URL Slugs: How to Create SEO Friendly URLs (7 Easy Steps)
When you are taking your business to the next level by going digital, the best way customers all over the world will be able to find you is by browsing you on the net, or when they will search for a product or service on Google, which you might be offering. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to create your website SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly, for the search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. However, the journey of making your website SEO-friendly starts with making your URL slug optimized. Do you want to know how to make an SEO-friendly URL? Read along!
What is a URL?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It is a string of characters that is used to identify and locate a specific resource on the internet. A URL is essentially the web address that you type into your browser’s address bar to access a website or a specific page on a website.
A typical URL consists of the following components:
- Protocol: This is the method used to transfer data over the internet. The most common protocols are HTTP and HTTPS.
- Domain name: This is the unique name that identifies a website. It is typically preceded by “www.” For example, in the URL “https://www.example.com,” “example.com” is the domain name.
- Path: This is the specific location of a resource on a website. For example, in the URL “https://www.example.com/blog,” “blog” is the path.
- Query string: This is an optional component that is used to pass additional information to the web server. It is indicated by a question mark (?) and consists of one or more key-value pairs separated by ampersands (&).
Together, these components make up a complete URL that can be used to access a specific resource on the internet.
What is a URL slug?
URL slugs are the human-readable portion of a URL that is intended to describe the content of a web page. They typically consist of a few words or phrases, separated by hyphens, that give a brief indication of what the page is about.
For example, in the URL “https://example.com/blog/how-to-create-seo-firendly-urls”, “how-to-create-seo-firendly-urls” is the URL slug. This URL gives users an idea of what they can expect to find on the page before they even click the link.
URL slugs are important for both search engines and users because they can help to make URLs more meaningful and memorable for the user, while easy to index, crawl and navigate for the search engines. They also make it easier to share links and to remember the location of a particular page. For a properly optimized URL, it is advisable to keep URL slugs short and to include only the most important words or phrases that describe the page’s content.
What are SEO slugs?
SEO slugs, also known as SEO-friendly URLs, are URL slugs that are optimized for search engines. SEO slugs are designed to help search engines understand the content of a web page and improve its visibility in search results.
Using SEO slugs can help improve the search engine visibility of a website and make it easier for users to find relevant content. However, it’s important to strike a balance between SEO optimization and user-friendliness, as overly complex or keyword-stuffed URLs can be difficult for users to remember or share.
7 Easy Steps For Making SEO-Friendly URLs
1. Keep URLs short and simple
Shorter URLs are easier for users to remember and share, and they can also be more easily read by search engines. Aim to keep URLs under 60 characters if possible.
2. Use descriptive, readable words
Use words that describe the content of the page and make sure they are readable by humans. Avoid using symbols or numbers that may be difficult to understand.
3. Include keywords
Include relevant keywords in the URL that accurately describe the content of the page. However, be careful not to stuff too many keywords into the URL, as this can be seen as spammy by search engines.
4. Use hyphens to separate words
Use hyphens (-) to separate words in the URL. Avoid using underscores (_) or spaces, as these can be misinterpreted by search engines.
5. Use lowercase letters
Use lowercase letters in the URL to avoid confusion and errors caused by uppercase and lowercase letters.
6. Avoid using stop words
Stop words, such as “the,” “and,” and “a,” can be omitted from URLs to make them shorter and more readable.
7. Make sure URLs are unique
Each page on your website should have a unique URL to avoid confusion and duplicate content issues.
Also take into account the specific needs of search engines, such as including the target keyword closer to the beginning of the URL and avoiding stop words.
For example, if the title of a blog post is “How To Create SEO-Friendly URLs,” the SEO slug might be “tips-to-seo-friendly-url.” This slug includes relevant keywords, omits to stop words, and uses hyphens to separate words.
