Should I change our main category pages to product listing pages?

[alifeofjoy]

With the thought of improving user experience, as well as rankings in Google, I'm considering changing our main category pages to product listing pages (with sub-categories remaining, still).  These main category pages are very standard and don't link to any informational content, such as buyers guides, etc.

What's driven this is the latest Google core update. I've noticed our main competitor (who we were out-ranking before... but not now) now uses this approach.

I can see the benefit from a user perspective, i.e. less clicks to reach products.

What's the pros/cons from an SEO point of view, please?  Could the potential duplication of content be an issue?

For context, we have about 2,000 products and website is on Magento 2.

[Jioewbvu]

if a visitor is already browsing through your product listing pages, it means that they’re interested in your online store. So this is where you lead them to product pages and persuade them to buy.

With minor improvements, you can start driving more visitors to your product pages and increase your conversions.

Here are the seven best strategies you can use to optimize your product listing pages, and why they’re so effective.

[hafixalimi]

Hi There Hope you are doing well. I Started My site and Working on this Site's best laptop buyer's Guide. and with Google update, this is going down. Then I Just publish Quality Content and it ranked Again. With No backlinks.

Thanks

Raisaleem.

[BlueprintMarketing]

Sure can you tell me a bit more about what you want to do?

all the best,

Tom

[BlueprintMarketing]

I agree with the Silo Structure for blogs & e-commerce it works well when done the right way.

I like  Patrick Stox & agree with a lot of what he said about blogs but for the most part the deeper the page the less chance to rank th is why he is saying interlinking is so important  for this to work.  Look at your site depth & you will see what I am talking about.

he is right about the home page n being the main start for everything but you must interlink

• https://searchengineland.com/everything-not-blog-post-start-using-silos-242508
• https://www.bruceclay.com/seo/silo/

a silo might require you almost remake your website.

• https://www.brightedge.com/blog/content-silo-seo
• https://backlinko.com/ecommerce-seo
• https://ahrefs.com/blog/ecommerce-seo/
• https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/url-structure/
• https://moz.com/blog/15-seo-best-practices-for-structuring-urls

Hope this helps,

Tom

[phungvitieubao]

Well in this case, you should use silo structure, Silo will not only helps users but also help search engine to better understand your website structure. and using silo your website will get a huge boost in rankings. This website TenRater is using Silo Structure. They're Ranking on some high volume Keywords without links.

[talhashaikh19]

Hi,

I didn't get your question, If you want to see an example of micro niche sites to decide you can check the boxing gloves related blog of me in which i cover some keywords but only in one category

[BlueprintMarketing]

The link that you had created goes to a gateway page? I can see you at the bottom you show that there is the ability to purchase the shoe however there’s no way for me to actually purchase it. I don’t know if you want that or not?

without seeing the entire site I can only give you advice on the side that you have shared with me. It would not affect your site to add categories based on the website where it says you can see my store by “click“

What you have already created could be used as categories if you were going to sell the product generally a category page in e-commerce is not a comparison but your content is very thorough & useful I would incorporate it into the main e-commerce site

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/url-structure/

https://yoast.com/video/ask-yoast-order-of-categories-and-subcategories-in-urls/

(this video might seem like it’s not very helpful but it does bring one very important thing into account. Don’t make redirects if you don’t have to. and if you have to make sure you do them page to page

so if you have a list of URLs and in this example: D is the final URL the one that you want every page to go to. (The other letters represent any other relevant pages that need to be redirected to The final URL D)

never link URLs like this  A to B to C to D

all 301s Should be lined up like spreadsheet columns (but the spreadsheet should have a maximum of two columns) were the last URL/final URL is pointed to directly like below

• A to D
• then
• B to D
• then
• C to D

The final URL again is D

then line them up like a spreadsheet but never more than one redirect. Unless you can’t help it.

https://moz.com/blog/15-seo-best-practices-for-structuring-urls

https://moz.com/learn/seo/url

bigger photographs below (and the links are examples of awful URLs.)

• https://9c93f9579e3f41fd4e9c-0310e6d68b80e24ea2ff21e1b495e94b.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/6ED12A91-BF22-4D6E-B21F-ED423E7626A5.png
• https://9c93f9579e3f41fd4e9c-0310e6d68b80e24ea2ff21e1b495e94b.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/F50795AA-FF5F-42B1-B3D2-72F19432D9B9.gif
• Hope this helps,

Tom

SxOLFKq.gif QYfA0SV.png

[BlueprintMarketing]

I will be happy to help in 1 hour

[Aashish2020]

I'm also looking for the same answer. I'm working on one niche store. And now want to go for macro website. You can see my store by click.

[BlueprintMarketing]

I would definitely take a handful and make them the main category pages that you suggested, in the beginning, we really don't have anything to lose if you keep the subcategories however I would like to map out the site it would make it a lot clearer

[BlueprintMarketing]

Hi

Yes, I see what you're saying now. I like those subcategories here.  You are saying that you might fill this the text which would definitely give Google some more information on the products.

I don't know how you would make the products any closer to the homepage that way?

I would simply add an additional product overview page that is mostly text and links to the subcategory page.

These types of things are never easy because you have a very nice site I would to know a lot more about what's going on with it if I can try to help you with the algorithm update how much traffic have you lost?

https://bseo.dev/sOX1B4

I would keep the age that you currently have because it does showcase the current products very well and add an additional main category page with content.

https://bseo.dev/T7A5wJ

I don't see the harm in doing it to a handful of categories as an experiment. Please keep in mind the closer to the homepage the cliques are the better. And your content should be informational and transactional meaning you're trying to sell on the product pages and product category pages and maybe use a blog for informational content which would allow people who are engaged like myself & planning a wedding the opportunity to learn everything I need to know about the big event. I would also partner with churches and other venues to make sure that the backlinks profile is relevant to your industry.

I will say this part is very confusing because it bears the same name

this is appropriately named https://bseo.dev/RjS2Hq

this is a duplicate and does not work properly.

https://bseo.dev/wHGpxy

I can give you an audit of your website if you'd like me to?

My information is right here

https://moz.com/users/view/383525

respectfully,

Tom

[alifeofjoy]

Hi Tom

This is my domain (I’ve shortened using bitly):

https://bit.ly/2GuM393

This is one of the main category pages: https://bit.ly/2RSWmZL

I’m planning to keep URL structure the same, and keep the sub-categories still.  The only change would be that you see a list of products (which you can filter) rather than the current main category page.

I appreciate any thoughts that you might have! I can email you my email address if you like?

Thanks so much

[BlueprintMarketing]

Can you show me what you're being category pages look like now? Or describe them are they just products?

fewer clicks to reach products/ or any page From the homepage has a very strong correlation with ranking.

"with sub-categories remaining"  you mean you're going to keep the category pages anyway?

the new algorithm update if it hurt your website could have done so for many reasons that have nothing to do with what you're discussing. If you wouldn't mind could you share the domain with us?

If you feel uncomfortable doing that will give you an email you can send it to.

Sincerely,

Tom