What Is Silo SEO & Does It Help Your Website?

Don’t worry, we won’t be discussing agriculture here—just simple silo SEO!

If you’re a website owner, then you must know that organizing website content into categories improves search engine rankings and user experience while levelling up the overall website structure.

A well-planned silo structure can help search engines understand the relationships between pages thus increasing the website’s authority.

Silo SEO involves creating a hierarchical structure of content, with each silo focusing on a specific topic or keyword phrase, well-defined URL structures, targeting both generic and specific page keywords.

It’s a necessary step many business owners often overlook, so we created this article to assist you!

• Identify This: How Is Your Website Structured?
• What Exactly Is Silo SEO? (The Core Concept)
• How Silo SEO Works: The Mechanics Behind Them
• The Possible Benefits of Implementing an SEO Silo Architecture
• Potential Challenges & Considerations

Identify This: How Is Your Website Structured?

Before diving into specific strategies like Silo SEO, we have to grasp how your website is currently organized—or perhaps, how it should be organized. Your website’s structure is the system that guides both your visitors and search engines through your content.

Getting it right helps the user experience and optimizes all your pages for search engines.

Why Does Site Structure Matter So Much?

• User experience (UX): A clear, logical structure makes navigation intuitive. Think about shopping online: if an eCommerce store sells shoes and clothing, you expect to easily find menus for “Men’s,” “Women’s,” “Shoes,” “Clothing,” etc. If finding a specific product feels like a maze, visitors get frustrated and leave. A good structure keeps users happy and helps them find what they need quickly. Assessing your current navigation and page layout is instrumental before planning improvements.
• Search engine crawlability: Search engines, such as Google, use bots (like Googlebot) to “crawl” websites, discovering pages and understanding their relationships. Essentially, they’re visiting your website and gathering information about your content. A logical structure with clear internal linking allows these bots to find and index your content efficiently, ensuring it has a chance to appear in search engine results pages.
• SEO authority flow: Structure influences how “link equity” (or SEO authority) is distributed across your site. Internal links pass value from one page to another. A well-organized linking building structure helps spread this authority for the relevant keyword (or phrase) effectively, potentially boosting the ranking power of important pages within your site.

Common Website Structures

Most websites use a Hierarchical (or Tree) Structure. This type of site structure is logical and scalable:

• It starts with your Home page at the top.
• Branches out into main Categories or sections.
• These can further be divided into Subcategories.
• Ultimately, this leads to individual Pages or Posts.
• Also, category landing pages play a crucial role in establishing thematic relevance and guiding users to specific subcategories.

Here are a few examples:

• eCommerce store: Homepage -> Menswear -> Shirts -> Specific shirt product page
• Service business: Homepage -> Digital Marketing Services -> SEO Services -> Local SEO Information Page
• Blog: Homepage -> Blog -> Category: Social Media Tips -> Article: 5 Ways to Increase Instagram Engagement

Having a solid structure is the bedrock of a good website. Choosing the right Web Hosting plan is key here, as it provides the stable foundation and necessary tools (like easy-to-use website builders or control panel access like cPanel) you need to build, manage, and modify your site’s structure effectively as it grows.

Need a reliable foundation for your website?

What Exactly Is Silo SEO? (The Core Concept)

Now that we understand the importance of basic site structure, let’s look at a specific, strategic approach: Silo SEO.

So, what is it? Silo SEO is a method for organizing your website’s content by grouping closely related pages together into distinct sections, known as “silos.”

Think of creating a content silo or implementing what’s called silo structures. It’s about creating clear, thematic categories on your site, where related pages are internally linked to reinforce their connection. Using subject relevant keyword phrases within these silos can further enhance the relevancy and authority of your content clusters, aligning them with your targeted audience’s interests.

An Analogy Might Help

Imagine walking into a large library or a department store.

• In a library, books aren’t randomly placed; they’re grouped by subject—fiction, history, science, etc. You know exactly where to go to find books on a specific topic, thanks to the distinct subject categories.
• Similarly, a department store has distinct sections: electronics, clothing, and home goods.

