Silo Structure Related Question - Template Included

[Ed Roy]

The site is in a broad niche (example: technology) but currently covering topics, micro-niche by micro-niche. Let's say I want to cover the topic of drones. Now, which Silo template should I choose from these templates?

Number One:



Number Two:



If you have a better silo structure. Then feel free to share with us. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Note: I am aware of keyword cannibalization for buying keywords.

 

[Dark Sky]

IMO each buying guide should have it's own silo,

Best drone for camping should have informational content about using drones for camping,

Best drone for vlogging should have information content about using drones for vlogging.

Content: How to control a drone

This type of generic drone content could go into any silo, but personal I'd do a top level guide "Best drone"

link generic content to that buying guide, and link your other more specific buying guides to the top level buying guide.

URL structure, just keep it short with title. No need for physical silos. Just virtual silos

 

[tiiberius]

Looks like the only differene is URL structure.

Silo is all about interlinking imo. URL structure doesn't have much to do with it. It's just easier for organization.

I personally have silos like this:
homepage > category page > product page > homepage

However, URL structure is always: site.com/page-slug/ . I have no category or sub-category in it.

 

[Ed Roy]

URL structure, just keep it short with title. No need for physical silos. Just virtual silos

Silo is all about interlinking imo. URL structure doesn't have much to do with it. It's just easier for organization.

I thought the category should be mention in the URL slug. I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification, mate.

 

[treverminght]

I thought the category should be mention in the URL slug. I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification, mate.

I myself thought that the category must be written in the URL header?

 

[Dark Sky]

I thought the category should be mention in the URL slug. I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification, mate.

I myself thought that the category must be written in the URL header?

I've tested both on my affiliate blogs, if anything I saw that including the category brought negative ranking effects.

Two possible reasons for this.

1. Longer URL structures correlate with lower rankings
2. If the category is the keyword, then having the category and title in the URL will mean the keyword is mentioned twice in the URL. And even worse if your keyword is part of the domain name, because then it's mentioned three times. Possibly ending up with an overoptimized URL.

So now I just stick with the title in my URL. Works perfectly fine for me.

 

[Ed Roy]

I've tested both on my affiliate blogs, if anything I saw that including the category brought negative ranking effects.

Two possible reasons for this.

1. Longer URL structures correlate with lower rankings
2. If the category is the keyword, then having the category and title in the URL will mean the keyword is mentioned twice in the URL. And even worse if your keyword is part of the domain name, because then it's mentioned three times. Possibly ending up with an overoptimized URL.

So now I just stick with the title in my URL. Works perfectly fine for me.

In that case, is it a good idea to have a physical silo for buying keywords like this: site.com/drone/vlogging for keyword best drone for vlogging. And maintain a virtual silo for informational content. Even Gael and Mark from Authority Hacker also suggested following this template.

Curious to know your thought on this. Thanks.

 

[Hanst]

This site was one of my competitors, still rank #1 for the entire Shayari market. He has done something like a silo structure. just have a Look. You might get some insight.
http://www.shayarify.com/

 

[Dark Sky]

In that case, is it a good idea to have a physical silo for buying keywords like this: site.com/drone/vlogging for keyword best drone for vlogging. And maintain a virtual silo for informational content. Even Gael and Mark from Authority Hacker also suggested following this template.

Curious to know your thought on this. Thanks.

Well if my site is lets say dronebuyer.com and then I do the physical silo dronebuyer.com/drone/vlogging then I've got the same keyword twice in the URL, IMO that's overoptimized and worthy of negative rankings. I guess it's situational based, but personally I stopped using physical silos, I saw no benefit to using them.

Maybe on a big ecommerce site it's actually useful for navigation ect. But on an affiliate blog there is literally no point IMO. I can't see google algo giving brownie points for mentioning the category in the URL, seems bizarre. The only thing I care about when it comes to the URL is,

Is it short?
Does it contain the keyword somewhere in it for the page im ranking?

That's literally all I care about, so I just do xxxxx.com/*keyword*

 

[Ed Roy]

That's literally all I care about, so I just do xxxxx.com/*keyword*

I got the point. BTW, thanks for your clear explanation.

 

[Ed Roy]

This site was one of my competitors, still rank #1 for the entire Shayari market. He has done something like a silo structure. just have a Look. You might get some insight.
http://www.shayarify.com/

The site you referred to is in a foreign language, so I haven't understood anything. I think the site is monetized by Google Adsense, whereas my site is monetized with Amazon and Display advertising.

Is this site ranking very well in your niche? Thanks.

 

[Hanst]

The site you referred to is in a foreign language, so I haven't understood anything. I think the site is monetized by Google Adsense, whereas my site is monetized with Amazon and Display advertising.

Is this site ranking very well in your niche? Thanks.

Yeah, it's ranking #1.