Basic Guide on URL Structure for SEO

The web addresses that help users to navigate the internet are URLs, also known as Uniform Resource Locators. They play an important role in search engine optimization (SEO) and overall user experience, especially when it comes to finding web pages. In this article, we will look at URL structure for SEO, the importance of URLs, as well as best practices for developing URLs which are attractive to search engines. As a bonus, in order to illustrate those concepts, we will also refer to some well known websites.

URLs are online addresses that allow us to access a vast amount of information on the Internet.

They are the strings of characters we type into our browsers, click on in search results, or share with others to access web pages. URLs are useful tools for both users and search engines, although they may appear to be easy methods of reference.

It’s important to know about the following when understanding URL structures:

• Anatomy of a URL
• The Role of URL Structure in SEO
• URL Best Practices for User Experience

Anatomy of a URL

When learning the importance of URL structures, you should know the components of a typical URL. Here’s the breakdown of each URL’s components:

https://www.yourdomain.com:8080/subdirectory/seo-friendly-named-url | | | | | (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

1. Scheme (HTTP/HTTPS)
2. Subdomain
3. Domain
4. Port
5. Path

Scheme (HTTP/HTTPS)

Scheme is the protocol that defines how data is transmitted over the internet. "http://" or "https://" are common schemes.

Subdomain

An optional part of the domain that typically indicates a specific section or service of a website. In this case, "www" is a subdomain.

Domain

A domain is the primary address of the website. In this example, it's "yourdomain.com."

Port

An optional element that specifies the port number to use when establishing a connection. In this case, it's ":8080."

Path

The path points to a specific resource on the server. It helps identify the web page or content. In this example, it's "/subdirectory/seo-friendly-named-url".

The Role of URL Structure in SEO

The URLs provide one of a number of signals used by search engines to obtain the content and context of web pages. A well structured URL is likely to provide valuable information for search engines and improve their chances of ranking higher in the results. A few are the more important aspects of URL structure that impact SEO include:

• Relevance
• Keywords
• Readability

Relevance

The URL should reflect the content of the page. It helps users and search engines understand what to expect when they click on the link.

Keywords

Including relevant keywords in the URL can boost SEO. Search engines may give preference to URLs that contain keywords related to the topic.

Readability

A clear and readable URL is user-friendly and helps with SEO. Hyphens or underscores can be used to separate words, making the URL easier to comprehend.

URL Best Practices for User Experience

Although URLs are a key element of search engine optimization, they are equally just as important when it comes to user experience. You can make your website easier to navigate and understand by providing a well structured URL. Here are some quick best practices for user-friendly URLs:

• Keep them concise and descriptive.

• Use words, not random strings of characters.

• Use hyphens (-) to separate words

• Avoid special characters and symbols.

• Ensure consistency in URL structure across your website.

Now that we understand the importance of URL structures, let's explore the best practices for creating SEO-friendly URLs. Here are the areas that we’ll touch on:

• URL Length
• Use of Keywords
• Avoidance of Special Characters
• Hyphens vs. Underscores
• Static vs. Dynamic URLs

URL Length

In terms of search engine optimization and user experience, shorter URLs are usually better. They're more easily remembered, shared and displayed in search results. In order to describe the contents of a page accurately, focus on concise and relevant URLs. If you do not want your URLs to be too long or complicated, it can cause confusion for users and search engines.

An example of this is with Verpex and their URLs to each of their blog author profiles. For example, for Nile Flores, the URL is https://verpex.com/blog/author/nileflores. You can clearly see a nice short domain name, and a very concise path that tells you what you may end up seeing on the webpage.

Use of Keywords

Implementing relevant keywords into your URL can greatly improve SEO. Search engines may use the keywords in the URL to determine the page's topic and relevance to a search query. However, don't overdo it, or overstuff your URL with keywords, as it should remain clear and readable.

A good example of this is Wikipedia. Their URLs often include the keyword in their URLs, like their page for Search Engine Optimization - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization.

Avoidance of Special Characters

Special characters, such as ampersands (&), question marks (?), or percent signs (%), can complicate URLs and create issues for search engines and users. In some cases, the URL may not work as expected, and return an error. It's best to avoid them whenever possible. Instead, use hyphens to separate words and maintain clarity.

A good example of this is something like how Verpex uses hyphens only and keeps their URL path to their Shared Hosting concise - https://verpex.com/shared-web-hosting.

Hyphens vs. Underscores

When you need to separate words in a URL, you should use hyphens (-) rather than underscores (_) as it improves readability and SEO. Search engines treat hyphens as word separators, while underscores are considered part of a word.

Static vs. Dynamic URLs

Static URLs, have clear and fixed URL paths, and are often preferred for SEO because they are more user-friendly and predictable. Dynamic URLs, on the other hand, include parameters and may change based on user inputs or database queries. While dynamic URLs can work well when properly structured, static URLs are generally easier to optimize and rank in search results.

A great example of a site that uses static URLs is Youtube, especially on video pages. This video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN0sMGeIbv8 on Youtube that Verpex talks about hosting multiple websites on a server, is a perfect example of a static URL.

To better understand URL structures in practice, let's examine examples from some well-known websites:

• Google
• Amazon
• Wikipedia
• Facebook

Google

URL Example: https://www.google.com/search?q=seo tips

Google uses a super concise and minimalistic URL structure for its search results. The URL includes the domain "google.com," a clear path ("/search"), and parameters (e.g., "q=seo+tips") for the search query.

Amazon

URL Example: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers/zgbs

Amazon's URL structure is to the point and descriptive. It includes the domain "amazon.com" and a clear path ("/Best-Sellers/zgbs") indicating the "Best Sellers" category.

Wikipedia

URL Example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URL

Wikipedia's URLs are super informative, as they contain the domain "wikipedia.org" and a path that includes the language ("en" for English) and the topic ("URL").

Facebook

URL Example: https://www.facebook.com/business

Facebook uses clean and user-friendly URLs for its pages, such as "/business" in this case. The domain "facebook.com" is followed by a short, descriptive path.

Optimizing URL structures for SEO and user experience can be achieved by using various tools and strategies:

• SEO Tools
• URL Shorteners
• URL Structure Checklist

SEO Tools

• Google Search Console
• Yoast SEO WordPress plugin

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool that provides insights into how Googlebot views your website's URLs and helps identify potential issues.

Yoast SEO WordPress plugin

If your website is on WordPress, Yoast SEO offers URL optimization features and guidance.

URL Shorteners

URL shorteners, such as Bitly and TinyURL, can be helpful for creating concise and shareable URLs, especially for social media or email campaigns. Please note when you use their url shortener services, that you read the user terms on any platform you’re sharing the link to, as some may not permit shortening URLs.

URL Structure Checklist

Use the following checklist to ensure your URL structures are SEO-friendly and user-oriented:

• Is the URL concise and descriptive?
• Does it include relevant keywords?
• Are special characters avoided?
• Are hyphens used to separate words?
• Is the URL static when possible?
• Is it easy to read and understand?

URL structures for SEO are far from just Web addresses; they represent essential elements of the search engine optimization and user experience. A URL structure that is well structured can improve the visibility of your web pages in search results and help users to navigate more easily.

By following best practices, such as using relevant keywords, keeping URLs concise, and avoiding special characters, you can create SEO-friendly URLs that contribute to the success of your website. Remember that optimizing URL structures is just one aspect of SEO, but it's an essential one that shouldn't be overlooked on your journey to improving your website's performance and user satisfaction.