Does keywords-in-URLs still matter?

[JorgeV]

Hello-

Some times ago, it was nearly mandatory to have keywords in the URLs of pages, in order to rank at Google (and other SE). To me, it has always been way too easy to abuse, and I don't know why SE put so much importance to this.

By the way, last year, I created a new site, and decided NOT to go with keywords in URLs, and, this site performs as well as my other sites (not better, not worse). So coincidence? or is it simply that SE no longer mind? or the importance of keywords in URLs was greatly downgraded, making a difference only in really-really competitive areas.

The thing is, with shorter URLs, it also makes page smaller, so , slightly faster to download and parse. So , in a way, it's also an optimizing ...

Also, indirectly related, is there still such as thing as "keyword" ? I mean, of-course, yes, but when I see the results produced by Google, it looks like Google minds more for the meaning of the text, than the words themselves.

[Robert Charlton]

Some times ago, it was nearly mandatory to have keywords in the URLs of pages, in order to rank at Google (and other SE)

I don't think this was ever true, but YMMV.

I've tested keywords in urls, and the SEO effect is miniscule. Click-throughs are helped, though.

[JesterMagic]

It helped years ago but for ranking in Google but the effect now days are virtually now existence, especially with structured data now.

Since the search results still show the URL I think it still does make a tiny bit of difference for users. (not spamming the url with keywords though)

[brighteryeg]

I'd guess that the impact probably varies based on industry or search intent etc.. but semantics has clearly made it less important for rankings. No doubt that it still influences clicks though

[tangor]

One of two hundred plus signals ... ie ... not that important. :)