Getting the Most Out of Your URL Structure
Getting your URL structure right is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your website gets the best traffic possible. If your URL structure is not optimized for search engines, you are making it hard for potential visitors to find you. It is also a bad idea to have URLs that are too long. Shorter URLs are much better. If you need to, you can use Canonical tags to get the most benefit from your URL structure.
Subdomains vs subdirectories
Using subdomains and subdirectories in URL structure is a long-standing debate. Some argue that using subdirectories for SEO is the way to go. Others say that splitting content and links between sites is a bad idea. You must weigh the pros and cons of each option, and you should be strategic about which one to use.
For example, if you have an ecommerce site, subdirectories are useful for storing content such as product reviews, comparisons, and other content that does not belong to your main website. However, using subdirectories can be difficult, and you might need to buy extra subscriptions or tools to maintain them. Similarly, if your main website is a blog, you will probably want to use a subfolder to host blog content.
One of the benefits of using subdirectories is that they allow search engines to attribute your content to one source. This can be especially useful if your website has many different topics under one primary domain. Using subdirectories can also help to give your URLs a clear hierarchy. This makes it easier for users to understand what they are clicking on.
While subdomains are more popular than subdirectories, both work equally well for SEO. Using subdomains is a good idea if you have a content-rich website, and if you have large entities that you would like to make distinct. However, if your site is a small business with minimal content, subdirectories are probably not the best way to go.
For example, if you have a website that provides quotes for clients, you may want to use a subdirectory to store your quotes. Using a subfolder is also a good idea if you have overlapping content between your website’s sections. This can make it easier to track metrics and move things around.
Regardless of which URL structure you use, it’s always a good idea to keep abreast of the latest SEO practices. In particular, you should remember to use keywords in your URLs. This can help boost your rankings.
As always, your choice of architecture is up to you, but you should consider the benefits and the drawbacks of both options before making a decision.
Canonical tags
Adding canonical tags is an important part of a search engine optimization campaign. These tags tell the search engines what version of a page to index, which helps improve search rankings. These tags can also help reduce duplicate content, which dilutes link equity.
A canonical tag is a simple HTML tag that lets search engines know which version of a page to index. It can be added by placing a rel=canonical tag in the head of a page. If you are not sure how to create a canonical tag, consult Google’s canonical guide.
The main difference between canonical tags and canonical URLs is that canonical tags are usually added within a section of a page. However, the canonical tag can refer to another page’s URL. If the canonical tag is used incorrectly, the search engine may choose a version of the page that is not representative of the content. This can cause confusion for the search engine’s bot.
A canonical URL is usually specified as the preferred version of a page. It can refer to a page on a different domain, such as LinkedIn or Medium. It can also reference the main page of another website. It is used to increase the organic traffic to the page.
There are two different types of canonical tags: self-referential and non-referential. Self-referential canonical tags help Google understand your preferences. Non-referential canonicals are a bit more tricky, because they may point to an external website. The easiest way to remove a canonical URL is to delete the URL.
In general, it is better to use lower case for canonical URLs, as Google may treat upper case and lower case URLs differently. You should also make sure that your canonical tag matches the URL of your page. This helps prevent duplication issues, and maintains consistency across your website.
Google is not explicitly required to index canonical tags, but the search engine does recommend using them. If you have a website that has been around for a long time, a canonical tag is a great way to maintain your search ranking.
Shorter URLs are better than longer
Using a short URL can actually increase your click rate. A short URL is easier to read and remember. A shorter URL is also better for SEO.
The best and most practical short URL is one that is catchy and simple to remember. This is an especially important consideration since a shorter URL will be easier for users to access and share.
Another good reason to use a short URL is that it is easier to track your links. Most URL shorteners include link analytics in their packages. These include click through rates, audience demographics, and even tracing access history.
Using a short URL is also a good way to avoid a 301 redirect. This is important because a long URL will make it harder for search engines to crawl. In addition, a long URL will make it difficult for users to navigate. If a user is unable to find your URL, they may try to use a different browser or search engine to find it.
It is also important to use safe characters in your URLs. This will ensure that it works for both browsers and search engines. It is also important to make use of UTM parameters so that you can track your links’ performance. These include tracking traffic source, volume, and quality of clicks.
While the length of a URL plays a small part in your search rankings, it is definitely not the best SEO decision you can make. A short URL may not be feasible for all businesses, but it can improve your marketing and customer experience. Shorter URLs also prove to be more useful on a print or screen. A short URL can also be useful for sending plain text emails. This is especially important for marketers who may be sending out content to a large audience.
A short URL should be a part of your marketing strategy. It may be more expensive to purchase a short domain name, but it may be worth it. You can also use a short URL in your print ads to drive traffic to your site.
Dynamic vs static URLs
Whether you are a website owner or a search engine optimizer, you have probably heard about the difference between dynamic vs static URLs. There are many different ways to choose the best option for your website.
The most effective way to organize dynamic URLs is to use faceted navigation. It does not change the URL, but it organizes the page structure to make it easy for users to find and understand.
It is also important to ensure that your URLs are short. A lengthy URL could hurt your search engine visibility. A short URL is also easier for search engine bots to crawl. In fact, search engines prefer static URLs over dynamic ones.
Search engines are also concerned with whether the content in your URLs is accurate. Google recommends keeping your URLs short and concise. They also recommend removing any unnecessary parameters.
In addition, Google also recommends that you avoid rewriting your dynamic URLs. This may seem like a straightforward step, but it can cause problems for search engine bots. If the URL is rewritten incorrectly, it can lead to a variety of problems. These issues include duplicate content and indexing problems.
The best way to avoid these issues is to implement best practices for faceted navigation. A faceted navigation system does not change the URL, but it organizes it to make it easy for users to find and click on specific pages.
The main advantage of static URLs over dynamic URLs is that they are easier for users to understand. Static URLs are indexed faster and are easy to implement with popular CMSs. They also follow a specific directory structure, which makes it easy for search engine spiders to crawl.
While these are the main advantages of static URLs over dynamic URLs, it is important to keep in mind that both URLs are valid. Dynamic URLs can be used on ecommerce sites or forums, but they do not offer the same advantages as rewritten URLs.
While dynamic URLs may be useful for certain types of sites, they should be avoided for SEO purposes. They limit your ability to strategically add keywords into URLs.