Build High-Ranking URLs: The User-Friendly SEO Guide

Every resource available on the Web - HTML document, image, video clip, program, etc. - has an address that may be encoded by a Universal Resource Locator

URL is like a road map that helps search engines like Google and Bing find and understand the pages on your website. Think of it as the address of your website's pages. Without a good URL, it's like having a house without an address - nobody can find it. 

Search engines, especially Google, pay close attention to them because they use them to figure out what your website is about and how relevant it is to people's searches. So, having good, easy-to-understand URLs is crucial for your website's visibility in search results.

An SEO-friendly URL is clear, descriptive, and easy to read for both users and search engines. It should give a hint about the content of the page it leads to. 

By creating SEO-friendly URLs, you're helping both users and search engines navigate your website more effectively, which can ultimately improve your search ranking and attract more visitors.

In this article, you will learn what's a good URL and how to build search engine URLs for your site. Before that, let's get to know what it is and how it is used.

What is a URL?

URL stands for Universal Resources Locator. It is the address to your website page(s). It is the address that helps both users and searches visit the pages of your site. 

An example is your domain name.  A domain name is the parent URL of your website, which directs a person to the home page.

Some sites also have subdirectory URLs that lead to different pages or content on the website. For example,  https://www.example.com/best-tips-for-seo is a content URL.

How it work

Think of a URL as the street address for your website's pages. Just like how you need an address to find a house or a building, a URL is what helps both users and search engines find and visit the pages of your website. It's the gateway that allows people to access the content you've created online.

When someone types a URL into their web browser or clicks on a link, they're essentially asking to be taken to a specific location on the internet, which is determined by the URL. Similarly, search engines like Google use URLs to navigate the vast expanse of the web and discover the content of your website.

Properties of a standard URL 

A typical URL consists of three key components: 

1. The protocol used to transfer the resource over the web.

2. The name of the machine hosting the resource.

3. The specific path or location of the resource itself.

Let's dig a little deeper into these URL properties.

Protocol 

A URL protocol is the foundation of a web address. It's the first part of a URL that specifies how the browser should access the resource.  E.g HTTP.

These protocols define the rules and format for communication between a web browser and a server.

HTTP enables browsers and servers to exchange information. However, due to growing security concerns, many websites are switching to a more secure version called HTTPS, which adds an extra layer of encryption to protect your data during the journey.

The name of the machine hosting the resources

The name of the machine hosting the resource in a URL is usually referred to as the hostname. It's essentially the internet address of the specific computer where the resource you're trying to access is located. 

From the URL above, mybusinessname.com is considered the hostname or the domain name.

In some cases, a URL might include a subdomain before the main domain name. For example, "mail.google.com" points to a specific group of machines dedicated to email services within Google's infrastructure.

Note: the www before the domain name is optional in the URL. Due to technical advancements and standardization, most websites no longer rely on multiple subdomains like "www". Both www and non-www versions usually point to the same website.

Location of the resources

The location of resources refers to the specific place where files are stored or accessed. It is often referred to as a path. 

In the context of a URL like https://example.com/index.html, the path is index.html, which indicates the specific file containing the content. This path helps locate and retrieve the desired resource within a file system or web server.

How to Build a URL that search engines and users love

1. Choose HTTPS over HTTP

When selecting a URL protocol, it's advisable to opt for HTTPS instead of HTTP. HTTPS is the contemporary standard and offers enhanced security features. 

Visitors accessing a URL served with HTTP may encounter a browser warning stating "This site is not secure," potentially leading them to perceive the site as unsafe.

By utilizing HTTPS, you can mitigate such trust concerns among visitors and ensure a more secure browsing experience.

Search engines like Google also recommend that site owners serve the HTTPS protocols.

2. Use lowercase all through.

Lowercase letters are recommended to be used in URLs and considered better practice due to the following reasons: 

A. Consistency: Lowercase URLs maintain consistency across different platforms and operating systems. URLs are case-sensitive in some systems, so using lowercase letters helps ensure that the URL works consistently regardless of the platform or server configuration.

