Is My URL Structure That Important?

How important are URL structures to Google? This isn’t the first time this question has come up. Many have pondered whether to add keywords, how many keywords are appropriate, is it okay to go beyond one directory, and so on. Obviously, you want your URL to rank in Google, but just what is the trick?

Thankfully, Google has provided a couple of hints to shed light on the situation. As far as length goes, it doesn’t really matter to Google how long your URL is, just so long as it doesn’t exceed the http limit. And for those who are wondering what that limit it, it’s 2,083 characters. The structure of your URL is important to Google in terms of discovery, but not so much for ranking. The further away something is from the root, the longer it will take Google to discover it, and therefore, must not seem very important.

This should go without saying, but don’t stuff a bunch of keywords in your URL. Adding a plethora of words isn’t going to help you at all, it will only make matters worse. Tastefully select a few important words that are relevant. There aren’t really any benefits to how you create your URL structure, so focus on structure that works best for your website. 

Remember, you don’t want to get carried away with a long winded URL, don’t keyword overstuff, and don’t bury it in too many directories. Also important to note, when in doubt, short and succinct works well.