How to build websites for easy analysis: a comprehensive guide

URLs - the foundation of good information architecture

The URL structure of a website acts as the cornerstone of its informational architecture. A thoughtfully designed website structure improves user experience and facilitates in-depth website analysis. While it contributes to a positive user journey, it plays a crucial role in providing a clear roadmap for analytical tools to interpret and dissect the content on your site. The benefits extend beyond user satisfaction, impacting the precision and depth of your website analytics. Let's explore some examples of well and poorly structured URLs in the context of different website types.

Travel Website

✅ DO: example.com/destinations/europe/paris-exploration

In this case, users and analytics tools easily understand that this URL leads to information about exploring Paris within the broader context of European destinations. The structured URL enhances both user experience and facilitates comprehensive website analysis.

❌ DON’T: example.com/index.php?id=123

In contrast, this poorly structured URL lacks meaningful information and readability. Analyzing such URLs becomes challenging, potentially resulting in incomplete or inaccurate insights, impacting both user experience and data analysis.

E-commerce Website

✅ DO: example.com/categories/electronics/smartphones/iphone-13

For an e-commerce site, a well-structured URL includes categories (electronics, smartphones) and specific product details (iphone-13). This not only aids users in understanding the page but also facilitates precise analysis of product categories and individual product performance.

❌ DON’T: example.com/product.php?p=5678

On the other hand, a poorly structured URL lacking descriptive segments makes it challenging for users and analytical tools to discern the product or category. This hinders both user experience and detailed analysis.

Blog Website

✅ DO: example.com/topics/technology/latest-gadgets-review

In a blog setting, a well-structured URL includes clear topics and context, as seen in this example about the latest gadgets review. This enhances user understanding and aids analytical tools in categorizing and analyzing the content effectively.

❌ DON’T: example.com/latest-gadgets-reviev

Here, a poorly structured URL without descriptive segments provides little context about the content. Analyzing such URLs becomes less straightforward, impacting both user comprehension and detailed segmented analysis.

Enhancing analysis through additional parameters in URLs

Going beyond the basics, adding extra details to your website URLs can be a game-changer for in-depth analysis. It's like adding extra tools to your analytical toolbox, helping you fill gaps and take your insights to the next level. Now, let's look at some straightforward examples in different scenarios:

Tracking User Search:

• example.com/search?query=keyword&type=web

Parameters like "?query=keyword&type=web" assist in tracking user searches for specific content types. Analyzing such parameters allows for insights into popular search queries and preferred content types, contributing to a more personalized user experience.

Selecting Product Parameters:

• example.com/product/laptop?brand=dell&specs=16GB_RAM

Parameters like "?query=keyword&type=web" assist in tracking user searches for specific content types. Analyzing such parameters allows for insights into popular search queries and preferred content types, contributing to a more personalized user experience.

Filtering Blog Posts:

• example.com/posts?category=tech&author=johndoe

In a blog setting, parameters like "?category=tech&author=johndoe" help track user interactions with specific content categories and authors. Analyzing these parameters contributes to understanding popular topics, authors, and tailoring content to audience interests.

User Engagement Metrics:

• example.com/product-details?leave-review=true

In this scenario, the parameter "?leave-review=true" signifies that the user has expressed intent to leave a review for the product. Analyzing this parameter provides valuable insights into user engagement with the review functionality, allowing businesses to encourage and facilitate the review process further. This data is instrumental in understanding user sentiments and improving the overall review collection experience.

Pagination Depth Tracking:

• example.com/articles?category=news&page=3

In content-heavy websites, tracking pagination depth with parameters like "?category=news&page=3" provides insights into how far users navigate through paginated content. This helps optimize content presentation and assess user interest in specific sections.

Event Tracking for Virtual Conferences:

• example.com/virtual-event/session?topic=ai&speaker=jane_doe

For virtual events, parameters like "?topic=ai&speaker=jane_doe" assist in tracking user engagement with specific sessions. Analyzing these parameters provides insights into popular topics and speakers, enhancing the planning of future virtual conferences.

Code matters

The cleanliness and organization of your website's code significantly impact the ease of analysis. Use proper HTML tags, CSS styles, and JavaScript functions to ensure a well-structured and readable codebase. This not only facilitates analysis but also makes your site more maintainable and scalable.

Semantics matters: remember to use correct HTML elements. When you want your user to interact with website, introduce links:

tag:<a/>

or buttons:

tag:<button/>

try to avoid generic elements like:

tag:<div/>

Even if you handle correctly interactions using java script, analytics tools may have problem with correct identification of the purpose of these elements

Using Proper IDs: Assigning proper IDs to elements on your webpage is essential for accurate tracking and analysis. For instance, assigning unique IDs to key elements such as navigation bars, forms, and call-to-action buttons enables precise monitoring of user interactions. Suppose you have a subscription form on your website. Assigning a unique ID to the form fields and submit button, such as:

<input id="subscription-form-email">

<input id="subscription-form-submit">

allows you to track user interactions accurately. You can analyze how many users are submitting the form, identify any drop-off points, and optimize the form for better conversions.

Overall Clean and Tidy Code Practices: Adopting good coding practices, such as indentation, commenting, and consistent naming conventions, contributes to code tidiness. A clean codebase is not only easier to analyze but also promotes collaboration among developers and ensures the long-term sustainability of your website.

In conclusion, building webpages with easy website analysis in mind is a fundamental aspect of a successful online presence. From optimizing URLs to maintaining clean and tidy code, every aspect contributes to a seamless analytical experience. For any further questions or assistance, feel free to contact our support team. Building a website for easy analysis is an investment in the success of your online venture, and we are here to help you every step of the way.