Search engine optimization through the right URL

How does the URL relate to search engine optimization?

SEO URL as a keyword

Search Engine optimizationSEO, or search engine optimization, refers to actions taken to improve a website's search engine ranking and thus increase the likelihood of users landing on it. Actions that can improve a website's ranking include: optimizing and updating page content, using relevant keywords, and placing links. But how exactly can the URL help improve a website's ranking?
A meaningful URL This is helpful to achieve better results in search engines, meaning that with the right URL you rank above the competition in Google search results and there is a higher chance that customers will visit your website instead of the websites of the competition.

What does a meaningful URL look like?

To create a meaningful URL, you should consider the following points:

Brevity is the soul of wit
The URL should be as short as possible, as shorter URLs rank higher on Google. Between 50 and 60 characters is an optimal URL length. Three to five words per URL are perfectly sufficient, as this keeps the URL clear and the user still understands what it's about.
keyword
Integrating keywords into the URL can help improve your ranking, however, keywords should be limited to one or two words, as the URL is the first thing the user sees and too many words often overwhelm the user, causing them to choose a different website.
Let the URL speak
This means that users should be able to tell what a website is about even before seeing its content. This creates a better user experience and improves search engine rankings. Additionally, it can encourage users to click on a link shared by someone else. However, if the link doesn't provide any clues, users won't click it due to the risk of it potentially containing a virus.
Each URL should only exist once.
In other words: Each piece of content must only be accessible via a single URL, otherwise problems can occur due to so-called duplicate URLs. ContentIf this happens, Google will rank the website lower, as it thinks the website's content has been stolen from another site.
Subfolders are better than subdomains.
Subdomains only make sense if you want to completely separate different areas of the website, as Google may treat the subdomain as an independent website. This could lead to the subdomain receiving a positive ranking while the main website does not. Subfolders, on the other hand, tell Google that the content is part of the main website.
Use https
If possible, you should use HTTPS instead of HTTP, as Google ranks HTTPS higher. It also provides a secure connection, which is especially important in times of cybercrime and identity theft. By using HTTPS, website information is encrypted and therefore significantly more secure. This is particularly important when processing customer orders and payment information.
Avoid special characters and spaces.
Spaces are replaced by %20 in many browsers, which makes the URL unreadable, just like special characters, which is why both should be avoided.
Use hyphens
To fill a space between two words, you can use either hyphens or underscores. It's advisable to use hyphens, as Google prefers them to underscores.
Use .com
It makes sense to use a .com domain and not a .biz, .pro or .tel domain, as users of a .com domain are generally more... trustThis is important because it has a positive impact on your website's SEO if users trust the website and therefore visit it more often.
Write in lowercase letters
It is important to write exclusively in lowercase letters, as uppercase letters can lead to problems with redirects and 404 errors on the server.