well written urls, need sugestion

I am optimizing my urls for automotive site, and would apriciate sugestions A vs B>

1. Search result
A mysite /cars/make-BMW/model-X5/fuel-Diesel
B mysite /cars/BMW/X5/Diesel

2. Vehicle detail page

A. mysite /cars/details/2009-honda-accord-1HGCP26399A1XXXX
B. mysite /2009-honda-accord-1HGCP26399A139901

Thanks

 

I think 1-B and 2-A, but maybe i'm wrong.

 

I think for 1-A. For 2-B.

Did what would connect with me immediately.

Leilani

 

Thanks Leilani, for me looks same, wanted to make sure I am not alone

 

I had few automotive sites and most of them perform well when I use shorter and better structured permalink.
Here are few suggestions for you:

1. You may want to consider using shorter and flexible links
   Permalink:
   - Mysite/cars/BMW/BMW-M-series.html
   - Mysite/cars/BMW/BMW-I-series.html
2. Or use even shorter link
   Permalink:
   - Mysite/BMW-M-series.html
   - Mysite/BMW-I-series.html

If you want to use option 1 above, here are what you need to do:

• The permalink should be:
  - Domain/category/post-name.html
  Where Domain is Mysite and category is your categories (cars and BMW) while post-name.html is yourpost.html
• Tries to strip category.
  - Non stripped link is: Mysite/category/cars/BMW/yourpost.html
  - Stripped link: Mysite/cars/BMW/yourpost.html
  The difference is: 'category' link removed from permalink. You can do this by using plugin or do it through theme function (recommended)

If it is me, I would choose option 2. Here is what you need to do if you choose it:

• It is necessary to use and enable Breadcrumb. Always use 'breadcrumb' which comply with latest algorithm. 'Breadcrumb' should available in top of your post. It will help both Visitors and Search Engine.
• Strip 'category'
• Make good use of 'tag' or 'label' to help post content.

Here are the reasons why I think it is better to choose option 2:

1. Even if the permalink is Mysites/Postname.html, most Search Engine would be able to find out if the category of that post is based on better and structured links due to the use of 'BreadCrumb'. Most SE will show structured links in their search result.
2. Shorter URL has many advantages such as: easy to memorize, comply with most SE recommendation, allow us to create detailed link without worry it would be too long in address bar.
3. In case there is something error, it would be easier to debug (in perspective of webmaster)
4. If you use CDN or proxy&load balancer, it would be easier and faster to serve content to visitor (based on my own site optimization experience)

More optimization which may able to help improve the visibility and performance of your site:

1. It is better to use '.HTML' at the end of your post. My sites are visited more frequently by SE after I use it. Plus it would be easier to create page rules to 'cache' it and serve it through CDN or load-balancer (to improve speed and performance of the sites)
2. Some permalinks which help my sites gain more visibility and exposure:
   Post:
   - Domain/Post.html => MySite/BMW-M6-Coupé.html or MySite/BMW-Concept-X6-ActiveHybrid.html
   Benefit:
   - Shorter URL
   - Easy to remember
   Category:
   - Domain/category/subcategory/ => MySite/Cars/ and MySite/Cars/BMW/
   Benefit:
   - Shorten URL
   - It is easier to list all manufacturers (BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, etc)
   - Nice structured links which useful for both Visitors and Search Engine.
   - Awesome navigation (using 'Crumb')
   - Structured information will greatly help improve visibility of the site.
   - If it is possible, always close end of link with 'slash' ('/') and it would be easier to serve content using CDN or Load-Balancer (using 'page rules').
   - Each category should have useful and awesome content. Ie, '/Cars/' describe about cars while '/BMW/' describe BMW.
   Tag
   - Domain/Tag/ => MySite/tag/BMW-X5/, MySite/tag/BMW-Diesel/, MySite/tag/Audi-Diesel/, MySite/tag/Fuel-Diesel/, etc
   Benefit:
   - Structured information
   - Provide easy navigation for both SE and Visitor
   - Site would less cluttered
   - Correct tagging would improve visibility in SERP
   - Each Tag should have original and useful content. Ie, '/tag/BMW-X6/' explain only about X6 engine (V8 Twin Turbo) in BMW.
3. My permalink work better because:
   - The post explain each model of the cars.
   - Each category help categorize each post.
   - Every tag provide supplemental information about the post.
   Illustration:
   Post explain each model in category, each tag help SE understand more specific information about the post.
   
   BMW-Concept-X6-ActiveHybrid.html (Post) is explain about new model of '/BMW/' (Category) and '/tag/BMW-X6/' (tag) tell both Visitor and SE if the post is focus on explaining BMW with X6 (V8 Twin Turbo) engine.
   
   As you could see the illustration above, Search Engine maybe would rank your site higher than other due to structured content. When I said Maybe, I am serious about it. I said Maybe because what really matter is the content of the site and not only the structured information.

Based on what I wrote above, I would consider "Search result" as Category and tag links while "Vehicle detail page" as post permalink. By the way, it doesn't matter which CMS you were using, all my suggestion above could be achieved by most CMS, Plain HTML type or Custom or Modded CMS.

That is what I could think at the moment. I think there are much more optimization and techniques which were used to optimize my sites but I could't think all of them at this moment. The most important thing is: create good structured link by choosing correct Post, Category and Tag.

Arick

 

Thank you Arick for making such deep explanation! May I share my site with you for comments once changes implemented ?

JSP

 

B on both. No need to include "make" or "details" in URL's- that's not important.

 

Hi, so you suggest not to use any descriptive words in links ? Examples below

A. mysite/en/Automobiles/make-Acura/model-MDX/color-Red/damage-Burn/title-Salvage/fuel-Gasoline

B . mysite/en/Automobiles/Acura/MDX/Red/Burn/Salvage/Gasoline

Would it be better to tell SE what link (site) is about or not?

Thanks

 

No example A is horrible. Googles algorithm is smart enough in 2015 to realize what your topic is about through your content. That's why it's important to use LSI keywords as well.

 

Thanks!

 

How about, mysite.com/cars/Diesel/BMW/X5
For the detail page, for me it is too long especially the combination of characters and numbers on the end. I don't think it is necessary.

 

I’d go for B for both.
As mentioned, words like "make", "model" and "details" are not at all important. They have no place in URLs.

 

Sure. It would be nice to see your site.
You could write the URL of your site in this thread (publicly) or send me a Private Message (privately).

Arick