Is there advantages using seperate folders and Index Pages

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Hopper, Sep 24, 2008.

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  1. #1
    When I look at the big websites such as BBC etc, they always give the web address for each department as:

    www.bbc.co.uk/entertainment/
    www.bbc.co.uk/history/
    www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/ etc.

    I understand that this is done by having a root such as

    public_html >> history >> index.php (or html etc)

    and it got me wondering if there was any SEO advantage in this method, I realise it makes easier reading/remembering for their visitors but does this method of website structure have any SEO advantages?

    Your thoughts please:
     
    Hopper, Sep 24, 2008 IP
  2. vansterdam

    vansterdam Notable Member

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    #2
    The search engines give more weight to websites who have keywords in the url. They might give more weight if the keyword is in a folder name instead of just the filename. I haven't done any testing to see if the search engines really favor one over the other though.

    I think the larger websites do this more to keep everything organized.
     
    vansterdam, Sep 24, 2008 IP
  3. SoulfulDude

    SoulfulDude Peon

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    #3
    Yea it's good practise. This method came about in the early days of the internet long before SEO was even thought of. When I studied SEO about 5 years ago I learned that the folder names did benefit keywords but I'm not sure if it has any effect anymore nowadays.

    But as vansterdam said, the BBC wouldn't need to even think about SEO. If they say it's /history I'm in no doubt the mighty google will bow and kow tow repeating, "history, yeaaaah" in awestruck muted tones.

    It's simply for their broad ranged audience to identify and easily reach that content. Other wise they would have to say "www dot bbc dot co dot uk forward slash history forward slash index dot html". Or dot asp. Or dot aspx. Or dot php. Or arrrggghhhhh!!! Who the heck is gonna remember that? Not my granma
     
    SoulfulDude, Sep 24, 2008 IP
  4. farangkwaiyai

    farangkwaiyai Guest

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    #4
    Its called silo'ing
     
    farangkwaiyai, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  5. SearchBliss

    SearchBliss Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Having keywords in the URL has weight when it comes to ranking, so yes. Use folders with keywords, and place relevant pages in them. I also found that rather then just defualt or index pages in the folders, named pages with a variation on the keywords get better rankings, just don't make it too long and look like nonsense. Here's a good example:
    .../seo/seo-articles.asp
    .../seo/seo-tools.asp
    .../seo/seo-services.asp
    ETC. :)
     
    SearchBliss, Sep 27, 2008 IP