Complete Guide: The Importance Of SEO-Friendly URLs In Web Design

When it comes to web design, usability, responsiveness, and aesthetics are considered quintessential elements that make it brilliant. Nonetheless, one important factor that must not be disregarded is the organization and legibility of URLs.

In addition to being essential for search engine optimization (SEO), user-friendly URLs significantly improve the user experience as well. An SEO-friendly URL structure not only enhances the user experience but also plays a significant role in improving a website's search engine rankings.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of SEO-friendly URLs in web designing and some useful insights on how to create them effectively.

What Are SEO-Friendly URLs?

SEO-friendly URLs are web addresses that are structured in a way that is easy for both search engines and web surfers to understand because there are relevant short-tail or long-tail keywords that define the topic or niche of the webpage. The SEO-friendly URLs are concise and free of unnecessary parameters and symbols.

They should be clear, and descriptive, and indicate the content of the page, making it easier for search engines to index and rank the page accordingly. Ergo, SEO-Friendly URLs matter so much to the website owners that they spend quite a fortune to make it look and feel relevant.

So, what does it exactly do?

Improved Search Engine Rankings

Search engines such as Google use URLs as one of the many factors in determining a page's relevance to a given search query.

SEO-friendly URLs of webpages that include relevant keywords and meta-tags help search engines and bots understand the content of a page. And, this leads to better indexing and higher rankings.

For example, a URL like “https://www.AMCPR.com/web-design-tips” has more potential to rank well in SERPs as compared to a generic URL like “https://AMCPR/page1?id=1234”.

Enhanced User Experience

SEO-friendly URLs are not only beneficial for search engines but also for their visitors. Clear and descriptive URLs give users a good idea of what to expect on a page, which can increase click-through rates (CTR) and reduce bounce rates.

Readers or users tend to spend more time and attention on web pages that have readable, concise and understandable URLs. When users see a URL like this, they immediately know what the page is about, leading to a better overall user experience.

Easy Sharing And Linking

It is recommended that URLs be short, clear, crisp and descriptive. This type of URL is more likely to get shared and linked to by other websites and social media platforms.

Concise yet descriptive URLs drive more traffic to your main site and improve your website's authority and credibility. A URL with no complex parameters is easier to remember and share than a complex one filled with numbers and symbols.

Better Click-Through Rates (CTR)

A well-crafted URL can improve your website's click-through rates from search engine results pages (SERPs). When users see a URL that matches their search query, they are more likely to click on it.

For instance, if someone is searching for tips on improving web design, they are more likely to click on “https://www.AMCPR.com/web-design-tips” rather than “https://www.AMCPR.com/articlepost/12!345”.

How Can You Create SEO-Friendly URLs?

If you are updating the URLs on an already-existing website, you should begin with a comprehensive URL assessment. Create a detailed optimization strategy and make changes gradually. This methodical approach will reduce the possible effects on SEO.

Use Relevant Keywords

Including relevant keywords in your URLs helps search engines understand the content of your page. However, it's important not to overdo it. The keywords should be natural and relevant to the content of the page. For example, if your page is about SEO strategies, a good URL might be “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/seo-strategies”.

Keep URLs Short And Descriptive

Shorter URLs are generally better for both search engines and users. They are easier to read, remember, and share. Ergo, aim to keep your webpage URLs under 60 characters if possible.

For instance, “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/benefits-of-seo” is more effective than “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/understanding-the-numerous-benefits-of-search-engine-optimization”.

Avoid Unnecessary Parameters

Dynamic URLs with long strings of parameters can be confusing and unattractive. Whenever possible, use static URLs that are clean and easy to understand.

For example, instead of “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/index.php?id=12345”, use https://www.EXAMPLE.com/product-features”.

Use Hyphens To Separate Words

When creating URLs, use hyphens (-) to separate words rather than underscores (_). Search engines like Google recognize hyphens as word separators, which helps with readability and indexing.

Avoid Stop Words

Stop words such as “and,” “or,” “but,” and “the” can often be omitted from URLs without losing meaning. This can help keep your URLs concise and focused.

For example, “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/best-coffee-shops-nyc” looks cleaner and crisper than “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/the-best-coffee-shops-in-nyc”.

Maintain A Consistent URL Structure

A consistent URL structure helps both users and search engines navigate your website more easily. Use a logical and hierarchical structure that reflects the organization of your content.

For example, a blog section will follow this structure “https://www.EXAMPLE.com/blog/category/post-title”.

How To Implement SEO-Friendly URLs On Your Website?

Plan Your URL Structure

Before you start creating your website’s URLs, plan your website's URL structure. Consider the main categories and subcategories of your blog post or content and how they will be organized. A well-planned URL structure will make it more SEO-friendly.

Use A Content Management System (CMS)

Modern content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal offer tools and plugins to help you create SEO-friendly URLs. These tools can automatically generate URLs based on your content titles and allow you to customize them as needed.

Redirect Old URLs

If you are updating existing URLs to make them more SEO-friendly, it's important to set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones. This ensures that any existing links to your old URLs will still work and that you don't lose any search engine rankings or traffic.

Monitor And Adjust

Regularly monitor the performance of your URLs using tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Look for any issues such as broken links or duplicate content and make adjustments as needed to maintain optimal SEO performance.

​Conclusion

SEO-friendly URLs are a fundamental component of well-designed websites that impact user engagement, brand recognition, and search engine rankings. They go beyond simple aesthetic improvements.

At Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., we make sure that all aspects of your website, including URLs, are intelligently optimized for people and search engines alike. All of our services, including our all-inclusive digital marketing, website development, PR and our specialty Website Design services, are designed to increase your online presence.
So, are you ready to implement SEO-friendly URLs on your website?

Let our SEO and website experts help you optimize your website and achieve your digital marketing goals. See the website growth in a few days!

​By Sanjay Poddar, founder Yukti Digital, and consultant to Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.