How to structure your website for clarity, growth, and SEO success
May 1, 2025 — Simon Kelly
Before you dive into designing or redesigning your website, take the time to plan a clear sitemap.
It’s one of the most valuable steps you can take in the website design process – laying out how each page fits together so your site is easy to navigate, simple to update, and ready to rank in search engines.
A strong sitemap acts as your blueprint. It improves user experience, supports better SEO, and makes future growth easier to manage.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a sitemap that sets your website up for long-term success.
A sitemap is much more than just a simple list— it’s a structured map that lays out every key page on your website and shows how they’re connected.
Think of it as the backbone of your site, shaping everything from user experience to search engine performance.
A well-planned sitemap serves three important purposes:
Whether you’re building a small business website, an online store, or a large corporate site, a sitemap gives you a smart, organised starting point— and helps everything else fall into place more smoothly.
When it comes to building a well-structured website, not all sitemaps are created equal. In fact, there are two main types you need to know about, each with a specific role to play:
Both types work together to lay the groundwork for a website that’s easy to navigate, easy to manage, and easy to find.
A well-planned sitemap does more than just organise your pages— it sets your entire website up for success. Here’s how a strong sitemap benefits your team, your users, and your long-term growth:
Kick things off by jotting down all the essential areas your site needs— think Home, About, Services, Blog, and Contact. This gives you a clear starting point before you dive into the details.
Now it’s time to group those pages logically. Start with the big sections and break them down where needed. For example:
Primary pages:
Secondary pages:
A strong, simple structure makes everything easier for you, your users, and search engines.
Step into your audience’s shoes. What are they looking for when they land on your site? How can you guide them to it quickly? Designing with their needs in mind creates a smoother, more satisfying experience.
Less is more when it comes to navigation. Aim for 5-7 main menu items, and avoid tucking important pages too far down— ideally, users shouldn’t have to click more than three times to find anything important.
Bring it all to life with a simple tool like Gloomaps or Octopus.do— perfect for beginners. Prefer old-school? Grab a whiteboard or sketch it out in Word. The goal is to see your structure clearly before you start building.
Think bigger from the start. Structure your sitemap with plenty of room to grow, whether you’ll be adding new services, products, blog posts, or even new locations. A flexible foundation today saves you a massive headache tomorrow.
Your navigation has to work flawlessly on mobile screens— no microscopic menus, no endless scrolling. A clean, mobile-first design keeps users happy and engaged, no matter how they’re browsing.
Give every page a clear, meaningful name (e.g., /services/web-design/ instead of /services/page1).
Group related content together to create strong topic clusters and pillar pages, making it easier for search engines (and your users) to find exactly what they need.
A sitemap isn’t just about what looks neat on a diagram— it’s about making sure users can move easily from one page to the next. Focus on real user journeys: where people want to go, and how simply they can get there.
Make sure you include often-overlooked but critical utility pages like:
These pages keep your site complete, compliant, and more professional from day one.
Here’s a simple example of how a sitemap might look for a service-based business:
Once your website is live, there’s one more critical step— creating an XML sitemap. This is the behind-the-scenes file that lists all your site’s pages, making it easier for search engines to crawl, index, and rank your content.
Here’s how to set it up:
A few minutes of setup here can make a big difference in how quickly and accurately your site gets found online!
A sitemap might seem simple, but it’s one of the most powerful tools you have when building or refreshing a website. It’s not just about structure— it’s about setting your entire site up for success.
By investing a little time upfront, you’ll make the design and development process smoother, create a better experience for your visitors, and build a strong foundation that supports long-term SEO growth.
In short, a smart sitemap today means a stronger, more successful website tomorrow.
Simon Kelly is the CEO and Head of Growth at SGD. Simon started his first web agency in 2009 which he merged with the SGD team in 2023. With a strong background in digital strategy and a history of working with fast-growing Australian companies, including CyberCX, Envato and Agency Mavericks, he's passionate about using ethical digital marketing that delivers business value. Simon's experience includes coaching digital agencies, running digital marketing workshops, driving growth and excellence within the SGD team.
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