URL structure is an essential aspect of search engine optimization (SEO) because it provides a clear hierarchy for website content, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages.
An optimized URL structure can improve your website’s visibility, click-through rate, and overall ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
In this article, we will discuss the best URL structure for SEO and the factors to consider when creating URLs for your website.
What is a URL?
First, let’s define what a URL is. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a web address that specifies the location of a webpage on the internet. For example, “https://www.example.com/blog/article-title” is a URL that directs users to a blog post titled “article-title” on the website “www.example.com”.
Key Elements of the Best URL Structure
For both consumers and search engines, a well-structured URL should be succinct, descriptive, and simple to read. Additionally, it ought to take into account the page’s content and structure within the website. The following components make up an efficient URL structure:
Use evocative and appropriate keywords
Search engines can better comprehend the purpose of your page and rank it for pertinent search terms by using relevant keywords in your URL..
For example, if your page is about “best SEO practices,” your URL could be “https://www.example.com/best-seo-practices”. However, avoid stuffing too many keywords in your URL, as this can be seen as spammy by search engines and harm your ranking.
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Keep it short and simple
Shorter URLs tend to perform better than longer ones because they are easier to read and remember.
Additionally, shorter URLs can be more shareable on social media platforms, which can increase traffic to your site. Aim to keep your URL under 60 characters if possible.
Use hyphens to separate words
It can be simpler for search engines to read and comprehend your URL if you use hyphens to separate words. Spaces and underscores should not be used as they can be confusing and lead to mistakes.
Use a hierarchical structure
A hierarchical structure helps to organize your website content and make it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages. For example, a product page URL could be structured as follows: “https://www.example.com/category/subcategory/product-name”
Avoid using numbers or special characters
Numbers and special characters in URLs can be difficult to read and remember, which can harm your click-through rate. Additionally, they can be seen as spammy by search engines and harm your ranking.
Structures & Impacts on SEO
Now that we’ve covered the key elements of an optimized URL structure, let’s look at some examples of different URL structures and their impact on SEO.
Subdomain vs. subdirectory
A subdomain is a separate section of a website that can be accessed through a unique URL. For example, blog.example.com is a subdomain of the website www.example.com.
A subdirectory, on the other hand, is a folder within the main domain that contains related content. For example, www.example.com/blog is a subdirectory that contains all the blog posts on the website.
Both subdomains and subdirectories can be effective for organizing content and improving SEO.
However, using a subdirectory is generally considered to be better for SEO because it keeps all the content under one domain, which can help to consolidate link equity and improve the website’s overall authority.
Dynamic vs. static URLs
A dynamic URL is a URL that includes parameters or variables, such as page IDs, session IDs, or user IDs. These parameters can change depending on the user’s input, making the URL dynamic. For example, https://www.example.com/products?id=123 is a dynamic URL because the ID parameter can change depending on the product being viewed.
Static URLs, on the other hand, do not include parameters and remain the same regardless of user input. For example, https://www.example.com/products/product-name is a static URL that remains the same regardless of the product being viewed.
While both dynamic and static URLs can be effective for SEO, static URLs are generally preferred because they are more user-friendly and easier for search engines to crawl and index.
Additionally, static URLs can include relevant keywords and provide a clear hierarchy of the website’s content.
Parameterized URLs
A parameterized URL is a type of dynamic URL that includes parameters in the form of query strings. For example, https://www.example.com/search?q=seo is a parameterized URL that displays search results for the query “SEO.”
Parameterized URLs can be effective for certain types of websites, such as e-commerce sites or search engines.
However, they can also be difficult for search engines to crawl and index, and can lead to duplicate content issues if not handled correctly.
URL length
The length of a URL can also impact SEO. Shorter URLs tend to perform better because they are easier to read and remember, and can be more shareable on social media platforms.
Ideally, a URL should be no longer than 60 characters. However, if necessary, it can be longer, as long as it remains descriptive and relevant to the content of the page.
URL structure for multilingual sites
If your website is available in multiple languages, it’s important to use a URL structure that reflects this. One option is to use subdomains or subdirectories for each language, such as www.example.com/en/ for English and www.example.com/es/ for Spanish.
Another option is to use a single domain with language-specific parameters in the URL, such as www.example.com/?lang=en for English and www.example.com/?lang=es for Spanish.
However, this can be more difficult for search engines to crawl and index, and may not be as user-friendly.
In conclusion, the best URL structure for SEO is one that is descriptive, relevant, and easy to read for both users and search engines. It should reflect the content of the page and its position in the site hierarchy, and avoid using numbers or special characters.
Additionally, using a subdirectory for content organization, using static URLs, and keeping the URL length under 60 characters are all recommended for optimal SEO.
By following these guidelines, you can improve your website’s visibility, click-through rate, and overall ranking on search engine results pages.
