Directory naming theory

Which one...?

[Nick_W]

Hi everyone,

www.great-widgets.com

with sub-directories blue-widgets and green-widgets

or.....

www.great-widgets.com

with sub-directories blue and green

What's you're thinking/experience?

Many thanks...

Nick

[Robber]

Im not keen on having the keywords in the url more than once, but you often see em like that ranking OK. Think about the length of the URL carefully though as extra words could dilute other combinations, although in a simple two word target I guess thats not too important.

[Serio]

My experience is that it does help to name a sub-directory with a keyphrase - and it works for me.

[workinghard]

Hi

I always understood that it was good to use keywords in your directory names.

Thanks

[Grumpus]

First one is best if the search term is "blue widgets", second one will work fine if the search term is "widgets blue". Not only is google case sensitive, but it is also highly "order" sensitive - something that doesn't get discussed here, a lot.

G.

[Beachboy]

Since when is Google case sensitive?

[Mark_A]

Hi Nick,

My view is rather simpler, I have not tried to detect a discernable influence on ranking, rather I think about the effect on the user who sees your url under the search results. For that instance I think credibility can be a guide, does:

http://www.companysite.com/blue_widgedts/index.html

not look rather more credible than

http://www.loadsa-widgets.com/blue_widgedts/widgets-r-us.html

I think it might.

Which means it might affect click throughs ..

After all its not just about getting into the SERPS but also about being credible enough in title, description and url to persuade someone to visit.

just an opinion, nothing more.

[Nick_W]

Good thoughts Mark. Certainly worth the ponder...

Nick

[Sinner_G]

After all its not just about getting into the SERPS but also about being credible enough in title, description and url to persuade someone to visit.

I'm with you for the importance of title and description, but not sure the average web user really looks at the URL. The domain maybe (so company.com would indeed be better than loadsa-widgets), but I guess the rest is not relevant to users.

[Serio]

What Sinner_G said.

I don't think your average searcher would think twice about the url. If the title and description look OK they'll just click on it.

[johnser]

I agre with Sinner_G & serio for the simple reason that most people to be honest haven't a clue about urls. I doubt they even check the domain names. Title & Description is what drives traffic I think.

The danger we have is that we're so close to seo and so used to trying to decide whether

domain.com/blue_widgets/index.html
is better than
blue-widegets-for-ever.com/blue_widgets_for_ever.html

Most people searching haven't a clue what the difference is. They're looking for something. If they see it in the descrpition, they click.

Thats my 2p worth!
J

[web_india]

beachboy :
>> Since when is Google case sensitive?

I think what Grumpus is referring here is the case-sensitivity for the directory names. i.e. the directory names could also be WIDGETS-blue-widgets or green-widgets-WIDGETS

[Grumpus]

Nah, I was typing quickly and misspoke (er - miswrote, if that's a word...). It was supposed to read "density sensitive". I have no idea how the word "case" got from my brain to my fingertips - or even what it was doing there in the first place.

G.