An SEO silo works the same way for your website. Instead of a jumble of pages, you create distinct subject categories where all the pages intensely focus on one core topic. This could also be compared to organizing files on your computer—you don’t just dump everything onto the desktop (we hope you don’t!). You create specific folders (Documents, Pictures, Project A, Project B) to keep things tidy and easy to find, as well as to back up.

What’s The Primary Goal of a Silo Architecture?

Why go to the trouble of creating these silos? The main objective is to establish clear thematic relevance in the eyes of search engines. By tightly grouping content about a specific subject (for example: “web hosting basics,” “email marketing strategies,” “WordPress tutorials”), you send strong signals to Google that your website is an authority on that topic.

By tightly grouping content, you also guarantee that link juice flows efficiently within the silo, improving the authority of each page.

This helps search engines understand your content better and can significantly improve your rankings for the keywords related to that silo’s theme.

How Silo SEO Works: The Mechanics Behind Them

Understanding the concept of Silo SEO is one thing, but how do linked pages actually function within this framework? Let’s break down the key mechanics that make this structural strategy work for your website.

Tip: Avoid linking to unrelated pages within a silo to maintain thematic relevance and improve SEO.

1. Thematic Grouping: Creating Focused Content Hubs

At its core, Silo SEO relies on tight thematic grouping. All the content within a single silo should be closely related, focusing on different facets of one main subject using specific keyword phrases.

• Pillar and cluster model: A common way to visualize this is like a main “pillar” page covering a broad topic (“Introduction to Email Marketing”), which targets a core keyword. This pillar page is then supported by several more specific “cluster” pages or blog posts, each acting as a supporting page that dives deeper into related subtopics (“Building an Email List,” “Choosing Email Marketing Software,” “Writing Effective Subject Lines”), often targeting longer-tail keywords.

Although there’s no strict rule, you can begin by writing the topic that includes the core keyword first and then expand to other relevant pages or subtopics related to the core keyword or parent keyword phrase.

2. The Pyramid Structure: Building Logic & Authority

This pillar-and-cluster approach naturally forms a pyramid structure within each silo. A pyramid structure helps to prioritize important pages and improves visibility for search engines. It does that by positioning the most relevant content at the top and branching out to lesser important pages below.

The main pillar page, or parent page, sits at the top, providing an overview and linking down to the supporting pages.

For example, “The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Security for Beginners“ would be the core topic.

The supporting pages link back up to the pillar page and often link to each other where relevant, reinforcing the topical connection. To our example, the supporting pages could be the following:

1. How to Choose and Use Strong Passwords for WordPress
2. Why Keeping WordPress Core, Themes & Plugins Updated is Critical
3. 5 Best WordPress Security Plugins Compared
4. Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Backups (Manual & Automated)

Why adopt this structure?

• Clarity in search results: It provides a clear, logical hierarchy for search engine bots to crawl and understand, helping them recognize the depth of your coverage on the topic.
• Authority building: This focused structure helps consolidate your website’s authority on the specific subject of the silo.
• Improved user experience: Visitors can easily navigate from a broad overview (the pillar) to specific details (the clusters) and find related information without getting lost, enhancing their experience.

3. Physical vs. Virtual Silos: Defining the Boundaries

There are generally two ways silos are implemented:

• Physical silos: These use the website’s directory structure (the URL paths) to group content. For example:

yourdomain.com/gardening-tips/vegetables/growing-tomatoes

yourdomain.com/gardening-tips/flowers/caring-for-roses. 

This creates very clear, separate sections on the site.

Subdomains (like shop.yourdomain.com) can act like separate websites, which complicates the passing of link equity and may lead to content being treated as different from the main site. It’s often better to use subdirectories to keep all content under one domain, simplifying site navigation for both users and search engines.

• Virtual silos: These rely primarily on internal linking to create the thematic connections, regardless of whether the pages share the same URL directory. While a matching URL structure often helps reinforce the silo, the strategic link structure itself defines the cluster in a virtual setup.

4. The Leading Role of Internal Linking

Internal page linking is the glue that holds your SEO silos together and makes them effective. It dictates how authority flows and how users and search engines navigate the topic, but it also contributes to perfecting the user experience.

