Structure of a site

Subwebs and content...

[Reflect]

Hello,

I have a new personal project and need input please.

I have a main business which is generic say...widgets. I also have several possible sub webs/widget categories for sales.

My first question is on structure...

How should the site structure/flow go?

I was thinking the main site is over widgets in general. Then use sub webs for each category of widget sales.

Also I think I should use the same navigation and style for each sub web for flow or should it be unique for each sub web?

Next questions would be on content...

Would content primarily be on the main web site or should I have a good bulk of generic content on the main web with content on each type of widget under it's appropriate sub web? If so is around ten pages for each sub web just for content enough (not counting the normal pages)?

I can not afford to do a domain for each so I thought a keyword filled sub web name would work for ranking purposes.?

Sorry for multiple questions in one post.

Brian

[Travoli]

Hi Brian

Have you seen the awesome article on theme pyramids [searchengineworld.com]?

a site search on "theme" and "theme pyramid" produce tons of good threads. you are on the right track!

[Istvan]

Hi!
I would like to add a question to this topic. I submitted a question about the directory structure in regard of Google in the Google News forum. (here [webmasterworld.com...] )

In this topic I have learned that when using, a directory: www.domain.com/folder-1/widget-7.html , where in folder-1 there are 10 html pages, it seems useful to include an index.html file in the directory. This last part, is my question, I always thought that an index.html page is only used under the root.. Why should it be wise to include an index.html file in (every) deeper folder in the directory of a site?

I hope somebody can explain the importance to me.

Istvan

[edited by: korkus2000 at 8:01 pm (utc) on Nov. 25, 2002]
[edit reason] Fixed Link [/edit]

[korkus2000]

So you can have www.domain.com/foldername/ and that will have a page and not a 404. Plus if you get a DMOZ link to the folder and not the actual page you will get a catagory thing in the toolbar for all pages in that folder. I don't know how that effects Google but I find it interesting.

[Istvan]

Hi Korkus,

Thanks for your reply, I now understand that its possible, but I do not entirely understand why it is done, is it like creating a sort of a site map structure where there are all kinds of links to pages in the same directory/folder?

In this way, does Google or any other SE give you a higher ranking, just because its an index page or is this a wrong assumption?

Istvan

[Reflect]

Thank you Travoli. I will give some in depth searching on the term and read, read and read some more.

Brian

[BlobFisk]

Hi Reflect,

There was an interesting report recently brought out by tyhe HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) lab at Wichita State University on Optimatal Web Design (see here [psychology.wichita.edu]).

In that study there was a large amount of space given over to the most optimal structure of links in a site and the best way to approach your information architecture. This may be of use to you.

[moonbiter]

Cool URIs don't change [w3.org] might give some insight into some of the other benefits of using default or index pages in your directory structure.

[joshie76]

You might want to try Jesse James Garrett [jjg.net]'s book 'The Elements of User Experience' - which takes you through his five plane matrix and a step-by-step guide of how to apply it to create a well structured site and IA.

I've just finished reading it and it's more hayne's manual than "Don't make me think!" but if you're serious about content structure and information architecture it's a must have.

[Reflect]

Hi,

One followup question after doing some reading here and there (again, thank you for the links).

Using the exmaple that Travoli pointed to would sub topic a, sub topic b, sub topic c and sub topic d be best suited in a sub web or just utilize folders under the main domain? thinking SEO on this one solely.

Again thank you for the help,

Brian

[Reflect]

<Bump>

Using the exmaple that Travoli pointed to would sub topic a, sub topic b, sub topic c and sub topic d be best suited in a sub web or just utilize folders under the main domain? Thinking SEO on this one solely.