What is the best way to name pages?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by irideflatland, Jul 12, 2006.

  1. #1
    I have been using: blah_blah_blah.html
    Is this: blah-blah-blah.html better?
    Or blahblahblah.html?
     
    irideflatland, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  2. thelouisvilleseo

    thelouisvilleseo Peon

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    #2
    keyworded-naming-is-better.html

    Simply because dashes are treated as spaces.
     
    thelouisvilleseo, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  3. duilen

    duilen Active Member

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    #3
    duilen, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  4. Mong

    Mong ↓↘→ horsePower

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    #4
    with dashes :)
     
    Mong, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  5. thelouisvilleseo

    thelouisvilleseo Peon

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    #5
    Duilen,

    If you are referring to the bolding of links - Google is bringing attention to sites with keywords in the URL, dependant upon if your search term is relevant to the results displayed.

    Now - forum admins - this serves a purpose!

    www.louisvillewebsitedesign.net was created a week ago... indexed, and ranked for the term - very easily. It has been proven to work. Type Louisville Website Design see me at #3 or #4?
     
    thelouisvilleseo, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  6. duilen

    duilen Active Member

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    #6
    This isn't new. As far as I know they have been doing this for about a year.
     
    duilen, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  7. thelouisvilleseo

    thelouisvilleseo Peon

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    #7
    Never claimed it was new :)

    But that's all I meant is that Google was bolding their search results.

    " Google seems to be able to discern keywords from urls now whether or not they are separated by a dash. "

    That's why I responded with what I did. It will pick the words up regardless.
     
    thelouisvilleseo, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  8. duilen

    duilen Active Member

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    #8
    Right, I assumed you thought it was new based on your enthusiastic tone.
     
    duilen, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  9. jdw4jesus

    jdw4jesus Peon

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    #9
    I agree with using hyphens, it works the best for me. I would not change it unless there is undisputable evidence to.
     
    jdw4jesus, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  10. shamess

    shamess Well-Known Member

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    #10
    I've always used file_name.php, but I wouldn't trust my ideals - my pages aren't that well indexed xP
     
    shamess, Jul 12, 2006 IP
  11. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #11
    Never use underscores.
     
    mad4, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  12. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #12
    Agree, I tested this and underscores were ranked lower, at least they were in August last year.
     
    MattUK, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  13. skyblue webteam

    skyblue webteam Peon

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    #13
    Definitely don NOT use underscores. SE are hating them :)
     
    skyblue webteam, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  14. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #14
    Dashes are the way to go. Similar logic to hyphens in domain names.
     
    dcristo, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  15. Manish Pandey

    Manish Pandey Well-Known Member

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    #15
    You can use anything.... but dashes have an upper edge as they are read "separately" by the search engines...
     
    Manish Pandey, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  16. swoop

    swoop Active Member

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    #16
    Dang! Almost all my page names use underscores, because I thought they were no better or worse than hyphens. I wish I had known about this sooner. :mad:
     
    swoop, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  17. Blogmaster

    Blogmaster Blood Type Dating Affiliate Manager

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    #17
    Blogmaster, Jul 13, 2006 IP
  18. london

    london Peon

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    #18
    I wish I had known about the -'s too. Have started using them and have a mix of them growing. I'd hate to change them because of any linking from other site to those pages would go awry. What a nightmare it would be to roam around correcting incoming links. might as well keep the old ones as they are .... right?
     
    london, Jul 15, 2006 IP
  19. wll6568

    wll6568 Member

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    #19
    To be honest, url format really doesnt do too much effect in seo if you have good content. Most common mistakes in seo is believing that seo is all about putting keywords in title, descriptions, and url. That is just so wrong. Spend the time on building content is more effective.
     
    wll6568, Jul 15, 2006 IP
  20. enovabiz

    enovabiz Peon

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    #20
    I think every bit helps. Go with dashes in page name. Maybe this will give you an edge over your rival who hasn't done this. Surely, it wont harm you.
     
    enovabiz, Jul 15, 2006 IP