ECommerce URL's

[kennyrowe]

This is based on a clothing retailer, eCommerce site.

In an effort to reduce the length of our product names, we are considering removing terms like long-sleeve, short-sleeve, etc., but leaving that information in the URL.

Now, the concern is that we would lose some traction in the SERP's if those descriptive words are left out as the product name is also our page title. Then I think keywords as broad as long-sleeve shirt wouldn't serve us well anyways.

One idea we have is that the alt tag on the product image could still display the longer product name that would include long-sleeve, etc. thus having the keyword on the product page.

Any ideas or suggestions? Hope this is clear. Seems redundant from a user standpoint to state long-sleeve, etc. in every product name.

Thanks - your answers are always so helpful!

[Everett]

If you are removing it from the product title and the product title populates the link text from category pages, related product boxes, and other places you would be drastically altering the internal link anchor text to those pages. Taking it out of the title tag could have a huge impact too.

The real question is: What do people search for?

If your analytics show high search traffic and conversions for "Long Sleeve Cool T-Shirt Name" then you wouldn't want to make the change without putting some more thought into it. For instance, you may be able to salvage some of that internal anchor text by using title attributes on the text links and alt attributes on the linking images from category pages.

If, as you mention above, nobody searches for "Long Sleeve Cool T-Shirt Name" and instead most people search for just "Cool T-Shirt Name" then you probably only have better "Cool T-Shirt Name" rankings to gain by removing the "Long Sleeve" portion from internal anchor text and your product detail page header tags.

[William.Lau]

I would do the image tag and meta description, and also have it in the description. I think with those terms in there and the URL, not having it exactly in your product's name "cool shirt" but have description "cool long-sleeve shirt" will suffice.

I don't believe this will negatively impact your rankings.