A beginner’s guide to SEO-friendly URL

Is it tough for you to get visitors to visit your website? Your SEO-friendly URLs not being optimized for search engines could be one explanation. There’s no need to be concerned.

Search engines favor websites with well-designed URL structures. If you want more people to visit your website and better search engine rankings, use keyword-rich, and SEO-friendly URLs.

This blog post explains the search engine optimization standards for URL construction.

So, for the sake of understanding the entire process, you must read this guide. It will help you comprehend various aspects of how to write SEO-friendly URLs to capture the attention of the audience. 

Follow the instructions mentioned here that search engines will adore. We must start this immediately.

What is SEO-friendly URL? 

Website owners optimize URLs to make them easily understood by search engines and users alike, thus making them acceptable. They often use relevant keywords to help search engines grasp the content of a page.

This can lead to higher search engine rankings and increased visibility for your website.

Examples:

•   https://www.example.com/best-seo-practices
•   https://www.example.com/seo-friendly-url-examples
•   https://www.example.com/how-to-create-seo-friendly-urls

URLs that are not SEO-friendly may contain random numbers or characters that don’t relate to the page’s content.

Examples:

• www.example.com/page.php?id=1234
• www.example.com/index.php?category=seo&page=1
• www.example.com/product.php?sku=12345&color=red&size=medium

Importance of SEO-friendly URL? 

There are various reasons for this.

1. This may help you rank higher in SERPs (search engine results pages).
2. Make sure that it is simple to remember and accurately reflects the needs of website visitors. So that it will direct them towards it. This must enhance search engine performance and the user experience.
3. It increases the click-through rate of links shared on social media and other websites. This ensures that the URL is clear, understandable, and concise.
4. If your website’s URL is simple and easy to remember, visitors will return to your site more often.

Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly URL  

Here are some tips for its creation: This will include relevant keywords and a concise format. Avoid special characters, use hyphens instead of spaces, and don’t use uppercase letters. This is the important aspect of on-page SEO elements.

• Create SEO-friendly URLs that correspond to your content. 

There are several steps you can take to make your URLs match your content and be SEO-friendly:

1. Write descriptively. Use keywords that accurately reflect the content of your page. Let’s say your webpage is about the top hiking trails in California. So, write it as: yourwebsite.com/best-hiking-trails-California
2. Keep it short: For better search engine results, use it shorter and avoid adding unnecessary information.
3. Use hyphens: Separate words in it with hyphens instead of underscores or spaces. This makes it easier for search engines to read your URL and understand what your page is about.
4. Avoid special characters: Stick to alphanumeric characters and hyphens in your URLs. Special characters can cause issues with crawling and indexing.
5. Use lowercase: Keep all lowercase characters in your URL to avoid confusion and ensure consistency.
6. Avoid keyword stuffing: While it’s important to include relevant keywords in it, avoid stuffing too many keywords. This can come across as spammy and negatively impact digital marketing.

By following the above hints, you can create a better title that accurately reflects your content and improves your marketing.

• Use hyphens to break up the words

Using hyphens is a good practice, as it helps search engines and users understand the content of the page. Here’s how to use hyphens to make it better:

Avoid using underscores or spaces. Instead, replace them with hyphens.

Examples:

1. Instead of “example_page.html”, you can use: “example-page.html”
2. Instead of “example page.html”, use “example-page.html”

Use lowercase letters

Example:

  Instead of “Example-Page.html”, use “example-page.html”

Keep it short and descriptive.

Example:

Instead of “www.example.com/health-benefits-of-eating-fruits-and-vegetables.html”, use “www.example.com/fruits-vegetables-health-benefits.html”

Use relevant keywords

Example:

Instead of “www.example.com/post123.html”, use “www.example.com/seo-friendly-urls-hyphens.html”

By following these steps and examples, you can create them using hyphens that are easy to read, understand, and remember.

• Use lowercase characters.

It’s best practice to use lowercase letters. Here’s how to do so.

1. If you haven’t already registered a domain name, choose one that uses only lowercase letters.
2. When linking to your own website or to others, use them in the URL.
3. Set up your CMS to convert uppercase letters to lowercase in it.
4. When separating words, use hyphens instead of underscores. For example, use “example.com/my-page” instead of “example.com/my_page”.
5. After creating the whole formation, take the time to test them to make sure they are all lowercase. You can use a free online tool like http://www.convertcase.net/ to convert any uppercase letters to lowercase.

By following these steps, you can ensure that they are all in lowercase and therefore more SEO-friendly.

• Maintain briefness in your structure. 

To keep it short and sweet, follow these steps:

• Include the main keywords that describe the content of the page. Use relevant keywords and phrases. 

Example: 

Bad: www.example.com/blog/1234/article-title

Good  :ww.example.com/blog/article-title

• Hyphens are the preferred way to separate words in them, as they are more readable and search engine friendly.

Example: 

Bad: www.example.com/blog/article_title

Good  :ww.example.com/blog/article-title

• Avoid using complicated structures or too many subdirectories in it. Keep them simple and easy to remember.

Example: 

Bad:  www.example.com/blog/category/subcategory/article-title

Good: www.example.com/article-title

• Always use lowercase letters in them to avoid confusion and make them more consistent.

Example: 

Bad : www.example.com/Blog/Article-Title

Good: www.example.com/blog/article-title

• Do not use common words such as (and, the, a, etc.) Search engines may ignore these words because they don’t add any value to them.

