Breadcrumbs navigation is a secondary navigation system that helps users understand their location on your website and how to navigate back to previous pages. They are called breadcrumbs because they resemble the trail of breadcrumbs left behind by Hansel and Gretel in the famous fairy tale.
Breadcrumbs are typically displayed at the top of a page and provide a hierarchical trail of links that show users where they are on the site. For example, if a user is on the “Contact Us” page of a website, the breadcrumb trail might look like this: Home > About Us > Contact Us.
Breadcrumbs can be particularly useful on larger websites with multiple pages and sections, where users may get lost or have difficulty navigating. They can also be helpful for users who have entered your site through a search engine or social media link and may not be familiar with your site’s structure.
Types of breadcrumbs navigation
There are typically three types of breadcrumbs navigation: location-based, attribute-based, and path-based.
• Location-based breadcrumbs
Location-based breadcrumbs show users where they are on your site in terms of categories or sections. For example, if a user is on a product page, the breadcrumb trail might look like this: Home > Women’s Clothing > Dresses > Maxi Dresses.
• Attribute-based breadcrumbs
Attribute-based breadcrumbs show users how they arrived at a particular page based on price, brand, or color attributes. For example, if a user arrived on a product page by searching for a specific brand, the breadcrumb trail might look like this: Home > Brands > Nike > Women’s Shoes > Running Shoes.
• Path-based breadcrumbs
Path-based breadcrumbs show users the exact path they took to arrive at a particular page. For example, if a user arrived on a product page by clicking on a link in an email campaign, the breadcrumb trail might look like this: Home > Email Campaigns > Women’s Clothing > Dresses > Maxi Dresses.
Why is breadcrumbs navigation important for website optimization?
Breadcrumbs navigation is an essential element of website optimization for several reasons.
First, breadcrumbs can help improve the user experience by making it easier for users to navigate your site. They provide a clear and concise way for users to understand where they are on your site and how to get back to previous pages.
Second, breadcrumbs can increase the time users spend on your site by encouraging them to explore other pages and sections. Users who can easily navigate your site are more likely to stay and engage with your content.
Finally, breadcrumbs can also have a positive impact on SEO by providing additional text links to your pages. Search engines value text links because they help them understand the structure and hierarchy of your site. Breadcrumbs can also help to reduce bounce rates by providing users with a clear path to follow within your site.
Focusing on the impact of breadcrumbs navigation on SEO
Breadcrumbs navigation can positively impact SEO by providing additional text links to your pages and helping search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your site.
When search engines crawl your site, they use text links to understand the relationships between your pages and the content on your site. Breadcrumbs can provide additional text links that help search engines understand the context and purpose of your pages.
Breadcrumbs can also help to reduce bounce rates by providing users with a clear path to follow within your site. When users can easily navigate your site, they are more likely to stay and engage with your content, which can improve your site’s performance in search engine rankings.
How to implement breadcrumbs navigation on your website
Implementing breadcrumbs navigation on your website can be done in several ways, depending on your website platform and architecture.
If you are using a content management system (CMS), such as WordPress or Drupal, plugins or modules are often available that can help you implement breadcrumbs navigation easily. These plugins typically provide customizable options for the style and structure of you breadcrumbs.
If you use a custom-built website, you must code your breadcrumbs manually. This can be done using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There are also several open-source breadcrumb scripts available that can be used as a starting point.
When implementing breadcrumbs, following the best practices outlined above is important to ensure they are effective and user-friendly.
Best practices for creating effective breadcrumbs navigation
When creating breadcrumbs navigation for your website, you should follow several best practices to ensure they are effective and user-friendly.
First, use clear and concise labels for each breadcrumb item. Avoid using jargon or abbreviations that users may not understand.
Second, make sure your breadcrumb trail is easy to read and follow. Use a consistent hierarchy and formatting to help users understand the relationship between each item.
Third, consider the context of your breadcrumbs. Think about the most logical and helpful way to structure your breadcrumb trail based on the content and purpose of your site.
Finally, test your breadcrumbs with real users to ensure they are effective and easy to use. User testing can help you identify any issues or areas for improvement in your navigation system.
Common mistakes to avoid when using breadcrumbs navigation
While breadcrumbs navigation can be a helpful tool for optimizing your website, there are several common mistakes to avoid.
First, don’t make your breadcrumbs too complex or confusing. Keep them simple and easy to read.
Second, avoid using breadcrumbs as a primary navigation system. Breadcrumbs are intended as a secondary navigation system and should supplement, not replace, your primary navigation.
Third, don’t place your breadcrumbs too close to your primary navigation. This can cause confusion for users and make it difficult to distinguish between the two.
Finally, don’t make your breadcrumbs too long. A breadcrumb trail that is too long can be overwhelming for users and defeat the purpose of providing a clear and concise navigation system.
Tools and plugins to assist with breadcrumbs navigation
There are several tools and plugins available to assist with breadcrumbs navigation, depending on your website platform and architecture.
For WordPress users, several breadcrumb plugins are available, including Breadcrumb NavXT and Yoast SEO. These plugins provide customizable options for the style and structure of your breadcrumbs.
For Drupal users, there is the Breadcrumb module, which provides a customizable breadcrumb trail for your site.
If you are using a custom-built website, several open-source breadcrumb scripts are available, including jQuery Breadcrumbs and Breadcrumb Trail. These scripts can be a starting point for coding your breadcrumbs.
Conclusion
Breadcrumbs navigation is an essential element of website optimization that can improve the user experience, increase the time users spend on your site, and positively impact SEO. So, if you haven’t already, consider implementing breadcrumbs navigation on your website today!
