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Do search engine friendly URLs still matter?

by rdvw
13 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Does it still matter if your URLs are search engine friendly?
www.site.com/123-this-is-an-example/

Or are the default ugly URLs okay?
www.site.com/page?id=123

I'm guessing it's fine nowadays as long as you have a sitemap, right?
#engine #friendly #matter #search #urls
  • Profile picture of the author Everblue
    Hello rdvw,

    Search engine have no problems with either format, however it's usually better to use Static (prettier) than Dynamic (ugly) ones, due to the fact that Static format contains your keywords and thus are more user-friendly.
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    • Profile picture of the author rdvw
      Originally Posted by Everblue View Post

      Static format contains your keywords and thus are more user-friendly.
      Hello Everblue, thanks for replying!

      More user-friendly I agree with you 100%, however, does it have any influence on search engine rankings? That's what I wanna know!
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      • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
        It's partly to do with ranking, and partly to do with user experience.

        Which page would you rather click on after seeing it in the search engine?
        Signature

        "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    I have no idea why anyone would even consider ugly URLs.
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  • Profile picture of the author softmind365
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author rritz
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      I have no idea why anyone would even consider ugly URLs.
      Some URLs in blogs can get extremely long, if the complete headline is in there, so the "prettyness" can be disputed ...

      Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

      It's partly to do with ranking, and partly to do with user experience.

      Which page would you rather click on after seeing it in the search engine?
      Actually, I never look at the URLs in a search engine result, only the headline / title and meta text / description - I have never consciously NOT clicked an interesting link because of the url ...

      I can accept the argument about the keyword being in title, but as for user freindlyness? I am not sure. It's not like anyone is going to have to type these URLs in by hand to follow the link
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by rritz View Post

        Some URLs in blogs can get extremely long, if the complete headline is in there, so the "prettyness" can be disputed ...

        There's really no dispute considering a webmaster has 100% control over both the URL & the page title.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Of course they matter.

    Anyone disputing this obviously has no understanding of SEO.
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    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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    • Profile picture of the author NikitaShukla
      Banned
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
        Originally Posted by NikitaShukla View Post

        One of the most basic search engine optimization techniques
        One of the most stupid forms of wannabe SEO idiocy is to steal content, and post it on a forum in the hopes that the nofollow backlink affects your rankings in some manner.

        How to Create an SEO-Friendly URL Structure - Envato Tuts+ Web Design Article

        At least it's safe to say that you don't know jack about trademarks either.
        Signature
        Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
        Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

        What's your excuse?
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  • Profile picture of the author JoseBarreiro
    Originally Posted by rdvw View Post

    Does it still matter if your URLs are search engine friendly?
    www.site.com/123-this-is-an-example/

    Or are the default ugly URLs okay?
    www.site.com/page?id=123

    I'm guessing it's fine nowadays as long as you have a sitemap, right?
    Hi,

    It is really a good practice to use user friendly urls by means of user experience and search engine as well. Because whenever you include the search term of your article in url, whenever anyone seach related to that search term, your article will automatically come up on searches.

    Please have a look on the attached image to get clear idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author siriinnovations4
    In my view URLS are not matter for the seo ranking but why the Urls should be seo friendly means this url will display in the search engines. So, to understand about the web page every one change the ugly code url to search engine friendly.
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    • Profile picture of the author rdvw
      Originally Posted by siriinnovations4 View Post

      In my view URLS are not matter for the seo ranking
      Well, siriinnovations4, I think you're right.

      Sure it is prettier and all that but it's not really necessary IMHO.

      If you have 2 websites and one has search engine friendly URLs and the other just default ugly URLs they will both rank the same.

      I think keywords in your URL just don't matter anymore.

      My 2 cents...
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim3
    So let's get this straight.

    You ask a perfectly good question.

    You receive the correct answer from one of the best SEO's on this forum, then disregard that, and other good advice, and agree with a member with 30 posts who says that URL structure doesn't matter.

    I wish in future all my competitors take SEO advice from siriinnovations4.

    I'm gonna be rich!
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    • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
      Originally Posted by Tim3 View Post

      You receive the correct answer from one of the best SEO's on this forum, then disregard that, and other good advice, and agree with a member with 30 posts who says that URL structure doesn't matter.
      Dunning-Kruger effect and confirmation bias are strong on WF SEO.
      Signature
      Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
      Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

      What's your excuse?
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