• Linking within the silo: This is needed. Pages inside the same silo should be heavily interlinked, with relevant pages linking to each other to strengthen the topical relevance of the entire cluster. As mentioned in the pyramid structure, cluster/supporting pages should link up to the main pillar page. It’s also practical to link relevant cluster pages to each other with a descriptive anchor text (for example, an article on “Choosing Email Marketing Software” might link to one on “Email Marketing Automation Features”).
• Linking between silos: This is where discipline is required. Avoid excessive linking between different silos. Only add a link from one silo to another if it provides significant, direct value to the user, and is highly relevant contextually. Why the caution? Think of it less as a hard “internal linking limit” and more as a strategic focus. Unnecessary links between unrelated topics can dilute the thematic authority you’re trying to build within each silo and confuse search engines about your site’s main topics.

Managing these structures and internal links might seem daunting, but platforms like WordPress make it much more manageable through features like categories, tags, and easy link insertion. Choosing reliable WordPress Hosting ensures your platform runs smoothly, allowing you to implement these structures effectively.

For those who want to focus purely on content and strategy without worrying about technical maintenance or updates, Managed WordPress Hosting can be an ideal solution, handling the backend tasks for you.

Simplify your website management.

5. Silo SEO Best Practices: Supporting the Mechanics

While the structure and linking are the core mechanics, several best practices ensure your silos perform optimally:

• Logical structure: Maintain that clear, logical hierarchy we discussed (like the pyramid).
• Strategic internal linking: Be deliberate with your links, ensuring that other pages within silos are internally linked to reinforce their connection.
• High-quality, relevant content: Your silos are only as strong as the content within them. Ensure pages are comprehensive, accurate, and genuinely useful.
• Keyword research: Use keyword research to inform the topics for your pillar and cluster pages, and to provide focused content that serves specific user intents.
• User experience optimization: Ensure your site’s pages load quickly and are easy to read and navigate. Support pages should be a priority for this step.
• Quality backlinks: While internal linking is key to silos, acquiring high-quality external links (backlinks) to your pillar and cluster pages further boosts their authority.

The Possible Benefits of Implementing an SEO Silo Architecture

Now that you understand the mechanics behind SEO silos, you might be wondering: Is structuring your site this way worth the effort? When done correctly, implementing SEO silos can offer plentiful advantages for your business website or blog:

• Enhanced topical authority: By grouping related content tightly, you send clear signals to search engines like Google that you are an expert source on specific subjects. This increased authority can lead to higher trust and better search rankings.
• Improved keyword rankings: Silos concentrate ranking power (link equity) on specific topics. This helps your main pillar pages rank for broader keywords, while supporting cluster pages capture relevant long-tail keyword searches within that topic.
• Better user experience (UX): A logical silo structure makes it easier for visitors to navigate your site and find related information. When users can easily explore a topic in depth, they are likely to stay longer and engage more with your content.
• Efficient crawling and indexing: Search engine bots can more easily discover and understand the layout and thematic focus of your website. This helps ensure all your important content gets indexed properly and its context is understood.
• Focused link equity distribution: Strategic internal linking within silos ensures that ranking power is passed between relevant pages, strengthening the authority of the entire topic cluster through an effective internal linking structure.

Potential Challenges & Considerations

While the benefits are compelling, implementing an SEO silo structure isn’t always straightforward. Here are some potential challenges and factors to consider:

• Implementation complexity: Planning and executing a silo structure, especially on a large or already existing website, can be complex and time-consuming for site owners. It asks for careful planning and foresight.
• Structural rigidity: A strict silo structure can sometimes feel restrictive, particularly if you have content that naturally spans multiple categories or topics. You need to decide how strictly you’ll enforce the boundaries.
• Internal linking discipline: The success of silos heavily relies on a consistent and strategic internal linking strategy. It’s easy to make mistakes, like linking excessively between silos, which can dilute the benefits. Requires ongoing attention.
• Maintenance overhead: As you add new content, you need to ensure it fits logically within the established silo structure and that internal links are updated appropriately. This requires ongoing maintenance.
• New pages: Down the line, you will surely add new pages to your site. An up-to-date internal linking structure helps search engine crawlers discover and index new pages. But ensure that the internal links remain relevant and support the overall subject authority of the site.
• User navigation between topics: While silos improve navigation within a topic, you need to ensure users can still reasonably navigate between different silos if needed. Overly strict siloing without clear top-level navigation can sometimes create dead ends for users exploring broader interests.

