Faceted navigation helps users find products easily. It's very useful in big online stores like BigCommerce. But, it can also cause some problems for SEO. Let's learn how to make it better.
What is Faceted Navigation?
Faceted navigation allows users to filter products. They can choose by size, color, price, or other features. This makes shopping easier and faster. For example, you can filter to see only red shirts. Or, only shirts under $20.
Why Faceted Navigation Can Hurt SEO
Faceted navigation creates many URLs. Each filter option makes a new URL. Search engines like Google can get confused. They might think you have many duplicate pages. This can hurt your website's ranking.
Common Problems
- Duplicate Content: Same products appear on many URLs.
- Index Bloat: Too many URLs get indexed by search engines.
- Crawl Budget: Search engines spend too much time on your site.
These problems can make it hard for your site to rank well. But don't worry. There are ways to fix this.
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How to Optimize Faceted Navigation
Here are some simple steps to optimize faceted navigation. These tips will help improve your SEO in BigCommerce.
1. Use Canonical Tags
Canonical tags tell search engines which URL is the main one. They help avoid duplicate content issues. Make sure to use canonical tags on your faceted navigation pages. Point them to the main category page.
2. Noindex Tag For Certain Pages
Use the noindex tag for pages you don't want in search results. This stops search engines from indexing those pages. For example, you can noindex pages with multiple filters applied.
3. Robots.txt File
Robots.txt helps control what search engines can crawl. Block unnecessary faceted navigation URLs. This saves your crawl budget. Here is an example:
User-agent: Disallow: /category?filter1=value1 Disallow: /category?filter2=value2
4. Create A Faceted Navigation Plan
Plan which filters you want search engines to see. Some filters are more important than others. For example, price filters might be more important than color filters. Make a plan and stick to it.
5. Use Pagination
Pagination helps organize your products. It splits them into multiple pages. This makes it easier for search engines to crawl. Use pagination for your category pages.
6. Internal Linking
Link to important faceted navigation pages from other pages. This helps search engines find them. It also helps users navigate your site.
7. Monitor Your Site
Use tools like Google Search Console. Keep an eye on how your site is doing. Look for any issues with faceted navigation. Fix them as soon as possible.
Example of a Good Faceted Navigation Plan
Let's look at an example. You have an online store selling clothes. You have filters for size, color, and price. Here is a good plan:
| Filter | Action |
|---|---|
| Size | Canonical Tag |
| Color | Noindex Tag |
| Price | Canonical Tag |
This plan focuses on size and price. Color is less important. So, it gets a noindex tag. This helps control which pages search engines see.
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Benefits of Optimizing Faceted Navigation
Optimizing faceted navigation has many benefits. Here are a few:
- Better Search Engine Rankings: Search engines understand your site better.
- Improved User Experience: Users find products more easily.
- Faster Crawling: Search engines crawl your site more efficiently.
- Reduced Duplicate Content: Fewer duplicate pages for search engines to index.
These benefits help your site perform better in search results. They also make your site more user-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Faceted Navigation In Bigcommerce?
Faceted navigation helps users filter products by attributes like size, color, and price.
How Does Faceted Navigation Affect Seo?
Faceted navigation can create many URLs. This can lead to duplicate content and affect SEO.
How To Optimize Faceted Navigation For Seo?
Use canonical tags and noindex directives. This helps search engines understand which pages to index.
Conclusion
Faceted navigation is important for big online stores. But, it can cause SEO problems. Follow these simple steps to optimize it. Use canonical tags, noindex tags, and robots.txt. Make a plan for your filters. Monitor your site regularly. This will help improve your search engine rankings. It will also make your site better for users.
Optimizing faceted navigation is worth the effort. It helps your site succeed in search results. Start optimizing today and see the benefits!