HELP! Need expert opinion on if URL Structure needs to be changed or not.

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by seancarterpg, Sep 5, 2011.

  1. #1
    So i have a tube video site and i only use to get backlinks to the homepage. I have decided to start backlinking to my popular categories now and i am wondering if i should change the URL structure for them.

    Its an adult site so i won't post the real URL, for example purposes lets call the site www.MyTube.com, and lets call each category CategoryName1, CategoryName2, CategoryName3 etc..

    So right now i have:
    http://www.MyTube.com/videos/browse/CategoryName1
    http://www.MyTube.com/videos/browse/CategoryName2
    http://www.MyTube.com/videos/browse/CategoryName3
    etc..

    Do you think the words "videos" and "browse" are useless?

    I wanted to change the URL structure to the following:
    http://www.MyTube.com/CategoryName1
    http://www.MyTube.com/CategoryName2
    http://www.MyTube.com/CategoryName3

    Now my problem is that there are still quite a few entrances to my site through these categories even though i have not purposely backlinked to them (about 70k entrances a month which is ~20% of the total entrances).
    Is it worth changing URL structure then?
    I know i have to do 301 redirects if i go ahead and do it, and that i will experience a drop in traffic, but will it recover fully, and if so how long would it take? I just want to make sure it is worth it.
     
    seancarterpg, Sep 5, 2011 IP
  2. jimmybrion

    jimmybrion Greenhorn

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    #2
    If your url is www(dot)MyTube(dot)com/videos/browse/CategoryName1 Then in search result for keyword "CategoryName1" your URL will display as www(dot)MyTube(dot)com/....../CategoryName1(Depending on the length of URL)

    This would be not user friendly. It's difficult to remember your url to users. So you will loose some direct traffic.
    Insted of that if display it like www(dot)MyTube.com/CategoryName1 it is easy to remember

    URL should short and smart :)

    Keywords in url important for SEO DO YOU HEARD Keywords Prominence ? So Keywords Prominence for CategoryName1 in URL also increases.
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2011
    jimmybrion, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  3. danielwood

    danielwood Member

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    #3
    danielwood, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  4. seancarterpg

    seancarterpg Greenhorn

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    #4
    seancarterpg, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  5. hallandnash

    hallandnash Peon

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    #5
    If you are already getting the traffic, I wouldn't touch it. You could always 301 it and you shouldn't lose rankings
     
    hallandnash, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  6. seancarterpg

    seancarterpg Greenhorn

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    #6
    any other input?
     
    seancarterpg, Sep 8, 2011 IP