Best practices for optimizing URL structure:
- Use simple, descriptive URLs:
Shorter URLs are easier to read and share. Aim for clarity and simplicity
while ensuring it still describes the content accurately. - Use hyphens (-) to separate words:
When it comes to URL structure, using underscores as word separators is
not recommended because search engines may not interpret them
correctly and may consider them to be a part of a word. Using hyphens
instead of underscores makes it easier for search engines to understand
what your page is about. - Include keywords:
Make sure your URL includes the main keyword or phrase that reflects the
page’s content. This helps search engines understand what the page is
about. - Avoid special characters and stop words:
Avoid using special characters like & , % , # , = , or ? , as they can cause
issues with indexing and user experience. Stop words like "and", "the", "a",
or "of" can often be removed to keep the URL shorter without losing
meaning. - Keep URLs lowercase and localized on latin alphabet:
Use lowercase letters to avoid issues with case sensitivity. URLs with
uppercase letters can lead to duplicate content issues because they may be
treated as different URLs. Ensure that your URL is written in the local
language on latin alphabet . This makes it more relevant for users in that
region and helps with keyword targeting in local searches. - Using numbers in URLs:
Using numbers in URLs can be beneficial, especially for list-based or stepbased content. It adds clarity, helps with SEO, and often makes the URL
more appealing to users.
Good option to use number in URL:
- List-based content: If your page includes a list, tips, or a step-by-step
guide, using numbers can be both descriptive and appealing for users.
(e.g. https://www.tevacanada.com/en/canada/life-effects/4-selfcare-
tips-for-caregivers/) - Dates: For news articles, event-based pages, or content that’s updated
regularly, including the year or date can help the page stay relevant and fresh. - Product or category numbers: If your website has a product or
category system with unique identifiers, you can use numbers as part
of the URL structure.
- List-based content: If your page includes a list, tips, or a step-by-step
Best to avoid number in URL:
-
- Lack of Context: The number 12345 doesn't provide any information
about the content of the blog post. Users and search engines can't
easily understand what the page is about. - Image: Descriptive image URLs can help with SEO. Search engines can
better understand the content of the image if the URL includes relevant keywords. - Content Updates: If the content of a page changes frequently, using
numbers can be problematic. For instance, if you use dates in your
URLs, you might need to update the URL every time the content is
updated, which can lead to broken links and a poor user experience.
- Lack of Context: The number 12345 doesn't provide any information