Increase Your Web Page/Keyword Ranking Through Structured Siloing (Sometimes Referred to as Theming).

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is focused primarily on helping improve website and web page ranking.  The use of linking is one of the tools to aid in the ranking process.  But applying a random use of links can be a negative in seeking a better rank for keywords/phrases or pages.  In the effort to increase rank postion a dilution of the site’s theme can occur, and a much lower assignment could be made by the search engines.  Every attempt should be made to keep your website theme undiluted and focused.

The way to help keep your website or page focused on a theme is by using a structural design called “siloing.”  There are two patently defined means of structuring your links to maximize rank positioning by the search engines.  The two methods of aiding in this siloing process are:

• Directory Based Silos
• Virtual Silos 

While they have similarities, they are different in their stucture and use.   These tools should be considered at the beginning of the planning and definition phase of your website–not after.  Incorporating these link methods from the very beginning will assist in the overall architecture of your website, and could make the construction of the site easier with a defined road map to work from.

Directory Based Silos

The first of the two methods of siloing is directory based silos.  Here the primary goal is to contain the links to a virtical configuration.  Specifically, the objective is using one designated single directory page, and linking all other content pages with similar focus to that directory page . . .  so that all the similar content pages are aimed at the directory page.  The directory page may be the site of where your sales requests are for your products, or for affiliate links.  This “directory page” then is the landing page for your theme or focus with subsequent supporting articles linking back to the directory or landing page.  Generally, no other links from the supporting articles should be directed anywhere but to the “directory page.”  This linking structure then ties the theme together in conjunction with the commmon names or titles of the supporting articles.  A very closed configuration, but very effective at maximizing the focus or theme for search engine optimazation (SEO) ranking.

Directory silos need to be very well organized and be extremely sturctured in order to work effectively.  Each themed directory silo must be supported with at least five content rich articles.

Virtural Silos

In the case of the virtural silo the primary goal is the cross linking between content pages of like focus.   There is no reference to a vertical line.  What is most important in the virtural silo is the unity of the center of attention by each article to a common theme in support of each other.  The commonality of the articles content is the key to the strength of the linking between the various pages supporting the theme.  Thus, you have a main or landing page that denotes the silo’s theme, and all supporting articles link back to the landing or directory page and horizontally to each other.   The strength of this silo technique is in the structured linking back to the directory page and the links to supporting articles where the information may be similar but the page’s title or name may be different . . . whereas the directory based silo is functional by keeping all of the supporting pages titled around the common theme.  Every effort to keep the links pure to the subject matter you are emphasizing, and seeking search engine ranking for, is critical.  Cross linking, if not focused on the unified theme, could end up diluting your efforts.

The premier purpose of these two keyword structures is to focus on the subjects you are trying to optimize for with the search engines.  You are trying to let them know what your article or site is all about.