WordPress pyramid structure Permalinks Category vs sub pages vs multisite

we have several options in WordPress to create a pyramid structure, each with its own strengths and considerations for user experience. Let’s break them down:

The best WordPress permalink structure for both SEO and user experience is generally the post name structure. Here’s why and how to optimize it:

Why “Post Name” is Best:

SEO-Friendly Keywords:
- It allows you to include relevant keywords from your post title directly in the URL. Search engines use URLs as a ranking factor, and keywords help them understand the content.
User-Friendly Readability:
- A clear, descriptive URL tells users what the page is about before they even click. This improves user experience and encourages clicks.
Easy Sharing:
- Short, keyword-rich URLs are easier to share on social media and other platforms.
Clean and Concise:
- It avoids long, messy URLs with dates, categories, or other unnecessary information.
Example:
- Instead of: yourwebsite.com/?p=123 or yourwebsite.com/2023/10/27/sample-post/
- You’ll have: yourwebsite.com/sample-post/ or yourwebsite.com/best-seo-tips/

Consider Category or Subcategory: if you have a very large website with many categories, sometimes, adding the category into the permalink can be useful. For example yourwebsite.com/category/post-name. This helps organize the site. If you do this, keep the category names short.

differences between Pages/Subpages, Categories/Subcategories, and WordPress Multisite for creating a pyramid structure:

Feature	Pages/Subpages	Categories/Subcategories	WordPress Multisite
Primary Use	Static content, hierarchical information	Dynamic content (posts), content organization	Large, complex structures, separate sites
Content Type	Pages (static)	Posts (dynamic)	Entire WordPress sites
Hierarchy	Parent/Child pages	Parent/Child categories	Network of independent sites
Permalink Structure	`domain.com/parent/child/`	`domain.com/category/parent/child/post-name/` (customizable)	Flexible, site-specific (subdomains, subdirectories, domains)
Complexity	Simple	Moderate	Complex
Management	Easy, within page editor	Moderate, via category management	Advanced, requires network admin
Scalability	Limited for very large structures	Good for large blogs/content sites	Excellent for very large, segmented structures
User Experience	Clear navigation for static content	Effective content organization for dynamic content	Highly customizable, can create distinct experiences
Best For	Company information, documentation, simple site structures	Blogs, news sites, content-heavy websites	Large organizations, multi-department sites, distinct site networks
Resource Usage	Low	Low to moderate	High
Content Relationship	Stricly hierarchical	Can have multiple category relationships	Sites are distinct, relationships are via linking.

1. Pages and Subpages (Hierarchical Pages):

How it works:
- You create a parent page (the top of the pyramid).
- Then, you create child pages (subpages) and assign the parent page to them.
- This creates a hierarchical structure.
Permalink Structure:
- By default, WordPress will create URLs like: yourdomain.com/parent-page/child-page/.
Pros:
- Very straightforward and easy to implement.
- Ideal for static content that fits a clear hierarchy.
- Built-in functionality within WordPress.
Cons:
- Can become cumbersome for very large or complex structures.
- May not be ideal for dynamic content or content that needs to be categorized in multiple ways.
- Limited advanced taxonomy.
User Experience:
- Provides a clear and logical navigation path.
- Can be enhanced with breadcrumb navigation for better orientation.

2. Categories and Subcategories:

How it works:
- You create parent categories and child categories (subcategories).
- You assign posts to these categories.
Permalink Structure:
- You can customize the permalink structure to include categories:
  - yourdomain.com/category/parent-category/child-category/post-name/
  - or yourdomain.com/parent-category/child-category/post-name/ depending on how you structure your custom permalinks.
Pros:
- Excellent for organizing dynamic content (blog posts).
- Allows for multiple categorization of posts.
- Built-in taxonomy within WordPress.
Cons:
- May not be as intuitive for static content.
- Requires careful planning to avoid overly complex category structures.
User Experience:
- Helps users find related content easily.
- Can be combined with category archives for better browsing.
- The user experience is heavily reliant on how well the category structure is planned, and implemented in the navigation.

