Link structure.

Best way to link into sub cats.

[Birdman]

Hello everyone. I've been wondering lately if I should change my link structure from the index page to internal pages.

I have 5 major categories which in turn break down into subs. Currently I have links to all internal major cats and sub-cats on index page. Would it make the index page stronger or weaker if I cut the links back to just major cats on the index page and give users the sub-menu from there?

Also, what effect will this have on my actual sub-cat pages by removing the link from the index page?

Thank in advance for any thoughts on this.

[agerhart]

If you changed your structure to the one below, it would follow a themed linking approach:
(---> = links to)
(<--- = links back to)
(--/-- = does not link to)

Index page ---> Main Categories ---> Sub Categories
Index page <--- Main Categories <--- Sub Categories
Index page --/-- Sub Categories

[Birdman]

Do you recommend this approach over my current structure. I don't really want to hurt rankings any more than they are after this mos. update. I read about people not getting deeper pages crawled and indexed. This site is not very deep, though.

[agerhart]

I personally prefer this structure for sites. I think it gives the search engine spiders and bots and clear map and path through the website. It will also allow you to theme your website, and effectively target your keywords.

[Birdman]

Thanks for the advice agerhart :)
Birdman

[jackofalltrades]

Think in terms of your user not just the SEs.

If you link to the main cats in your site, in the manner suggested by agerhart plus have a "new content" section on your homepage that links to new items in you sub cats, your users will:

a. Be able to navigate thru your site easily.
b. Have an idea of new content
c. Get the impression that your site is dynamic and therefore be encouraged to return every now and again.

scott