Optimizing your website URLs is a crucial aspect of SEO. When you examine the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) for any given keyword, you’ll notice that well-structured, relevant URLs tend to rank higher. Here are some practical tips I’ve been using over the past 9 years to optimize URLs and enhance SEO:

1. Keep the URL Short and to the Point

A concise URL is easier for users to read and remember, and it also performs better in search engines. Shorter URLs are more likely to be fully displayed in SERPs, making them more clickable. Aim to keep your URLs under 60 characters if possible.

Example:

• Instead of: www.example.com/category/subcategory/article-title
• Use: www.example.com/article-title

2. Optimize with Targeted Keywords

Including your main keyword in the URL can improve your page’s relevance for that term. However, avoid keyword stuffing; make sure the URL is still readable and natural.

Example:

• Instead of: www.example.com/page12345
• Use: www.example.com/seo-tips

3. Use Subdirectories in URLs

Organizing your content into subdirectories helps both users and search engines understand the structure of your website. It also allows you to benefit from link equity distribution.

Example Structure:

• For the main category page: site.com/pet-food
• For specific pages:
  • Dog food: site.com/pet-food/dog
  • Cat food: site.com/pet-food/cat
  • Bird food: site.com/pet-food/bird
  • Rabbit food: site.com/pet-food/rabbit

Why This Strategy? When you build backlinks to your main category page (e.g., site.com/pet-food) or any of the specific pages, the link juice flows through to the other related pages within the subdirectory. This can improve the overall SEO performance of all pages within that section.

4. Don’t Use Years in URLs

Including years in URLs can make your content appear outdated quickly, even if it’s still relevant. It also means you’ll need to change the URL every year, which can lead to broken links and lost traffic.

Example:

• Instead of: www.example.com/seo-tips-2023
• Use: www.example.com/seo-tips

5. Don’t Change URLs Frequently; Use Proper Redirects if Necessary

Frequent changes to URLs can confuse both search engines and users. If you must change a URL, always set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one to preserve link equity and ensure users land on the correct page.

Example:

• If changing from: www.example.com/old-page
  Redirect to: www.example.com/new-page

6. Update Internal Links When URLs Change

When you change a page URL, update all internal links pointing to that page. This ensures that users and search engines can still find the page easily, and it helps to maintain a clean, logical link structure.

Steps to Take:

• Use a site crawler or SEO tool to find all instances of the old URL.
• Update each instance with the new URL.

Conclusion

There are many aspects to consider when optimizing URLs for SEO, but keeping it simple and natural is key. By following these guidelines, you can make sure your URLs are SEO-friendly and enhance the overall user experience. Remember, SEO should be enjoyable and straightforward, not overly complicated.

Happy optimizing!