Keywords in URLs - any best practices?

By : Administrator
Published 9th December 2010 |
Read latest comment - 8th February 2012

Calling all SEO gurus

We have a new project for next year, and I'm currently looking around for a suitable URL.

We know exactly what keywords we want to target, and the market is quite niche, so I want to get the keywords in the URL.

URL doesn't have to be memorable, but are there any best practices in URL length, word separation by using underscores (last I heard, hyphens were a no no?).

The plan is to quickly be top of Google Page 1, but are we better separating words with underscores to make our keywords stand out, or are their any SEO penalties for this?

eg, I know people type in Steves Wonderful Widgets into Google to find my product, so I want my URL to be steveswonderfulwidgets.co.uk

But would I be penalised if I had steves_wonderful_widgets.co.uk which would display much clearer in the search results to the human eye?

If the URL was steves_wonderful_magnificent_&_incredible_widgets.co.uk is this too long? Technically I think its about 4000 characters for maximum length, but is there an SEO best practice length, like there is for page descriptions and titles? Or is it not a considered factor?

I think the URL, along with the page titles are the 2 most important factors in onpage SEO, so determined to get it spot on!

Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn
Comments
You can only use a hyphen in a domain name, not an underscore not any other special character.

Underscore's can however be used in the URL extension e.g. stevesgoldenwidgets.co.uk/my_great_widget

However, I would always advise using no hyphens in the domain, and only hyphens in any extensions.

indizine
indizine

Underscore's can however be used in the URL extension e.g. stevesgoldenwidgets.co.uk/my_great_widget

Well I never, didn't know that

We use underscores in our URL extensions, so assumed you could use them in the actual URL.

Was thinking it might be visually more appealing breaking up the keywords. Is there any actual evidence that hyphens can cause problems, or is just accepted bad practice by you SEO folk?

Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

Hi Steve,

I would advise not using hyphens and just having the URL as one long word.

steveswonderfulwidgets.com

Doesn't look pretty to look at but is very effective for SEO (especially if they are the keywords toy want to rank for).

Innocent Advertising

Hi Steve,

I would advise not using hyphens and just having the URL as one long word.

steveswonderfulwidgets.com

Doesn't look pretty to look at but is very effective for SEO (especially if they are the keywords toy want to rank for).

I suppose thats the bit I've been struggling to get my head round. Having no hyphens is more effective than having hyphens? So guessing Google must see a keyword almost as a misspelling then if it is associated with a hyphen? ie steves- as opposed to steves

Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

There was a good explanation about the use of hyphens in domains but I can't recall where it was but no, avoid if possible, and ideally just use one hyphen if really necessary. There are times when a hyphen would be better to use, for other reasons not related to seo.

And in the extensions, use a hyphen rather than an underscore, to separate your words in the extension. SEF URL's will appear this way automatically in mosty cases though I have seen them generated with underscores.

indizine
indizine

You can only use a hyphen in a domain name, not an underscore not any other special character.

Underscore's can however be used in the URL extension e.g. stevesgoldenwidgets.co.uk/my_great_widget

However, I would always advise using no hyphens in the domain, and only hyphens in any extensions.

I agree. And my experience is that this approach can definitely help with the rankings - even when the site has very limited back-links.

Drian

forum avatartaniasharma
6th September 2011 3:07 PM
Targeting your blog/ website, domain names containing keywords are play a very big role in SEO. Benefit of use your keyword in URL is that once your site is optimized for the search engines, queries for your targeted keyword will hopefully rank your site higher than that of another site which is utilizing the same keyword.

Well I never, didn't know that

We use underscores in our URL extensions, so assumed you could use them in the actual URL.

Was thinking it might be visually more appealing breaking up the keywords. Is there any actual evidence that hyphens can cause problems, or is just accepted bad practice by you SEO folk?

There is no evidence to suggest hyphens cause problems - absolutely none. My experience over the years is that they cause no problems AND (as you say) are much easier to read by humans!!!
Total myth.

Drian

I have a vid from Mr Cutts about underscores vs hyphens (circa 2009 ~ will find an update)

Hyphen Vs Undersccore

and this one ( its LONG though, plus minus an hour) but its an SEO review seminar help by Mr Cutts and his gang. Might have a lot more info and its circa 2010

Google Team SEO review

Thanks,
Dreamraven

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