B. Readability: Lowercase URLs are easier to read and remember for users. They appear cleaner and more visually appealing, making them more user-friendly.

C. Compatibility: Some servers and web frameworks treat uppercase and lowercase characters differently in URLs. Using lowercase letters helps ensure compatibility and avoids potential issues with case-sensitive systems.

D. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): While search engines generally treat uppercase and lowercase letters in URLs as the same, using lowercase letters can still be beneficial for SEO. It can help avoid duplicate content issues and ensure consistency in link building and sharing.

3. Using Descriptive URLs

Descriptive URLs, which are like signposts in search results, help people understand what they'll find when they click on a link. Google learns from the words in the URL, but you can make it even clearer by using specific words that tell users what the page is about, instead of just random numbers or letters. For example:

- Good URL: https://www.example.com/pets/cats.html

- Not so helpful URL: https://www.example.com/2/6772756D707920636174

4. Prefer Hyphen over underscore.

It's generally preferred to use hyphens instead of underscores in file names and URLs for several reasons:

Readability: Hyphens are more visually distinct and easier to read, especially in situations where file names might be displayed without spaces (such as in a URL).

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Search engines like Google treat hyphens as word separators, which can improve the visibility of individual words in a file name or URL. Underscores, on the other hand, are not recognized as word separators by search engines.

Consistency: Hyphens are more commonly used as word separators in web-related contexts, so using them consistently can make file names and URLs more consistent with industry standards.

5. Make it short

Keep your URLs concise and relevant. Shorter URLs are easier to read, remember, and share. Search engines also prefer shorter URLs, as they are more likely to display the entire URL in search results. Aim for URLs that accurately describe the content while avoiding unnecessary words or characters. This enhances usability and SEO effectiveness.

How to write URLs for different website/blog content 

Creating effective URLs for various website content is essential for optimizing your online presence. Just like street addresses, URLs guide users to specific web pages. This guide will walk you through the process of crafting descriptive, user-friendly URLs tailored to different types of website content, enhancing accessibility and search engine visibility.

1. E-commerce Sites: It's generally recommended not to include product prices in URLs because prices can change frequently, and URLs are intended to be permanent. Having outdated prices in URLs can confuse users and negatively impact search engine optimization efforts.

2. Blog Tutorials or How-To Content: Including dates like the year in URLs for blog content can make the content appear outdated once that year has passed. Users and search engines might perceive outdated content negatively if the date is prominently displayed in the URL.

3. News Articles: News articles are typically time-sensitive, so including dates and other relevant information in the URL can help users and search engines understand the timeliness and relevance of the content. It provides context and helps users identify recent news articles.

4. Dynamic vs. Static URLs: Depending on your website's content management system (CMS) and how your URLs are generated, you might encounter dynamic or static URLs. Dynamic URLs often contain parameters and session IDs, making them longer and less descriptive. In contrast, static URLs are more readable, containing keywords that accurately describe the content. Whenever possible, aim for static URLs as they are preferred for SEO and user experience.

It's important to note that many content management systems (CMS) automatically generate URLs based on the default title of the content. In some cases, this default URL may include dates or prices from the title, which can make the URL longer and less user-friendly.

For instance, platforms like Blogger automatically create URLs from the post title. However, if you prefer to have a cleaner and more concise URL without dates or prices, most CMS platforms allow you to manually edit or write a new URL for your content.

By customizing the URL, you can optimize it for search engines and make it more user-friendly for your audience. This ensures that your URLs accurately reflect the content of your posts and are easier to share and remember.

Major FAQS

A domain name is part of the URL, but it doesn't include the full path to the specific resource.

Both are generally accepted, but consistency is important.

Aim for conciseness while still conveying meaning, preferably under 60 characters.

Keep them descriptive, relevant, and concise, using keywords strategically.

No, it's usually optional and both versions often point to the same website.

A domain name is part of the URL, but it doesn't include the full path to the specific resource.

Both are generally accepted, but consistency is important.

Aim for conciseness while still conveying meaning, preferably under 60 characters.

HTTPS adds an extra layer of encryption for secure communication.