Category
Structure
12 posts in this seam.
Content audits start with what you can count
You don't need a spreadsheet with forty columns. Start by counting what's actually there, then decide what matters.
Tag taxonomy before you tag a single post
Your CMS will let you create tags on the fly. That doesn't mean you should.
Default sort order is an editorial decision
How you order lists, tables, and archives shapes what users think matters. Set defaults deliberately, not by accident.
Footer links are last-resort navigation
If people need your footer to find something critical, your main navigation already failed. Treat footers as cleanup, not strategy.
Content chunks that actually chunk
Breaking content into sections isn't just visual spacing—it's a structural decision that determines whether your page can be scanned, understood, and used.
Navigation labels are interface copy, not branding
Your navigation isn't a place to be clever. It's wayfinding infrastructure that fails the moment someone has to guess what a link does.
Content templates aren't forms to fill in
Templates should guide decisions, not replace them. Here's how to build content templates that actually improve consistency without flattening everything into Mad Libs.
Breadcrumbs that actually tell users where they are
Most breadcrumb trails break at the worst moment—when users need orientation. Here's how to build navigation that survives real content sprawl.
Taxonomy before taxonomy: name your buckets once
Most sites drown in overlapping categories because no one sat down first. Define your buckets before you file a single page.
URL structure you can maintain for ten years
Good URL patterns survive redesigns and organizational changes. Plan them with durability, not cleverness.
One H1 per page is not a rule
The single-H1 myth survives because it used to matter and now it's just cargo cult. Current HTML and search care about hierarchy, not counting.
Information architecture before voice
Personality is paint. IA is the load-bearing walls. Paint the walls after they stand.