There's an e-commerce site. There's a category: Shoes > Men's Sneakers. Should we show posts here or on a separate /blog page?
Currently, we're showing posts on category pages (e.g., a 'Care Tips' post in the Men's Sneakers category). Is this correct?
Site structure splits into two: 1) Silo structure — posts are under the category (Shoes/Men > post). 2) Hub & spoke — posts are in a separate /blog, linked to the category. Which one you choose depends on the strategy.
Silo (posts under category): Ideal for e-commerce. Posts boost category authority. Downside: the main category page can get cluttered.
Hub & spoke (separate blog): The blog builds its own authority. Downside: less link equity passed to the category. Silo is better for e-commerce because you want to boost the sales category.
when I implemented a silo structure the category pages ranked much better. tbh posts on the blog page supported the category and the category authority was definitely higher.
if it's e-commerce, silo is better. i mean it boosts category/product authority. if the blog is separate, it's hub and spoke but it's not sales-focused.
edit: typed from phone, sorry for typos.
Silo vs. Hub & Spoke: Silo | Hub & Spoke - Category authority: +++ | + - Blog authority: + | +++ - Sales conversion: +++ | + - Complexity: + | ++ - Ideal sector: E-commerce | Blog/news
Silo implementation: 1) Post URL structure: /shoes/mens-sneakers/post-name. 2) Show post links on the category page. 3) Link back to the category in the post (anchor: category name). 4) Keep internal links within the category. 5) Let the category ranking rise.
I went through the same thing two years ago. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.
Good luck with that.
Quick summary for newcomers: Mistakes made on the category page vs blog side are usually reversible but expensive.
Proven by experience.
Sorry but this doesn't apply in every case. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.
Internal linking is the cheapest and most neglected task.
Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. Map listings bring more business than blog posts for most local businesses.
If you don't write this down from the start, it leads to arguments later. I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.
I have no experience with category page vs blog so I'm asking. When you try to change everything at once nothing settles.
If I were you I'd go this route.
Three different views emerged, they all complement each other. If you get three different answers on a topic, the question was asked wrong.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
The cheap-looking path usually ends up costing more later. Everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.
Just leaving this note, it might be useful.
The discussion got scattered, let me summarize. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.
Hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later. Proven by experience.
Youre right. Ranking is the result search intent is the input. Look at intent first.
If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.
Let me write how it's done in practice. Everyone rushing into category page vs blog gets stuck at the same point.
I disagree with you on this point. Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.
When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best. That's all, sorry if I went on too long.
Good call starting this thread. Just because everyone does it doesnt mean its right.
The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on. I mean good luck with that.