Example: 

Bad: www.example.com/blog/the-best-article-title

Good: www.example.com/blog/best-article-title

By following the above steps and examples, you can create them as short, sweet, and easy to remember.

• Ensure that your structure doesn’t contain dates. 

To avoid including dates in it, you can follow the steps below:

1. Use a descriptive and relevant slug there that describes the content of the page. For example, instead of using a date over there, use a descriptive phrase like “/best-tips-for-seo-friendly-content”.
2. Avoid using dynamic parameters in it. Dynamic parameters are variables that change based on the user’s interaction with the website. For example, instead of using a parameter like “?articleID=123”, use a descriptive phrase like: “/best-tips-for-seo-friendly-content”.
3. Use a consistent structure throughout your website. This makes it easier for search engines to crawl and understand your website. For example, use a structure like “/category/subcategory/page-title” instead of “/page-title-category-subcategory”.
4. Use canonical tags to tell search engines which internet domain is the preferred version of the page. This helps to avoid duplicate content issues. Use a canonical tag to guide search engines in indexing the correct version of the web page.

By following these steps, you can generate SEO-friendly uniform resource locators that don’t include dates. This can help improve your website’s search engine rankings and make it easier for users to find your content.

How do you know if your SEO-friendly URL page address has too many characters?

An SEO-friendly blog site should be concise and descriptive. Experts recommend keeping your digital presence under sixty characters, but there is no fixed rule. Here it is recommended to understand on-page SEO. Therefore, there are steps to determine if your page address has too many characters:

1. Count the characters in it, including any slashes (/). For example, the web page “https://www.example.com/blog/how-to-write-best-title”  has 52 characters.
2. Consider the readability and usability of the web page. A long and complex internet link can be difficult for users to remember and type. It is also less likely to be shared on social media or linked to other websites.
3. Verify if the search results truncate it. Typically, Google displays the first 60 characters of a web page address in search results. So, if your address exceeds this limit, it may get truncated; ultimately, reducing its impact is a good idea
4. Use keywords strategically. Including relevant keywords in your structure can help with search engine optimization, but don’t stuff too many keywords into it. This can look spammy and hurt your SEO.
5. Consider using it as a shortener for long formations. Services like Bitly and TinyURL can create short, easy-to-remember formations that redirect to your long structure.

It is advisable to maintain a concise and descriptive SEO-friendly web page, even though there is no set length requirement. Keep it short and user-friendly for easy readability and search engine optimization.

How do you verify SEO-friendly URL?

To check SEO-friendly URL, follow these steps:

1. Keep it short and descriptive: A good web page address should be easy to read and understand by both humans and search engines. Avoid using long forms that are difficult to read. For example, instead of using: “www.example.com/products?id=1234567,” use “www.example.com/products/blue-t-shirt.”
2. Use hyphens to separate words: Hyphens help search engines understand what your online application is about. Avoid using underscores or other characters to separate words, as they can cause confusion. For example, use “www.example.com/cats-and-dogs” instead of “www.example.com/cats_dogs”.
3. Include relevant keywords: Including relevant keywords in your online destination can help your page rank higher in search results. However, avoid keyword stuffing or using irrelevant keywords in your internet linked page. For example, use “www.example.com/best-pizza-in-town” instead of “www.example.com/pizza-hut-in-town”.
4. Avoid using stop words. Stop words are common words that search engines ignore, such as “a”, “an”, “the”, “and”, “or”, etc. Avoid using them in that, as they can make it longer and less descriptive. For example, use “www.example.com/healthy-diet-tips” instead of “www.example.com/a-guide-to-healthy-diet-tips”.
5. Use lowercase letters: Use lowercase letters in your web page address to avoid confusion and ensure consistency. For example, use “www.example.com/my-page” instead of “www.example.com/My-Page”.

By following the above best practices, you can create SEO-friendly formations that are easy to read, understand, and rank higher in search results.

What are some common mistakes when writing SEO-friendly URLs?

Some common mistakes when writing SEO-friendly URL include:

1. Using dynamic links instead of static ones: Dynamic links contain parameters such as question marks and equal signs, making them difficult for search engines to crawl. For example, a dynamic link may look like this: www.example.com/page.php?id=1234. A static link is simpler and easier for search engines to understand. A static page link may look like this: www.example.com/page-title.
2. Using vague or generic keywords: Links should accurately describe the content of the page and include targeted keywords. Using vague or generic keywords can make it difficult for search engines to understand the content of the page. For example, instead of using www.example.com/blog/post1, use www.example.com/blog/5-tips-for-healthy-life.
3. Using too many sub-folders: Links with too many sub-folders can create a hierarchy that is difficult for search engines to understand. For example, instead of using www.example.com/category/subcategory/subsubcategory/product, use www.example.com/product.
4. Using stop words: Stop words are common words such as “and,” “the,” and “of” that add little value to the hyperlink. Stop words can make hyperlinks longer and less readable. For example, instead of using www.example.com/the-best-product-for-your-needs, use www.example.com/best-product-needs.

Improve your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines. You can do this by using the correct internet address and avoiding common mistakes.

Conclusion for SEO-Friendly URL:

Hence, writing SEO-friendly URL is not rocket science, but it requires some attention to detail. By following the best practices outlined in this blog post, you can improve your website’s search engine ranking and attract more traffic. So, start optimizing your links today and watch your website soar to the top of the search engine results pages!