3. WordPress Multisite:

How it works:
- Creates a network of multiple WordPress sites from a single WordPress installation.
- Each site can have its own domain or subdomain.
- You can structure the network to reflect a pyramid structure.
Permalink Structure:
- Each site in the network has its own permalink structure.
- You can use subdomains or subdirectories to create a hierarchical URL structure.
Pros:
- Provides maximum flexibility and control over site structure.
- Ideal for very large and complex structures.
- Allows for separate management of different sections of the pyramid.
Cons:
- More complex to set up and manage.
- Requires more server resources.
- Can be overkill for simpler structures.
User Experience:
- Can provide a highly customized user experience for each section of the pyramid.
- Allows for complete separation of content and functionality.
- If not correctly implemented, can confuse the user.

Which Improves User Experience?

For simple to medium structures: Pages and subpages or categories and subcategories are generally sufficient and provide a good user experience.
For very large, complex structures, or when you need complete separation of content and management: WordPress Multisite can be beneficial, but only if you have the resources and expertise to manage it.
Key factors for good user experience:
- Clear and consistent navigation: Use menus, breadcrumbs, and site maps to help users navigate the pyramid structure.
- Logical URL structure: Use descriptive and keyword-rich URLs.
- Intuitive content organization: Group related content together and make it easy to find.
- Responsive design: Ensure the site is accessible on all devices.
- Site search: Implement a robust site search to help users find specific content.

Recommendation:

Start with pages and subpages or categories and subcategories if your structure is relatively simple.
Carefully plan your hierarchy before creating pages or categories.
Use clear and descriptive names for pages and categories.
Consider using plugins to enhance navigation and breadcrumbs.
Only use multisite if you have a very large and complex web of sites that need to be managed from one wordpress install.

By carefully considering your needs and implementing these strategies, you can create a pyramid structure that provides a positive user experience.

differences between Pages/Subpages, Categories/Subcategories, and WordPress Multisite for creating a pyramid structure:

permalink structure for a news website

When choosing a permalink structure for a news website and an Indian Sarkari job website, it’s crucial to prioritize clarity, SEO-friendliness, and user experience. Here’s a breakdown of recommended approaches:

For a News Website:

Key Considerations:
- Time-sensitive content: News is often relevant for a short period.
- Categorization: News covers diverse topics.
- SEO: URLs should be easily understood by search engines.
Recommended Structure:
- /%category%/%postname%/
  - This structure provides clear categorization and includes the post title, which is beneficial for SEO.
  - Example: yournewswebsite.com/politics/indian-election-results/
- Considerations for very large news sites.
  - For very large news sites, that need to have very specific time based indexing, then including the date in the permalink may be useful. Example: /%year%/%month%/%day%/%postname%/
  - However, be aware that this can cause issues with evergreen content.
Why this is good:
- Categorization helps users navigate and find related news.
- Post names provide context to search engines.
- It’s relatively concise and user-friendly.

For an Indian Sarkari Job Website:

Key Considerations:
- Specific job categories: Government jobs are often categorized by sector or department.
- Keywords: Job titles and department names are important search terms.
- Clarity: URLs should clearly indicate the job posting.
Recommended Structure:
- /%category%/%postname%/
  - This allows for categories such as “Central Government Jobs,” “State Government Jobs,” or specific departments.
  - The post name should include the job title.
  - Example: yoursarkarijobs.com/banking/sbi-clerk-recruitment/
- It can be very useful to use very specific category names.
  - Example: yoursarkarijobs.com/state-government-jobs/telangana-jobs/police-recruitment/
Why this is good:
- Categorization helps users find jobs in their desired sectors.
- Including the job title in the URL improves SEO and user clarity.
- Using very specific category names, helps users to find the exact type of job that they are searching for.

General Best Practices:

Use hyphens: Separate words in URLs with hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_).
Keep URLs concise: Shorter URLs are generally better for usability and SEO.
Use relevant keywords: Include important keywords in your URLs.
Avoid stop words: Remove unnecessary words like “a,” “an,” and “the” from URLs.
HTTPS: Ensure your website uses HTTPS for security.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent permalink structure throughout your website.

Important Note:

Once you’ve chosen a permalink structure, avoid changing it, as this can lead to broken links and SEO issues. If you must change it, use 301 redirects to redirect old URLs to new ones.
Consider using an SEO plugin, like Yoast SEO, or Rank Math, to help you to optimize your permalinks.