A clean, keyword-rich URL that is easy for users and search engines to understand.
Hey there! Have you ever looked at a messy web address and just clicked away? I know I have. Today, I am going to share a simple, powerful trick to make your web addresses clear, trustworthy, and great for SEO. Get ready for actionable tips that will immediately improve your click-through rates and search visibility.
What is SEO-Friendly URL?
So, What is SEO-Friendly URL? It is a web address that is easy for both humans and search engines to understand. I make sure it is short, relevant, and includes my main target keyword clearly. I eliminate unnecessary numbers, symbols, or confusing codes from the address.
A good URL acts as a mini-description of the page’s content, boosting user trust before they even click. Search engines also use the words in the URL as a slight ranking signal. Therefore, a clean URL structure is foundational to my entire SEO strategy.
Impact on CMS Platforms
Each CMS handles URLs differently, so my approach to making them SEO-friendly changes slightly.
WordPress
WordPress is excellent because I can easily adjust the permalink structure to be clean and keyword-based. I set the permalink to “Post Name” and then manually edit each URL (or slug) to be concise. I ensure I strip out stop words like “and” or “the” to keep it short.
Shopify
For Shopify, I focus on the product and collection slugs, which are often automatically generated. I make sure I edit these slugs to contain the main product name and target keyword. I work within the platform’s limits on category structure to create the cleanest path possible.
Wix
When working with Wix, I make sure to check and edit the “SEO friendly URL” setting for every single page. I confirm that the page names are not too long and that they contain the page’s main topic. The focus here is simple clarity and keyword inclusion.
Webflow
Webflow gives me great control over the URL slug for both static and Collection pages (CMS items). I ensure my URL structure is hierarchical, using folders to organize related content logically. This clean, semantic structure makes my site easier for search engines to crawl.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, I enforce strict rules at the development level to automatically generate SEO-friendly slugs from the page title. I ensure the system automatically separates words with hyphens and removes all special characters. This technical consistency is key for a large, custom site.
Application Across Industries
No matter the industry, a clear URL structure always benefits the user and the search engine.
Ecommerce
In ecommerce, a clear URL structure helps users navigate categories and products. I use short, descriptive URLs like /shoes/running-shoes/nike-air instead of long strings of product IDs. This organization helps shoppers and search bots understand the product catalog.
Local Businesses
For local businesses, I make sure the URLs for service pages include the service and the location, like /plumbing/charlotte-nc. This instantly signals local relevance to the user and the search engine. Clarity and local keywords are the priority here.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS URLs are often used for documentation and feature pages, so I make them highly descriptive. I use clean URLs like /features/api-integration-guide for easy sharing and navigation. A logical path helps users find the support they need quickly.
Blogs
For my blogs, I ensure the URL is a concise version of the post’s main keyword or topic. I trim long titles down to three or four essential words in the URL slug. This makes the article title and the URL work together to be highly descriptive in the SERPs.
FAQ
1. Should I use hyphens or underscores in my SEO-Friendly URL?
I always use hyphens, not underscores. Google clearly stated a long time ago that it treats hyphens as word separators. Underscores tend to be interpreted as connecting words together, which hurts readability and keyword separation.
2. Does the URL need to match my page title exactly?
No, it should not match exactly. I make the URL a concise, keyword-focused version of the title. For example, if the title is “The Ultimate Guide to Making Great Coffee at Home,” the URL should be short, like /ultimate-guide-great-coffee.
3. What is the ideal length for an SEO-Friendly URL?
I aim for a URL to be under 60 characters and no more than three or four folder levels deep. Shorter URLs are easier to share, remember, and they look cleaner in the search results. I eliminate any words that do not add SEO or descriptive value.
4. If I change an old URL, what should I do next?
The very next step is to immediately implement a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one. This tells search engines that the move is permanent and preserves any ranking authority the old page had. Never change a URL without adding a 301 redirect.
5. Should I include numbers or dates in my blog post URLs?
I recommend avoiding dates unless the content is strictly tied to a specific year, like an “Annual Report 2024.” I keep the URL evergreen so I can update the content later without having to change the URL, which is much better for long-term SEO.
