What Are SEO-Friendly URLs?

To help clarify, we thought it would be beneficial to share this advice.

Let’s begin with the basics:

What is a URL?

A URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator, which is simply the address you type into your web browser to visit a specific webpage. Just like how your home has a street address that tells people where you live, a URL tells your browser where to find a specific webpage on the internet.

Now let’s look at it from an SEO perspective…

What is an SEO-Friendly URL?

An SEO-friendly URL is like having a home address that’s clear, descriptive, and easy to remember, making it simple for both people and postal services to find and understand.

• Clear and Descriptive: Just like “10 Downing Street” clearly indicates a location, an SEO-friendly URL like www.example.com/about-us clearly indicates the content of the page.
• Easy to Read: A URL that’s straightforward and memorable, such as www.example.com/public-speaking-tips, is more user-friendly than something complicated like www.example.com/p123?x=456.
• Relevant Keywords: Including relevant keywords in your URL helps search engines understand the content and rank it better, similar to how “5 Trafalgar Square” includes a recognisable landmark.

In essence, just like a well-structured London address helps people and services locate your home easily, an SEO-friendly URL helps users and search engines find and understand your webpage effortlessly.

Shall we change the URL of a page then?

Remember: Changing URLs can be very dangerous if done without the proper care.

Dangers include:

• Broken Links: Just like moving houses without updating your address can result in lost mail, changing a URL without proper redirects can cause 404 errors.
• Lost Visitors: If your new address isn’t listed anywhere, visitors won’t know where to find you, leading to a significant drop in website traffic.
• Decreased Search Rankings: Changing URLs can cause search engines to lose track of your pages, leading to a drop in search rankings.
• Lost Backlinks: Backlinks from other sites pointing to your old URL become useless, reducing your website’s credibility.
• User Frustration: Users encountering a 404 error will have a negative experience, potentially leading them to abandon your site.
• Loss of Bookmarks: Users who bookmarked your old URL will find it no longer works, leading to lost traffic and potential customers.

Understanding and implementing SEO-friendly URLs can significantly impact your website’s performance.