Keywords in directory and page names

[PaulMycroft]

I am about to restructure a client's site and want to use keywords in directory and page names, separated by a hyphen.

The default page for each directory is index.html, which gives a nice "branding" to each directory as you don't have to list the page name when referencing that directory.

e.g. www.domain.com/metal-finishes/

The good thing about this method is that it's easy for the client to brand and promote the Metal Finishes directory, for example, as people can easily remember it.

If the default page was also named metal-finishes.html, this would defeat the purpose of branding as no one will remember this default page:

e.g. http://www.domain.com/metal-finishes...-finishes.html

My question is: should I just forget about also naming the default page and let the "metal-finishes" directory take care of benefiting from the 2 keywords?

Any advice is appreciated.

[jmille007]

I have a similar question...

We are currently in the process of updating our URL structure to contain keywords and directories. Would these examples be considered as keyword stuffing as teh same keywords appear more than once or twice?

/lanyards-wristlets/lanyards/cotton-lanyards_ca-841-1.html
/computer-accessories/mouse-pads/frame-it-mouse-pads/frame-it-flex-mouse-pads/frame-it-flex-heavy-duty_ca-680-1.html

[PaulMycroft]

Hi jmille007,

Use keywords in your URLs and file names, such as yourdomain.com/red-widgets.html.

Don't overdo it, though. A file with 3+ hyphens tends to look spammy and users may be hesitant to click on it.

Related bonus tip: Use hyphens in URLs and file names, not underscores. Hyphens are treated as a "space," while underscores are not.

Hope that helps.

[SemAdvance]

Originally Posted by jmille007

I have a similar question...

We are currently in the process of updating our URL structure to contain keywords and directories. Would these examples be considered as keyword stuffing as teh same keywords appear more than once or twice?

/lanyards-wristlets/lanyards/cotton-lanyards_ca-841-1.html
/computer-accessories/mouse-pads/frame-it-mouse-pads/frame-it-flex-mouse-pads/frame-it-flex-heavy-duty_ca-680-1.html

Yes!! not only is it stuffing but it would be filtered as well

Originally Posted by PaulMycroft

Hi jmille007,

Related bonus tip: Use hyphens in URLs and file names, not underscores. Hyphens are treated as a "space," while underscores are not.

Hope that helps.

It would help if it were accurate......however;

Actually underscores are treated as whitespace.

Underscores are not preserved as literal text in URLs

Hyphens are.

Underscores have no use in the English language

Hyphens do

--->>>Reasons NOT To Use Hyphens!!!!!

Hyphens are logically applied text wrapping points.

If you choose to utilize URLs that use hyphen in the address, that URL can, and probably will, wrap if the address is sent by email to others.

Underscores will not.

Dashes are used in math, so searches with dashes in the equation give you another competitor.

Dashes are used in the context of search engine algorithms as negative operators. This means that searches including a dash prefix ("-keyword") will actually prevent that term from being listed in the results.

Peace

[PaulMycroft]

Thank you, SemAdvance.

So are you saying that using hyphens in directories and page names will give you no real advantage in ranking for the terms used because of the inherent problems you outlined?

Isn't the main advantage in the anchor text and link equity rather than not being able to email someone a URL? If the URL is less than 50 characters, it probably won't wrap.

I don't think many regular web surfers use the negative operators when searching.

What would your advise to us be? Thanks.

[paroles32]

Use keywords in your URLs even if is not a bin % in SEO

[jmille007]

How many of the same keywords would be considered keywords stuffing? More than 1, 2 or 3...? In reference to my urls shown above would the following be better versions?

/lanyards-wristlets/lanyards/cotton_ca-841-1.html
/computer-accessories/mouse-pads/frame-it/flex/heavy-duty_ca-680-1.html

[SemAdvance]

Originally Posted by PaulMycroft

Thank you, SemAdvance.

So are you saying that using hyphens in directories and page names will give you no real advantage in ranking for the terms used because of the inherent problems you outlined?

Isn't the main advantage in the anchor text and link equity rather than not being able to email someone a URL? If the URL is less than 50 characters, it probably won't wrap.

I don't think many regular web surfers use the negative operators when searching.

What would your advise to us be? Thanks.

Paul

If hyphens gave an advantage it would be so minute it could easily be over come.

If hyphens signify importantce of a page or the related keyword terms then the Search Engines would surely be sad in the results returned.

jmille007 How many of the same keywords would be considered keywords stuffing? More than 1, 2 or 3...? In reference to my urls shown above would the following be better versions?

Well any more than one usage is likely to be seen as stuffing....however you have to remember stuffing is non effective so not likely to hurt you either.

Your shorter URLs will be easier on the search spiders, and a bit nicer to your users who care about such things.....

Hope it helps

[incrediblehelp]

The history that the old URLs have earned FAAAR out wieghs making this change. Of course if you need to do to manage the website better then you have to do it . Just make sure that you use 301 redirects from the old URL to the new one.