Breadcrumb navigation is a navigation system that reveals the location of the users inside a website or app. It is a horizontal trail of links that enables everyone to trace their paths back to the previous pages or levels in a hierarchy. Generally, these are the roadmaps that are designed specifically to let people navigate through complex structures.
In this blog post, I am going to explore breadcrumb navigation along with its types, benefits, and best practices. Also, I have explained how they can improve user experience and overall SEO performance.
What is Breadcrumb Navigation?
The term Breadcrumb originates from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tales as they left a trail of breadcrumbs during their journey so they could find their way home. In a similar fashion, breadcrumb navigation helps users to get back to the homepage of the website.
It is specifically useful for websites with a hierarchical structure as it is an essential search engine optimization tactic. Whether you run an eCommerce platform, a blog, or a knowledge base, this navigation has an important place.
A breadcrumb trail is typically present at the top of the web page under the main navigation menu. It consists of clickable links that are separated by different symbols such as “|,” “>,” or “/.”
Types of Breadcrumb Navigation
Breadcrumb navigation can be categorized into three main types that primarily depend on the structure and purpose of the website. I have mentioned them below.
1 – Location Based Breadcrumbs
This type of breadcrumb displays the location of the user within the website hierarchy. It is most commonly used in websites with a structured and multi-level architecture.
- Example: Home/Category/Subcategory/Product Page
2 – Attribute Based Breadcrumbs
Although are not primarily used in blogs, attribute based breadcrumbs have a distinct place in eCommerce strategies. They highlight the features of a product or product page.
As a result, users can filter products on the basis of different aspects such as color, size, or brand.
- Example: Home/Electronics/Mobile Phones/Brand: Samsung/Price: $200-$400
3 – Path Based Breadcrumbs
This breadcrumb navigation gives an indication of the journey a user has covered to reach a specific page. One thing to note here is that the path based breadcrumbs are dynamic.
- Example: Home/Previous Page/Current Page
Benefits of Breadcrumb Navigation
As I mentioned earlier, breadcrumb navigation holds primary importance in the Technical SEO. It delivers massive benefits by improving the user experience and making your site more trustworthy.
In the under section, I have provided an overview of the advantages you can grab with the help of proper breadcrumbing.
1 – Enhanced User Experience
Breadcrumbs improve navigation by providing users with a clear path to retrace their steps. They reduce the need to use the “back” button of the browser again and again. Thus, it becomes easier to move between related pages.
2 – Reduced Bounce Rate
When users find it simple to explore the other sections of your website, it reduces the bounce rate to a greater extent. Breadcrumb navigation offers such benefits and increases user engagement.
3 – SEO Benefits
Breadcrumb navigation is beneficial for search engine optimization (SEO). Google uses them to understand the structure of your site and also display breadcrumb trails in the search results.
This can improve click-through rates (CTR) and make your website appear more organized.
4 – Mobile Friendly Navigation
Breadcrumbs are lightweight and don’t take up much screen space. In this way, they are ideal for mobile devices. They provide a quick way for users to navigate without scrolling excessively.
Best Practices for Implementing Breadcrumb Navigation
The following are the best practices that you can follow to make sure that the breadcrumb navigation on your website or blog is completely functional and effective. Moreover, it lets you follow the White Hat SEO guidelines.
- Ensure Logical Hierarchy: Breadcrumbs should follow the logical hierarchy of your website’s structure. Each step in the breadcrumb trail should represent a broader category. Also, it should lead up to the homepage.
- Use Clear Separators: Separate breadcrumb links with easily recognizable symbols such as “>,” “/,” or “|.” The separator should be consistent across all pages for a cohesive look.
- Make Breadcrumbs Clickable: Each level of the breadcrumb trail should be clickable. It allows users to navigate directly to any previous page. You have to ensure that these links are functional and intuitive.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Keep breadcrumb trails concise. Avoid including unnecessary levels or attributes that might confuse users. For example, you can skip filters and options that do not add value to the navigation.
- Match Website Style: Breadcrumbs should seamlessly integrate with the design of your website and color scheme. The best way to is to use fonts and styles that align with your brand identity while maintaining readability.
- Responsive Design: The breadcrumb navigation should be responsive and adapt well to all screen sizes. You can implement truncated text or collapsible breadcrumbs to avoid cluttering.
Final Thoughts
These are the details about the breadcrumb navigation and the best practices to implement them on your site. Simply put, this technical SEO aspect plays a key role in enhancing the user experience that not only benefits users but also your site by establishing its trust and authority.
Whether you are running an SEO blog or website, it is essential that your site should have a user friendly interface. Breadcrumbs can enable you to guide your visitors without contacting them directly. Hence, it improves the overall performance of your site.
