Tue 23 Sep 2008
Google Promotes Uncool URLs?
Blurb by Shaun Anderson (Hobo)
Google recently gave more assistance to webmasters, if you can call it that, concerning url rewriting, or changing dynamic variable filled URL to more search engine friendly, more human readable static looking URLS (OK, URI).
They actually could be interpreted as recommending not to rewrite a website urls, because there is a chance you could screw things up.
They busted some ‘myths’ too;
- Myth: “Dynamic URLs cannot be crawled.” (knew that)
- Myth: “Dynamic URLs are okay if you use fewer than three parameters.” (thought that)
I’ve mentioned before having a keyword in a url on its own has a minuscule, if any, effect on the ranking of a page but may have some benefits when people use the url to link to the site (I think it does).
I do see what Google is doing – they are telling people ‘Google can read dynamic urls’ – that’s what I will take from the post…. but only the most ignorant seo doesn’t know that already.
It’s not exactly in line with what the W3C recommends, from what I can determine.
In Cool URIs Don’t Change, they determined a SEF url was more user friendly, now and in the long term, for humans. Some may say W3C advice is outdated, or trite, but I still try and follow it where I can. I still believe the best method for constructing urls is short and to the point – human readable preferably. If you go through a site CMS change, you can rewrite to keep old urls.
Of course, sometimes its hard to follow even the best advice, but it’s always worth remembering and trying in the end to achieve usability, accessibility and visibility.
I would still recommend rewriting urls, despite this post from the Google Webmaster Team. Then again, this advice is more usability orientated than a search engine optimisation benefit.
…and interestingly, the Google Webmaster Blog seems to produce SEF Urls LOL and it’s worth pointing out – Google is not the only search engine (I did say that didn’t I) 
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It seems to me that from the point of view of search and serving up the right results then Google is stating the obvious.
In rewriting SEF Urls developers can make mistakes that result in 404 errors, so Google doesn’t get to the content you and it both want, but if it’s rewritten properly then there is no problem. Your point about human readibility is absolutely on the money, and for the other major engines has to be the way to go.
Thank you for this helpful analysis. The problem is that I’m so technically behind that I really don’t understand it.
My urls are all long for a couple of reasons. First my site name is long and for my blog, I have to add “/blot”.
Second, I write posts on keyword phrases and put them in the title, which puts them in the url.
Are you saying there is a way I can shorten the url to just my keyword phrase?
Warmly,
Linda P. Morton
Hi Linda if you follow Google’s “advice” you now do not really need to rewrite URLs to a more search engine friendly format, but I still would at this time.
As long as Google can read the page, you are OK.
Don’t worry about this at this time, and your urls at least look ok to me, for now
I aggree with shaun, shortening your url will not do you good, probably will harm you position either with google or other search engines. As long as your url can be read it’s ok. Just concentrate on other seo jobs to maximise your chances.
Surely SEF URLS are better for Google and humans?
very interesting stuff im new to the world of seo so thanks for the tips
I prefer to continue using URL rewriting for dynamic URLs because of two major reasons:
1) The URL looks nicer and have a better user readability;
2) If someome links to the page, using the url as anchor text, the keywords will be in.
Sheesh! We just changed our urls to be search engine friendly on the advice of our seo company!