subdirectories

pages in root vs. subdirectory

[ventura]

what is the recommendation for google? should i just throw all my pages in the root or organize them in subdirectory folders?

which is better?

www.example.com/fax-broadcast.jsp
www.example.com/web-design.jsp
www.example.com/puppy-training.jsp

or:

www.example.com/fax-broadcast.jsp/fax-broadcast.jsp
www.example.com/web-design/web-design.jsp
www.example.com/puppy-training/puppy-training.jsp

thanks,
ed ventura

[Knowles]

In this I would say forget about Google, what will make it easier for you to manage? If you are only going to have those 3 pages then sure leave it in one directory, but if your going to end up with thousands of pages put them in subdirectories. With google the only thing that will happen is the PR will get less and less the deeper it goes. So if you have PR 7 on your main directory then you would have PR 6 on the next level and PR 5 on on the next ect. Google is helpful but remember you have to update it not Google.

[pageoneresults]

Welcome to Webmaster World ventura

> or:

www.example.com/fax-broadcast.jsp/fax-broadcast.jsp
www.example.com/web-design/web-design.jsp
www.example.com/puppy-training/puppy-training.jsp

How about...

www.example.com/fax-broadcast/index.jsp
www.example.com/web-design/index.jsp
www.example.com/puppy-training/index.jsp

Also, the PR will find its way down the levels. You need to make sure that the linking structure of the site allows Googlebot to get in there and crawl through all levels. Inbound links to those sub-level pages will help. I have pages at 1st and 2nd levels that carry just as much PR as the root level.

I've found that if your main navigation contains links to the sub-level pages and vice versa that it helps to spread the PR.

[Robber]

Often the PR will be less on deeper pages simply because they arent linked as much - both internally and externally. That means it can look like PR is being lost just because you have deep dir structure. However, I have found shallower structures to work well, not just with Google but others too.

As the other guys say though, remember you have to maintain it- if you cant maintain the pages it wont matter where they are as they will have little value.

[George]

Ventura,
I have been trying to find proof that directory level affects PR. So far I have found none, it is I believe Conjecture.

Do as Knowles, pageoneresults and Robber suggest. A bit like parenting....what works for you? :)

George