Search engine friendly URL's

Just how how important are they really?

[microduma]

Hi,

I have noted several opinions as regards search engine friendly URL's in various forums. I have been wondering however, the major SE's GOOGLE, yAHOO, Microsoft and Overture in particular, how capable would they be of dealing with "unfriendly" URL's? I surely see many such pages indexed by these engines (but then again, I will not know about those that are not).

Thanks

[MichaelBluejay]

It probably depends on the degree of unfriendliness -- perhaps you could post some examples of what you're wondering about (after anonymizing them).

For multi-parameter URLs, always put the essential parameters first, and the optional ones last. Some SE's will only follow the first 2-3 parameters, or so I hear.

If a url is indexed, then I think it's as good as a friendly url. I think the problem with unfriendly URLs is that they might not get indexed. But if they *do* get indexed, I don't think they'll rank any worse than friendly URLs.

Just assumptions, all around, but I'm pretty good at assuming.

[microduma]

Thanks. I am in fact trying to prepare to convert a static html website into a dynamic one with the aid of a CMS, and I am developing locally. An example URL would be :

[www./domain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=40...]

(the only one so far).

The CMS (Mambo) does not seem to allow too much scope for URL sculpting, and while it does allow for "user friendly URL's" same depends on mod_rewrite on Apache and may potentially cause problems. I am no server expert, so I am trying to avoid risks!

[netscan]

Use 404sef, its a component for Mambo that rewrites the url in a friendly manner, it does make use of the rewrite in the .htaccess file but is really easy to implement.

Here's a sample:

## Begin .htaccess ##

RewriteEngine On

# Uncomment following line if your webserver's URL
# is not directly related to physival file paths.
# Update YourMamboDirectory (just / for root)

RewriteBase /
#This would be the root directory of your site, wherever you installed mambo. If it is in your root folder, it will be
#" / " (without quotes)

#
# Rules
#

RewriteRule ^content(.*) index.php
RewriteRule ^component/(.*) index.php

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}!-f
RewriteRule (.*) index.php

## End .htaccess ##

[microduma]

Great, thanks a lot, seems to be just what is required here!

[netscan]

Anytime!