The structure and organization of a website’s URLs can have a significant impact on its technical SEO. In this blog post, we will discuss why URL structure is important for SEO, best practices for structuring URLs, and common mistakes to avoid.
One of the main reasons why URL structure is important for SEO is that it helps search engines understand the hierarchy and organization of a website’s content. When URLs are well-structured and organized, search engines can more easily crawl and index a website’s pages, which can lead to better visibility and higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).
One of the best practices for structuring URLs is to use a hierarchical structure, where the main sections of a website are represented by the top-level directory, and sub-sections are represented by sub-directories beneath it. For example, if a website has a section for products and a section for blog posts, the URL structure could be:
example.com/products/ example.com/blog/
Another best practice is to use descriptive and keyword-rich URLs. This means including the main keywords that describe the content of the page in the URL. For example, if a blog post is about “technical SEO,” the URL should include that phrase:
example.com/blog/technical-seo/
It is also important to use hyphens, not underscores, to separate words in URLs. Search engines consider hyphens as word separators, but consider underscores as a single word.
In addition to these best practices, it is important to avoid common mistakes when structuring URLs. One of the most common mistakes is using dynamic URLs, which contain a lot of numbers and special characters. These types of URLs are difficult for search engines to crawl and understand, and can lead to poor visibility and rankings in SERPs.
Another mistake to avoid is using too many levels in the URL structure. While it is important to have a hierarchical structure, having too many levels can make it difficult for search engines to crawl and index a website’s pages.
It’s also important to avoid using too many parameters in the URLs. Some parameters such as utm_source, utm_medium and utm_campaign are used for tracking purposes. These parameters can be useful, but if there are too many of them, they can make URLs difficult to read and understand, and can also create duplicate content issues.
In conclusion, URL structure is an important aspect of technical SEO. Well-structured and organized URLs can help search engines understand the hierarchy and organization of a website’s content, leading to better visibility and higher rankings in SERPs. By following best practices such as using a hierarchical structure, descriptive and keyword-rich URLs, and avoiding common mistakes such as dynamic URLs, website owners can improve their website’s technical SEO.
Another best practice for structuring URLs is to use consistent and logical patterns throughout the website. For example, if a website has a section for products and a section for blog posts, it should be consistent in the way it structures URLs for each type of content. For example, if the URL for a product page is example.com/products/product-name, all product pages should use a similar structure, such as example.com/products/another-product. This consistency makes it easier for search engines to understand the organization of the website and also makes it easier for users to navigate the site.
Another important factor to consider when structuring URLs is the use of canonical tags. Canonical tags are used to indicate to search engines which version of a page should be considered the “original” or “preferred” version. This is particularly important for websites that have similar or duplicate content, such as multiple versions of a page with different URL structures. By using canonical tags, website owners can ensure that search engines are only indexing the preferred version of a page, which can help to prevent duplicate content issues and improve SEO.
It is also important to consider the length of URLs. Short and concise URLs are generally considered to be better for SEO as they are easier to read and understand, both for search engines and users. Long and complex URLs can be difficult to read and understand, and can also create issues with indexing and crawling. A good rule of thumb is to keep URLs under 60 characters in length, if possible.
Another important aspect of URL structure is the use of redirects. Redirects are used to send users and search engines to a different URL than the one they requested. This is useful in situations where a website’s content has been moved or restructured, and can help to prevent 404 errors and maintain the value of any inbound links. However, it’s important to use redirects correctly and avoid creating too many redirects chain, as it can slow down the site and create confusion for the search engine.
In conclusion, URL structure is an important aspect of technical SEO. By following best practices such as using a hierarchical structure, descriptive and keyword-rich URLs, consistency, and avoiding common mistakes such as dynamic URLs, website owners can improve their website’s technical SEO and increase visibility in search engine results pages. Additionally, it’s important to consider the use of canonical tags, the length of URLs, and redirects. By paying attention to these details, website owners can ensure that their website’s URLs are structured in a way that is easy for both search engines and users to understand and navigate, which can ultimately lead to better visibility, higher rankings and increased traffic.
Another important aspect of URL structure is the use of subdomains. Subdomains are a way to organize and separate different sections of a website, and can be useful in certain situations. For example, a website may use a subdomain to separate a blog from the main website, with the blog being located at blog.example.com. However, it’s important to be mindful of how subdomains are used, as they can have a negative impact on SEO if not used correctly.
When using subdomains, it’s important to ensure that they are properly indexed by search engines. This means that the subdomains should be properly linked to the main website and should have their own sitemap. Additionally, any internal links within the subdomains should point to the subdomains and not the main website. This will ensure that search engines are able to crawl and index the subdomains correctly.
Another important aspect is to use the subdomain only when it is necessary. Subdomains should be used only when there is a clear and logical reason for separating the content, such as having a large number of pages or a specific topic that is not closely related to the main website. If a website uses subdomains without a clear reason, it can create confusion for both search engines and users, which can negatively impact SEO.
Additionally, it’s important to use consistent and logical patterns when structuring URLs within subdomains. This means that the URLs within a subdomain should follow the same structure as the URLs on the main website. This will make it easier for both search engines and users to understand the organization of the website and navigate it.
In conclusion, subdomains can be a useful tool for structuring a website’s URLs, but it’s important to use them correctly. By ensuring that subdomains are properly indexed, using them only when necessary, and using consistent and logical patterns within subdomains, website owners can ensure that their website’s URLs are structured in a way that is easy for both search engines and users to understand and navigate. Additionally, it’s important to be mindful of the impact that subdomains can have on SEO, and to take steps to ensure that they do not negatively impact the website’s visibility in search engine results pages.
