Admissions open Take the eligibility test & see if you can join the next batch. Take the test →

Decoding the Jargon

Pillar and cluster pages

Also called topic clusters, hub and spoke, pillar page

SEOTerm

A way of organising content: one broad pillar page gives an overview of a topic and links to several cluster pages, each covering a subtopic in depth, which link back to the pillar.

Example

Meera's pillar page 'Guide to handloom fabrics' links to cluster pages on khadi, ikat, Chanderi and fabric care. Each cluster page links back to the pillar.

How you'll hear it

“Map the clusters first, then write; otherwise we end up with ten posts that overlap.”

Don't confuse it with

Category page: an e-commerce listing of products. A pillar is usually an informational overview, though a category page can play that role.

Want to use this at work? AI-led SEO Excellence is aFactor's 16-week program for SEO work.

Sources

Topic clusters, Semrush

Checked 1 October 2026. Examples use a fictional business; figures are illustrative.

Send this to someone

Knowing the words is the start. Using them well is the job.

The role-fit test shows how your judgment lines up with the role you hold or the one you want next.

Take the role-fit test →