URL optimization for SEO refers to the process of enhancing the structure and syntax of website or webpage addresses to make them more user-friendly and search engine-friendly. This optimization has the potential to improve a website’s visibility in organic search results, which may in turn increase traffic and potential conversions.
According to experts like Neil Patel (1) and Moz (2), URL optimization can play a significant role in achieving better SEO results. Optimized URLs are easy to understand, contain relevant keywords, and accurately represent the content on a page.
There are various ways to optimize a URL for SEO:
1. Use Keywords: URLs should contain relevant keywords that succinctly tell users and search engines what the page’s content is about. However, it’s important to avoid keyword stuffing as this can lead to a negative user experience and could potentially harm your site’s SEO ranking (2).
Example: www.example.com/dog-food-reviews1. Keep It Short and Simple: Shorter URLs are generally preferable. Research from Backlinko suggests that shorter URLs tend to rank higher on Google’s first page (3).
Example: www.example.com/cat-toys instead of www.example.com/01/02/2021/cat-toys-for-your-pet-in-winter1. Use Hyphens to Separate Words: Hyphens are considered the best way to separate words in a URL. Avoid using spaces, underscores, or any other characters to separate words (2).
Example: www.example.com/small-dog-beds1. Use Lowercase Letters: URLs are case-sensitive on most servers. To avoid any confusion or broken links, it’s a good practice to use lowercase letters (4).
Example: www.example.com/cat-litter instead of www.example.com/Cat-Litter1. Avoid URL Parameters: These can confuse search engines. Instead, use a simple and clean URL structure (1).
Example: www.example.com/dog-leashes instead of www.example.com/product=12341. Use HTTPS: Google has stated that HTTPS is a ranking factor. This means if your website accepts sensitive information like credit card details, it’s considered best practice to use HTTPS for better SEO ranking (5).
To sum it up, URL optimization for SEO means making URLs user-friendly and search-engine-friendly by keeping them simple, short, and keyword-rich, using hyphens to separate words, using lowercase letters, avoiding URL parameters, and using secure protocols like HTTPS. This process is encouraged amongst digital marketers and website owners to maximize their online visibility.
Sources:
1. Patel, Neil. “URL Structure & SEO”. NeilPatel.com
2. “URL”, Moz, www.moz.com/learn/seo/url
3. Dean, Brian. “We Analyzed 1 Million Google Search Results. Here’s What We Learned About SEO”, Backlinko, www.backlinko.com/search-engine-ranking
4. Enge, Eric. “The Ultimate Guide for an SEO-Friendly URL Structure”, Search Engine Journal, www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-friendly-url-structure-2/202790
5. Google Webmaster Central Blog. “Here’s to more HTTPS on the web!”, Google, www.webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html
