The word breadcrumbs was inspired by the fairy tale little thumb. In that fairy tale, the little boy always sprinkled pebbles when he went out so that he would always find his way back. Once, when the pebbles ran out, he used pieces of bread as an emergency. On a WordPress website, the same thing actually happens: as a visitor, so to speak, you keep leaving bits of bread on the website. By following the pieces again, you will know exactly how to get back to your website’s homepage.
What are breadcrumbs?
Perhaps you have never heard of breadcrumbs, but chances are you’ve seen it pass by in the search engines. Breadcrumbs is a type of navigation on WordPress websites that allows a website visitor can easily navigate between different pages. They are often displayed at the top of the screen, and they indicate where you you are currently within the WordPress website.
Why use breadcrumbs on your website?
There are three main reasons where it important to use breadcrumbs on your WordPress website:
1. Internal navigation.
Breadcrumbs allow you to WordPress website is user-friendly for your visitors. Visitors can namely, much easier navigation on your WordPress website through breadcrumbs. They can see exactly where on your WordPress website they are at the moment and how they are looking have come.
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Breadcrumbs are good for your search engine optimization. Breadcrumbs actually allow Google to see that your WordPress website is more user-friendly. Google really appreciates this and will also rate your website better as a result. Breadcrumbs are also displayed in the Google search results and that makes your WordPress website stand out among all the other website links. That makes you look professional. In addition, breadcrumbs create internal links on your website, which again is beneficial for SEO.
For the necessity of your SEO, check out our service WordPress SEO.
3. Bouncerate
Breadcrumbs give your WordPress website structure. Visitors often like that and the result is that visitors stay longer on your website and visit multiple pages. So that will also lower the bounce rate, the percentage of visitors who visit your website and leave immediately. A nice side note is that in the long run, Google will reward that with an increase in the rankings of your WordPress website.
How do you get breadcrumbs in WordPress?
You have several options for adding breadcrumbs to your website. The easiest one to apply yourself is by downloading a plugin. In the plugin you can specify how you want your breadcrumbs.
WordPress plugins for breadcrumbs
Our WordPress specialists have picked out several plugins, which we recommend, for your WordPress website. You can see for yourself which plugin works best for you. This time we have chosen two and will start with the most famous.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is een plugin van WordPress die het mogelijk maakt om heel eenvoudig breadcrumbs aan je WordPress website toe te voegen. Yoast SEO zorgt er niet alleen voor dat je breadcrumbs worden getoond op je WordPress website, maar het voegt ook een snippet toe waardoor Google je zoekresultaten voorziet van een kruimelpad.
Benieuwd wat een snippet is? Bekijk hier onze blog over featured snippet.
Om de breadcrumbs toe te voegen via Yoast SEO ga je in de plugin naar ‘interne links’. Je kan zelfs helemaal bepalen hoe het kruimelpad eruit komt te zien op jouw WordPress website.
Breadcrumbs NavXT
Ook de plugin Breadcrumbs NavXT maakt het mogelijk om breadcrumbs in te stellen op jouw WordPress website. Na de installatie van deze plugin zijn de instellingen te vinden onder ‘Instellingen > Breadcrumb NavXT’.
Wanneer jouw WordPress thema de plugin ondersteunt, zal het direct zichtbaar zijn op je website. Als dit niet geval is dan moet je een speciale code toevoegen aan je thema. Deze code is gemakkelijk te vinden op verschillende websites via Google.
Let Google index
After activating and setting up the breadcrumb plugins, Google does need some time to index the breadcrumbs. So you’re not going to see immediate results, but you don’t have to worry about that. In the short term, you will find your set breadcrumbs in the search results!
Need help? Get in touch!
Are you not succeeding with the breadcrumbs setup or do you have questions about your WordPress SEO? Just get in touch with our WordPress specialists. They can help you with all WordPress related questions. You can reach us by starting a live chat or call us at 030 20 72 488.
