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Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is human-readable text that was designed to replace the numbers (IP addresses) that computers use to communicate with servers. URLs also identify the file structure on a given website. Learn more |
Please read the following content on URLs:
● https://moz.com/blog/15-seo-best-practices-for-structuring-urls
● https://moz.com/learn/seo/url
● https://searchenginewatch.com/2016/10/24/seo-best-practice-guide-for-urls/ (highly recommended)
What is a URL?
A URL is human-readable text that was designed to replace the numbers (IP addresses) that computers use to communicate with servers. URLs also identify the file structure on a given website.
6 Tips to Write URLs for SEO
Use the most important keyword in the URL while ensuring the URL makes sense and is easy for the reader to understand.
Avoid using a location, unless it is within a folder.
Here is an example:
The only symbol that can be used in a URL is a hyphen, which represents a space, so use it when you need to space a word.
Do no use underscores, dots, or any other punctuation.
Only use lowercase. Never capitalize letters.
Try to end your URL with a forward slash (/), as it looks cleaner.
Rankings
URLs are a minor ranking factor search engines use when determining a particular page or a resource's relevance to a search query. While a URL gives weight to the authority of the overall domain, keyword use in a URL can act as a ranking factor.
Using a URL that includes keywords can improve your site's search visibility, URLs generally do not have a major impact on a page’s ability to rank. So, while it’s worth thinking about, don’t create URLs simply to include a keyword in them.
URL Checklist
Keep URLs as simple, relevant, compelling, and accurate as possible — this is the key to getting users and search engines to understand them (a prerequisite to ranking well).
Although URLs can include ID numbers and codes, the best practice is to use words that people understand.
URLs should be definitive but concise. By seeing only the URL, a user (and search engine) should have a good idea of what to expect on the page.
For readability, use hyphens to separate words. URLs should not use underscores, spaces, or any other characters to separate words.
Use lowercase letters.
Avoid the use of URL parameters, if possible, as they can create issues with tracking and duplicate content. If parameters need to be used (UTM codes), use them sparingly.
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