help with optimal seo ecommerce structure?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Juls, Dec 5, 2006.

0
  1. #1
    What is the best website structure for an online store?

    My goals are: search engine friendly urls, usability and the shorter urls the better.

    I am worried about urls getting too long and getting cut off when potential customers are trying to email links to their friends.

    I have come up with 2 styles:

    ∑ Style 1
    o Categories
    ß Domain.com/category-name/index.html​
    o Sub-Categories
    ß Domain.com/category-name/sub-category-name/index.html​
    o Products
    ß Domain.com/category-name/sub-category-name/product-name.html​
    o Content Category
    ß Domain.com/articles/category-name/index.html​
    o Content
    ß Domain.com/content-name.html
    ß Domain.com/articles/category-name/article-name.html​
    ∑ Style 2
    o Categories
    ß Domain.com/category-name.html​
    o Sub-Categories
    ß Domain.com/sub-category-name.html​
    o Products
    ß Domain.com/category-name/product-name.html
    ß Domain.com/sub-category-name/product-name.html​
    o Content Category
    ß Domain.com/articles/category-name.html​
    o Content
    ß Domain.com/content-name.html
    ß Domain.com/articles/category-name/article-name.html​

    What do you think? Can you suggest something better?

    Any help would greatly be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Juls
     
    Juls, Dec 5, 2006 IP
  2. thegypsy

    thegypsy Peon

    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    109
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I like

    domain.tld/category/subcategory/item-page.html

    It depends on planning ahead.. if it will have 100s-1000s of products.. the above works

    If it's a smaller shop.. a smaller directory stucture.....

    Sound about right?
     
    thegypsy, Dec 5, 2006 IP
  3. Cryogenius

    Cryogenius Peon

    Messages:
    1,280
    Likes Received:
    118
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    I would suggest Style 3, which is basically Style 1 but you drop the references to "index.html". The folder structure naturally reflects the structure of the website, which Search Engines like. You would do the same for the content...

    o Domain.com/category-name/
    o Domain.com/category-name/sub-category-name/
    o Domain.com/category-name/sub-category-name/product-name.html

    Cryo.
     
    Cryogenius, Dec 6, 2006 IP
  4. mad4

    mad4 Peon

    Messages:
    6,986
    Likes Received:
    493
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Agreed. Always remove index.html from the urls. Why make them longer than they need to be?
     
    mad4, Dec 6, 2006 IP
  5. kh7

    kh7 Peon

    Messages:
    2,715
    Likes Received:
    109
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Personally I would not go for sub-category directories at all:

    o Domain.com/category-name/
    o Domain.com/category-name/sub-category-name.html
    o Domain.com/category-name/product-name.html
     
    kh7, Dec 6, 2006 IP