SEO Dilution: Key Words in Sub Directories v Using a Hyphen in a Single Directory
-
Hi Moz Community,
I'm trying to understand if there is really any material difference with going with one URL structure compared to the other.
I assume the hyphen example below is what most would argue is the best option, but due to certain circumstances (I wont go into) I'm most likely going to be forced to use the sub directories URL option.
I'm just concerned that going down this path will have a material SEO effect...looking for peoples thoughts?
Keep in mind for this example:
-
I'm using the Shopify eCommerce platform and am forced to use the word 'collection' in the url
-
I sell shoes so the word ' Birkenstock ' within the URL represents the brand & 'Sandals ' represents the style.
-
The key word search in this instance would be birkenstock sandals
Example 1
http://companyname/collection/birkenstock/sandals V http://companyname/collection/birkenstock-sandals
Example 2
http://companyname/collection/sandals/birkenstock V http://companyname/collection/sandals-birkenstock
Will be interesting to hear if people what difference if any each will bring.
Thanks in advance for any insight.....
-
-
Hi Rene,
Thanks for the input and insight - much appreciated.
So expanding on your example and my specific question what do you believe the difference would be (if any) on search results for someone looking for Birkenstock sandals when you had two URL's of the below (considering all other SEO aspects were equal)
http://companyname/collection//sandals/birkenstock V http://companyname/collection/sandals-birkenstock
The restriction I've got are kind of forcing me to go with the first URL but with a fair amount of work and possibly ongoing maintenance I could go with the 2nd URL. However if the SEO result between the two is minimal then my decision on how to structure is easy - I go with what's easier to set up and manage.
Does that make sense?
Thanks...
-
Hi @chewythedog,
I would look at this from 2 perspectives.
First, unless you only sell sandals, or only sell birkenstocks, it makes sense to have another category level (ie /collection/{category}/{sub-category}
Second, I think you should use the common categorization of {category}/{brand}. This isn't really a search issue, it is a usability issue. Most people don't go out shopping for a brand. They don't say "today I want to buy something made by nike". They say, today I want to buy tennis shoes. Maybe they say, I want to buy nike tennis shoes, but they almost never say, today I want to buy something made by nike. While brand is important, most brands represent a broad number of products and thus it doesn't make sense to make them the primary category.
However, while people shop for product types, they search for brand+product (ie: people search for birkenstock sandals far more than they search for sandals birkenstock or sandals by birkenstock). Subsequently, while your categorization should probably be /sandals/birkenstock, the title of that page should probably be Birkenstock Sandals.
Finally, in general, link architecture is far more important than information architecture. You could have all of your URLs sitting in one directory (like wikipedia) and do great as long as you have a strong internal linking strategy. I would focuse far more attention on that than anything else.
-
Thanks Rene...but I'm really keen to know if the SEO difference would be marginal or significant, that is a key part of the question.
Cheers...
-
Shopify is good in many ways, but is also somewhat restrictive, in terms of URL. I would go with the shortest URL possible, which in this case is also the most describing one.
Shopify URLs are not good in terms of having a descriptive URL structure, and from I can tell, the so called, Shopify Experts, are only concerned about a webshop making any money. Not that they are possibly losing SEO benefits.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Webjaguar SEO shortcomings
Hey All. I have a client whose ecommerce site is build in Webjaguar. Does anyone have experience with this platform. It appears to be loaded with technical SEO challenges (duplicate content, weird URLs, etc). Interestingly, when I Google "webjaguar SEO challenges" and things like that....nothing comes up. Suspicious, methinks. I appreciate any thoughts from SEO folks. Thanks!
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | JBMediaGroup0 -
SSL for SEO?
To obtain an SEO benefit from an SSL is there any particular type or brand which is recommended or has a track history? It seems you can pay anything between $20 and $???? (For that matter whatever you want to pay!). Any experience gratefully accepted! Thanks
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | seoman100 -
Website Layout and SEO
Hi All, As a brand new user to Wordpress and having read articles and forum posts I have purchased Studiopress Genesis Enterprise Theme. QuestionWordpress like any traditional bespoke site can be written to incorporate variations of columns structures.
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Mark_Ch
What is the best column strategy or page layout strategy for SEO? Thanks Mark0 -
How to seo websites on another server
We have partners that want us to build and manage a co-branded white label for them. We will have unique content on the white label, however the white label will be located on our server. I was planning to put it on a subdomain and mask the URL, however was told that google will see through that and not give any credit to the white label. Our partners all have high PR and we are a new company with low PR. We want the white labels to get the credit from the partner websites. Should we do it through url masking or by changing the A Record in the other website to point to our server?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | TravelerVIP0 -
How do you find synonyms for a word in Google?
Hi, How would you go about finding a connection between words in the eyes of Google? So for example if I enter ~shoes -shoes I get a few things turn up in bold. Boots is one which makes sense and I would assume Google makes a connection between the words so using both in content would help semantically. BUT the other word it bolds is Store - this is where I get lost why would it make this connection unless Google is taking actual query data from users and making a different type of connection between words. How do you find a solid connection between words?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Bondara0 -
Yelp, yahoo, local directories..
We are currently in one location and we are moving our office. Would it be better to leave all the directories and add new listings with the new address? This way we get 2 listings until someone in this address claims a business here. or Would it be better to change all the existing to the new address?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | SEODinosaur0 -
SEO for Log in Sites
Hello, I just lunched a website where you have to sign up and to log in in order to use it. So I have the home, also a blog but then the rest of the pages are let's say it "hidden".How would you do the seo for it? I have been cheking facebook, foursquare and some others and they use different approaches. Facebook uses the same description in every single page for example. My site is similar to foursquare users have profile, stats, history, ranking. Well, what is your advice?? Thanks a lot
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | antorome0 -
SEO Consultant for site audit
Can someone recommend an excellent SEO who can perform a full site audit of my fairly large Wordpress site? The site receives about 14,000 visits per month but traffic is waining one month after a recent change. Need analysis of some funky stuff in my Webmaster tools and overall site review.
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | JSOC0