URLs are the way to determine website address, and URL structure helps Google, Bing, and Yahoo to rank your page in the search results. Hence, structure URLs by including optimal keywords and best practices as it would be great if you can fulfill the preliminary requirements for SEO. However, quality content and best SEO are much ahead of having right keywords in the website address.

Let’s make an effort to adopt the following best practices so as to help Google in ranking your site:

Optimize the use of Single and Sub-Domain

The use of more than one or say, sub-domain is not effective according to the results. The search engine will consider that you have multiple websites which will divide the concentration of search engine and would not be able to evaluate the importance of your single primary domain. For example, www.readingbooks.com/contact will redirect to the same page for contact and website whereas, contact.readingbooks.com is not the right way to approach as it will put the concerning contact on the entirely different domain.

Keywords in the Midst of URL are Helpful

If you’re planning to place the keywords within the URL, then give it a go. Using keywords for targeting your Google ranking is certainly a good idea. In addition to it, keywords within the link will tell the readers what they are going to get inside before clicking on to it, with just hovering the mouse. Needless to mention, appealing and compelling keywords will always help increase your traffic.

Concise the URL Instead of Making it Longer

Whether it is about engaging humans or search engines, shorter URLs are better in every way. Well, there is no mandatory rule to re-design your URLs but next time whenever you are going through the process, try to make it short. It will not be wrong to say that highly dense URLs can get search engine ranking as well, but a precise URL is right in every way.

URL should be Readable by Humans

User readability comes as no surprise that URL should be readable by humans to make it easier for search engines. Did you know? Search engines leverage advanced user and usage data signals to identify what is actually engaging for people and what is not. Hence, every segment of the URL should be clean and crisp for the readers to understand the insights of that website page. Any complicated website address at first glance will hardly get any clicks.

Stop Words does not Add Value to URL

It is you who would decide to include the stop words within the URL or not. For say, excluding stop words such as, of, but, and from the URL will help to make it short as well as optimize the complete address with relevant keywords. Thus, remove those words that don’t add any value to URL.

Match URL and Title of the Page

Accomplishing the matching title and URL is the way to show a mindful and intelligent approach towards human as well as search engine. A visible headline on the page and match the URL to it is like fulfilling the expectation of readers who makes an attempt to click on it.

Always remember! How a user perceives to understand and receives from your website combines and contributes to the overall ranking of your site.

Reduce the number of Folders for your Website

Can you imagine to open a URL which looks like

www.readingbooks.com/home/Personaldetails/contactus/australiacontact? The link will create an issue during opening and repercussions in the long run. It is entirely okay if you have structured your website that way and but technical problems are to be validated, lately. The fewer slashes you create for your Website, the better will be its functioning.

Read Also: Top 10 Search Engine Ranking Factors that you Must Know

Understand the Issue of Case Sensitivity

Case sensitivity might land with some difficulties in your brain. So, here I go with a straightforward and crisp explanation.

Different servers will respond in a variety of ways. For example, Microsoft server will not create an issue with the uppercase and lowercase text on URL while Linux or UNIX recognize uppercase and lowercase URLs differently. Rendering the solution as use lowercase wherever you get stuck while URL creation.

URL is the Primary Concern for All Search Engines

Google, Yahoo! Bing and every other search engine have some particular while they visit any new website. One of the primary factors is to understand the URL. If the URL is not structured properly, then it hardly any chance for the search engine to take you ahead.

Multiple URLs should be Canonicalized

Believe me; its meaning is far easier than the word itself. If you have multiple URLs that offer the same content than canonicalize them. Implement this by either using a 301 redirect or use “rel=canonical” if you wish to keep different versions from the visitor’s point of view. Duplicate or copied content can harm your potential of ranking on search engine and resultantly, generate a little traffic for your website.

The Bottom Line

Summarizing the list into 10 points is a way to notify a major concerning point. Also, SEO practices keep on changing, so you will have to get adaptable and react according to the latest updates. However, this checklist is the right pathway to optimize your URL structure.