category List Without a Hierarchy
- Extremely Long Category Names
- Duplicate or Synonymous Categories
Better Blog Categories Equal a Better User Experience
Understanding your target audience is the first step to creating effective categories. Use categories that make sense to your readers. Don’t get lost in the details and try and make categories too specific. They are meant to be general and less is more.