More importantly, always prioritize the user experience. While pleasing search engines is important, your site structure must primarily serve your visitors. Ensure content is easy to find and navigate.

Metrics like Time on Page (visible in tools like Google Analytics) can deliver insights into whether users are finding specific pages engaging and useful. A structure that confuses users will likely harm your SEO in the long run, regardless of how technically perfect it seems.

Remember, while implementing advanced SEO strategies takes effort, ensuring your website’s foundation is strong supports all your initiatives. Reliable site speed, directly influenced by good Web Hosting, is crucial for user experience and SEO.

Likewise, maintaining professional communication through Business Email builds trust and supports your overall project success.

Conclusion: Does Silo SEO Help Your Website?

So, let’s return to our main question: Does implementing a silo site structure actually help your website?

The short answer is yes, when implemented correctly and for the right type of website. Silo SEO, or the broader concept of thematic content clustering, is a strong method for organizing your SEO content in a way that benefits both users and search engines. It helps establish topical authority for the entire site, improves rankings, and generally helps users navigate more effectively.

Is it for everyone? Perhaps not strictly necessary for very small websites with only a handful of pages. However, for larger sites, eCommerce stores with distinct product categories, multiple landing pages, service businesses with multiple offerings, and content-heavy blogs aiming to be seen as authorities in their niche, the benefits are substantial.

Ultimately, a logical, user-friendly silo structure should always be your top priority. Silo SEO provides an effective framework and set of tactics to achieve this, but it requires planning and commitment. The core principles—grouping related content pages and linking it strategically—are fundamental to good website architecture, whether you formally call it “siloing” or not. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is an example of silos?

• Physical silo (URL-based): An online gardening store might have website.com/gardening-tools/ and website.com/seeds/, with all tool-related pages under the first directory and all seed-related pages under the second.
• Conceptual silo: A digital marketing blog might have silos for “SEO,” “PPC Advertising,” and “Social Media Marketing,” where all articles related to SEO link heavily to each other and the main SEO category page, with limited links pointing outside this topic unless highly relevant. The main silo page for each category serves as a pivotal element that links to supporting pages, enhancing the site’s architecture and user experience.

How many pages should be in a single SEO silo?

There’s no magic number, really. A silo should be as large as necessary to thoroughly cover the specific topic. Some silos might have 5-10 pages, while others on very broad topics could have many more. 

The key is that all pages within the silo are tightly related to the main topic and contribute to building comprehensive authority. Focus on quality and relevance over quantity.

What is the SEO pyramid structure?

The SEO pyramid structure typically refers to the organization within a content silo. It involves:

1. A main pillar page at the top, covering a broad topic.
2. Several supporting cluster pages are beneath it, each covering a specific subtopic in more detail.
3. Internal links connect the cluster pages back to the pillar page and often to each other, forming a pyramid or hub-and-spoke model that reinforces thematic relevance and distributes link equity.

What are the 3 main areas of SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is broadly divided into three essential areas:

1. Technical SEO: Ensuring a website can be crawled and indexed correctly by search engines. This includes aspects like site speed, mobile-friendliness, site architecture (where siloing fits!), structured data, and security.
2. On-Page SEO: Optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic. This involves keyword research, content quality, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, image optimization, and internal linking (also key to siloing).
3. Off-Page SEO: Actions taken outside your own website to impact your rankings. This primarily involves building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, as well as incorporating brand mentions, social signals, and local SEO citations.

What is a reverse silo?

A reverse silo is a beginner-friendly SEO content technique that emphasizes linking pages within a structured hierarchy to enhance authority and topical relevance. It is effective in enabling link juice flow and aiding in the ranking of specific high-value pages. However, careful content planning is essential to avoid orphaned pages.