As an SEO expert, you may know the importance of URL optimization for search ranking. URL optimization is the best tactics one must follow to get higher ranking in search engine. URL provides an information signal to the search engine about the page content.
Yes, it is one of the important factors for SEO ranking but that doesn’t mean the search engine will not rank if you don’t have optimized URL.
URL are the building blocks of a site hierarchy. Here are top SEO tips for URL optimization that will boost your search ranking.
1.Use keywords in URL :
Everybody wanted our content to discovered by the audience. Isn’t?
In that case, it is important for us to optimize our content to rank higher in search results. Add your keywords in URL. For example, if you are writing the content for pediatrics care. We can spell pediatrics in two way such as Paediatrics and pediatrics.
In this case, you should search for monthly search in google AdWords and based on the monthly search you can take a decision.
2. Structure your URL :
Organizing your URL is better for both good user experience and to boost SEO strength. URL hierarchy should be properly maintained throughout the website.
According to Matt cutts, It is important to keep keyword as close as possible in URL, r exactly the same as, what you use in the title of the page. This help search engine to find relevancy and rank your content higher in search engine.
3. Keep your site trustworthy:
It is important to keep your site in https to keep your data secured between the browser and a web server. Visitors will not get convert if your website is not secured.
The reason why your website should be https :
• To boost SEO ranking
• Secure data
• Increase conversion
• To enhance your online reputation
4. URL must be readable :
Keywords in the URL always should represent the topic on the page to increase the relevancy and boost your SEO. It should be in a readable format. It is advised to use the static URL then the dynamic URL.
Static URL :
example.com/forums/challenges-faced-in-seo
Dynamic URL :
example.com/forums/thread.php?threadid=324
Why you should use the Static URL :
- Dynamic URL leads to lesser click-through rate in search results, emails
- Static URL is keyword optimized which increase your keyword relevancy and boost your SEO ranking
- Easier to copy and paste the URL
5. Use hyphens in URL :
Google treat hyphen as a word separator. So you should use the hyphen in URL to separate your URL. Using hyphens in URL will have ranking benefits.
6. No capital letter in URL :
Linux server is case sensitive. If your website is hosted in Linux server then example.com/contact is different from example.com/Contact. You will face so many errors if your website in Linux server transferred to the windows server. Windows server is case insensitivity which means two different URL lands to the same page that results in content duplication which will affect your ranking.
To avoid this problem it is advised to use small letter always in URL.
7. 301 redirects:
When you want to change URL which is indexed by the search engine, you can use 301 redirects from old URL to new URL instead of removing the old URL which has a higher opportunity to rank higher.
8. Canonical URL :
For dynamic website, single-page have two URL which leads to duplicate content issue. To solve this issue, it is important to use the canonical tag for the page.
As search engine consider www, HTTP, non-www and https website as a separate website. You should use the canonical tag for the preferred domain to avoid this issue.
For example :
You should use the canonical tag for two pages :
http://example.com/page?session=1
http://example.com/page
9. Block unsafe URL using robots.txt :
If wrong URL or unoptimized URL got indexed by the search engine you can block those URL using robots.txt.
10. Create XML sitemap:
Submit all URL to search engine through the sitemap. Submit your URL in search console. Make sure to use mobile URL to the sitemap
11. Short URL :
According to backlinko long URL may hurt search result. It is advised to use a short URL to rank it higher.
12. Avoid safe words:
Using safe words like a, an, or, but in URL is not going to do any favours for you instead URL length may get increase which will give you negative impact for your SEO.
13. Avoid keyword repetition:
Keyword repetition in URL makes your URL look spammy. It is suggested not to repeat your keywords in URL.
URL optimization process is tricky and important which leads to a positive impact on SEO. Make use of the above URL optimization technique to rank higher.
Do you have any other strategy? Comment below.