Community Help – SEO & Internal Linking Strategy
This document defines the SEO and internal linking standards for BUSATX Community Help content. Its purpose is to improve discoverability, search relevance, and user flow without adding navigation clutter or menu items.
This strategy is designed to mirror how Odoo’s own help system performs in search while guiding users toward deeper expertise when appropriate.
1. Core SEO Philosophy
Community Help is search-first, not browse-first.
This means:
- Users arrive via search (internal or external)
- Articles must stand alone
- Discovery happens through relevance, not menus
SEO success is measured by:
- Article impressions
- Search-driven entry points
- Time on page
- Related-article engagement
2. URL & Slug Standards
2.1 URL Structure
All Community Help articles should follow this pattern:
/forum/community-help/{category}/{descriptive-slug}
Examples:
- /forum/community-help/accounting/understanding-analytic-accounts
- /forum/community-help/projects/project-stages-workflows
2.2 Slug Rules
- Use plain language
- Avoid acronyms unless widely known
- No internal terms or IDs
- Hyphenated, lowercase
3. Title Optimization Rules
3.1 Title Format
Titles should clearly state what the article explains.
Preferred patterns:
- Understanding … in Odoo
- How … Works in Odoo
- … Best Practices
- Common … Pitfalls
Examples:
- Understanding Analytic Accounts in Odoo
- Common CRM Pipeline Pitfalls
3.2 What to Avoid
- Marketing language
- Promises or guarantees
- Overly generic titles
4. Header Usage (H1–H3)
- One H1 per article (title)
- Use H2 for main sections
- Use H3 only when necessary
Headers should mirror how users phrase search queries.
5. Keyword Strategy (Lightweight, Intent-Based)
5.1 Primary Keywords
Each article should naturally support one primary topic.
5.2 Secondary Keywords
Secondary terms should appear naturally:
- timesheets
- analytic accounts
- projects
- sales orders
Avoid keyword stuffing.
6. Internal Linking Rules (Critical)
Internal linking is the primary discovery mechanism after search.
6.1 When to Link
Add internal links when:
- A concept is referenced but not explained in detail
- A limitation is discussed
- A related workflow exists
6.2 How to Link
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Link only where contextually relevant
- Avoid excessive linking
7. Approved Cross-Linking Map
Recommended high-value link paths:
- CRM → Sales Orders → Projects
- Projects → Timesheets → Job Costing
- Estimating → Projects → Accounting
- Custom Development → Performance → Security
8. Category & Tag Usage
8.1 Categories
Categories are used for search filtering and related article suggestions. They are not navigation elements.
8.2 Tags
Tags should be:
- Descriptive
- Limited (3–6 per article)
- Consistent across articles
Examples:
- odoo
- job-costing
- projects
- estimating
9. Content Freshness & Updates
- Review articles after major Odoo releases
- Update terminology as modules evolve
- Archive or revise outdated guidance
10. Measuring Success
Key indicators:
- Search impressions and clicks
- Top entry articles
- Internal link click-through
- Requests for advanced support after reading
11. Guardrails
SEO optimization must never:
- Add header or dropdown menus
- Introduce marketing language
- Expose internal systems or IP
If an SEO change risks navigation clutter, it is rejected.
End of Community Help – SEO & Internal Linking Strategy
<p>Related: <a href="/forum/community-help-3/community-help-154">Community Help</a>, <a href="/forum/community-help-3/community-help-publishing-contribution-rules-155">Community Help – Publishing & Contribution Rules</a>.</p>