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2 min read AI SEO

Website Architecture for AI SEO

Your site structure matters more than ever. Properly organized service, sub-service, and location pages ensure AI overviews can find and cite relevant content. Use wireframes, internal links, and spreadsheets to scale cleanly.

TL;DR

  • Structure impacts AI engine visibility—content must be easy to find and cite.
  • Use service, sub-service, and location pages to create hierarchical structure.
  • Internal linking connects content and prevents orphan pages.
  • Planning via wireframes and spreadsheets scales structure cleanly and consistently.

Why Structure Still Shapes SEO Performance

AI answer engines favor well-organized information. If your service and location pages are scattered—or hidden without links—AI won’t find them as sources, lowering your chance of being cited.

Step 1: Define Page Types

Use a hierarchical system:

Page Type Role
Service Page Covers broad offerings (e.g. “Plumbing Services”)
Sub-Service Breaks down specifics (e.g. “Drain Cleaning,” “Leak Fix”)
Location Page Targets specific areas (e.g. “Toronto Plumbing Services”)

This structure creates clarity, helps with internal linking, and supports AI visibility.

Step 2: Design via Wireframes and Spreadsheets

  • Plan page types and relationships using visual wireframes.
  • Use a spreadsheet to track:
    • Page type
    • Target keyword
    • URL
    • Internal link sources
    • Content status (drafted, published, optimized)

This model helps track and scale content creation across niches and regions.

Step 3: Internal Linking Best Practices

  • Link sub-services to main services and vice versa.
  • Send link equity from high-authority pages to deeper content.
  • Avoid orphan pages—every page must be linked from at least one other.
  • Use anchor text rich in keyword intent, but don’t over-optimize.

Step 4: Scaling Structure for Growth

  • For local businesses: duplicate the service/sub-service model across locations using templates.
  • For e-commerce or multi-service models: create category or product grouping pages that mirror the service → sub-service pattern.
  • Keep URL structure clear and shallow—e.g. /services/plumbing/pipe-leak-repair or /locations/toronto/plumber

Best Practices at a Glance

  • Use three-tier structure: service → sub-service → location
  • Use wireframes + spreadsheets for planning
  • Ensure internal linking ties everything together
  • Avoid orphan pages and unnecessarily deep URLs
  • Keep architecture scalable and transparent

FAQs

Why does AI SEO depend on site structure?
AI engines use structure and internal links to discover and contextualize content. Well-organized sites increase your citation chances.

What qualifies as an orphan page?
A page without inbound links from within your site. AI engines struggle to find and cite such pages.

Should location pages be separate from sub-service pages?
Yes. Service pages offer general offerings, sub-services go deeper, and location pages combine both context and intent.

How often should I audit site structure?
At least twice per year or whenever launching new services or expanding locations.