There’s no denying that URLs are an important part of SEO. Not only do they help your website rank in search engines, but they also provide potential customers with information about the content of your page. That’s why it’s important to create SEO-friendly URLs that are both user and search engine friendly.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to create SEO-friendly URLs that will help improve your website’s ranking and visibility. So, let’s get started!
How To Create SEO-Friendly URLs?
One of the most important aspects of on-page SEO is creating URLs that are both user and search engine friendly. So, how do you create an SEO-friendly URL? Below are 9 tips:
1. Use Keywords
The first and most important tip is to use keywords in your URLs. By including relevant keywords, you can not only make your URL more search engine friendly but also help users better understand what the page is about.
And don’t forget to include your primary keyword in the URL of your homepage – this is often overlooked but can be extremely effective.
2. Keep It Short & Simple
When it comes to URLs, shorter is almost always better. Long and complex URLs are not only more difficult for users to remember, but they’re also more likely to contain errors. Not to mention, they’re much less likely to be shared.
Plus, you can also use URL shorteners like bit.ly to further shorten your URL while still retaining the keywords.
3. Remove Numbers & Special Characters
Numbers and special characters have no place in SEO-friendly URLs. Not only do they make the URL more difficult to read and remember, but they can also lead to errors.
Therefore, it’s best to remove them entirely. If you must use numbers or special characters, spell them out instead (e.g., “two” instead of “2”).
4. Use Hyphens to Separate Words
To make your URLs more readable and search engine friendly, it’s best to use hyphens (-) to separate words. This practice is known as the “kebab case.”
Not only does it improve readability, but it also makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content.
5. Avoid Duplicate URLs
Duplicate content is a major no-no in the world of SEO. Therefore, you should avoid having duplicate URLs on your website at all costs.
If you do have duplicate content, be sure to use canonical tags to tell search engines which version of the URL is the original.
6. Use Lowercase Letters
For the sake of consistency (and ease of use), it’s best to use lowercase letters in your URLs. Not only is this practice more user-friendly, but it can also help you avoid any potential errors.
In other words, using lowercase letters in your URLs is a win-win for both users and search engines.
7. Avoid Dynamic URLs
Dynamic URLs (i.e., URLs that contain parameters) are often more difficult for users to understand and remember. They can also be more difficult for search engines to crawl and index.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid them whenever possible. If you must use a dynamic URL, be sure to use keyword-rich parameters.
8. Use SSL Certificate
If you’re not using an SSL certificate on your website, now is the time to make the switch. Google has stated that they’re moving towards a more secure web by giving preference to websites that use HTTPS.
In other words, using an SSL certificate can help you not only rank higher in search results but also improve your website’s security.
9. Implement Redirects
If you change the URL of a page on your website, it’s important to implement redirects. Redirects tell users (and search engines) that the page has moved to a new location.
Without redirects, users would simply see a 404 error page when trying to access the old URL. Not only would this frustrate users, but it would also hurt your SEO efforts.
Implementing these 9 tips will help you create SEO-friendly URLs that are both user and search engine friendly. By following these best practices, you can improve your website’s ranking in search results and drive more traffic to your site.
Why Are SEO-Friendly URLs Important?
SEO-friendly URLs are not only important for search engine optimization, but they are also important for the user experience. A good URL is easy to read and understand, and it tells the user what the page is about.
Bad URLs, on the other hand, are long, confusing, and full of strange characters. They make it difficult for both users and search engines to understand what the page is about.
In addition, bad URLs can hurt your site’s ranking in search results. Search engines use the URL to understand the content of a page, and a bad URL can make it harder for them to do so.
Finally, good URLs are an important part of branding. They help users remember your site and can make it easier for them to share your content with others.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article, I believe you’ll have a better understanding of how to make your URLs more SEO-friendly. Remember, the tips in this article are just a starting point. There’s a lot more to SEO than just optimizing your URLs. But if you can get your URLs right, you’ll be well on your way to higher rankings and more traffic.
