URL structure is important for SEO because it provides important information to both search engines and users about the content and organization of a website. A clear and concise URL structure can help search engines better understand the hierarchy and topical relevance of the pages on a site, which can in turn improve their rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). Additionally, a well-structured URL can make it easier for users to navigate a website and find the information they’re looking for.
Here are some examples of good and bad URL structures:
Good URL structure:
https://www.example.com/category/subcategory/product-name
This URL structure is easy to understand and provides clear information about the hierarchy and topical relevance of the page. The URL includes the domain name, followed by a category and subcategory, and then the specific product name. This structure is not only easy to read and understand for humans, but it also gives search engines important context about the page’s content and organization.
Bad URL structure:
https://www.example.com/index.php?id=12345&product=67890
This URL structure is not ideal for SEO or user experience. It includes dynamic parameters, such as “id” and “product”, which don’t provide any meaningful information about the content of the page. This type of URL can also be difficult for search engines to understand and may result in a lower ranking in SERPs.
When the URL structure contains too many parameters or extraneous characters, it can also make a search spiders job more difficult in indexing and spidering your entire website. This can contribute to reduced rankings in search.
In summary, a well-structured URL can have a positive impact on a website’s SEO by providing clear information to search engines and users about the content and organization of the site. A clear, concise, and descriptive URL structure is usually the best choice for both SEO and user experience.