What is SEO friendly URLs?
Creating SEO-friendly URLs is an important aspect of optimizing your web pages for search engines. Here are some tips on how to write SEO-friendly URLs:
How do I choose a SEO URL?
### 1. **Use Descriptive Keywords:**
- Include relevant keywords in your URL that accurately describe the content of the page.
- Choose words that users might type into a search engine when looking for information.
### 2. **Keep it Short and Simple:**
- Aim for short and concise URLs. Ideally, keep them under 60 characters.
- Short URLs are easier to read and remember, and search engines may prefer them.
### 3. **Avoid Special Characters:**
- Use hyphens (-) to separate words instead of underscores (_) or other special characters.
- Search engines interpret hyphens as space, improving the readability of your URLs.
### 4. **Use Lowercase Letters:**
- Keep all letters in your URL lowercase.
- Uniformity in lowercase helps avoid confusion, as URLs are case-sensitive.
### 5. **Include Targeted Keywords:**
- If possible, include your target keyword in the URL.
- However, don't overstuff your URL with keywords, as it may look spammy.
### 6. **Eliminate Stop Words:**
- Remove unnecessary stop words (such as "and," "or," "but," "the") from your URL.
- Focus on including only essential words for clarity.
### 7. **Create a Logical Structure:**
- Ensure that your URL reflects the logical structure of your website.
- Use subdirectories to organize content hierarchically.
### 8. **Avoid Session IDs or Query Parameters:**
- Keep URLs clean by avoiding unnecessary session IDs or query parameters.
- Use a simple and readable structure.
### 9. **Static over Dynamic URLs:**
- Use static URLs rather than dynamic ones with parameters.
- Static URLs are more user-friendly and can be better understood by search engines.
### 10. **Canonicalization:**
- Choose a preferred version of your URL (www or non-www) and set up canonicalization.
- This helps prevent duplicate content issues.
### 11. **Be Consistent:**
- Maintain consistency in URL structure across your website.
- Consistency makes it easier for both users and search engines to navigate.
### 12. **Include Relevant Folder Names:**
- Use descriptive folder names that reflect the content hierarchy.
- This helps users and search engines understand the organization of your site.
### 13. **Avoid URL Parameters for Duplicate Content:**
- If possible, avoid using URL parameters for variations of the same content.
- Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version.
### 14. **Readable and User-Friendly:**
- Craft URLs that are readable and user-friendly.
- Users should be able to understand the content of the page by looking at the URL.
### 15. **Test and Check:**
- Test your URLs to ensure they are working correctly.
- Use online tools to check for URL errors and potential issues.
### Example of SEO-Friendly URL:
- **Not SEO-Friendly:** `https://example.com/index.php?id=123`
- **SEO-Friendly:** `https://example.com/best-practices-for-seo`
Remember that SEO-friendly URLs are just one part of a comprehensive SEO strategy. Combined with high-quality content and other on-page and off-page SEO techniques, they contribute to better search engine visibility and user experience.