Does the site file structure make a difference?

[BabyJeffy]

Good morning,

I'm currently working on a new build site. The site framework utilises directory structure to provide "english readable" directory paths in the location bar.

Example:

http://www.mysite.com/products/acme/

http://www.mysite.com/library/brochures/

http://www.mysite.com/placeorder/confirm/

The absence of any file name is deliberate - relying on the presence of the default document (index.php in this instance) to handle content (in most cases). Currently this is working really nicely.

Since this is my first attempt to put together a site with a specific emphasis on SEO, I would be interested to know of any thoughts (one way or the other) on this kind of structure.

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[FesterSXS]

If you can incorporate some of your keywords into the directory structure then I imagine that will not do you any harm.

Done appropriately of course so as not to impact on the usability of the site.

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[FesterSXS]

I've also heard that using underscores is not recommended for spacing out words as Google will not treat the words as separate. Hyphens are recommended instead.

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[BabyJeffy]

Good suggestion on using hyphens... I'll incorporate that change (currently I just run them together into one).

I'm expecting some of the keywords to appear in the URL... nothing major and certainly nothing that attempts to spam the search engines.

The choice of this framework is more for human readability than anything else... I just didn't want to find I'd stuffed up any SEO opportunities by chosing this over another method.

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[feherke]

Hi

The absence of any file name is deliberate - relying on the presence of the default document (index.php in this instance)

I think the site maintenance is easier if the files are not spreaded across multiple directories. If you use Apache, take a look at mod_rewrite :

http://www.modrewrite.com/

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[BabyJeffy]

I agree about maintainence issues - and this is fine (the actual underlying files handle things nicely already). I would go the mod-rewrite option... and I am using Apache... alas on Windows... which rules out the usual .htaccess operations (from my experience).

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[ChrisHirst]

.htaccess being a Apache config file works just the same on windows as it does on *nix.

Actually using a directory structure does make site maintenance easier and there is a benefit in the way you can structure the information architecture to make it simpler for visitors to see where they are. Breadcrumb trails are simpler as well.
There is very little SEO benefit in keyworded folders/pagename/domains

And using mod_rewrite should be a last resort to issues where site pages are not getting crawled, Not used as an instant means to keyword your URIs.




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[feherke]

Hi

Not used as an instant means to keyword your URIs.

Yes it is for this too. Most exactly, to make URLs search engine friendly.

As Jeff wrote, there will be an URL
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library/brochures/

[/ignore][/blue]
which will point to
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library/brochures/index.php

[/ignore][/blue]

So probably will be also
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library/manuals/index.php

[/ignore][/blue]
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library/technotes/index.php

[/ignore][/blue]

Which will be difficult to maintain. The easy way should be to use actually
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library.php?category=brochures

[/ignore][/blue]
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library.php?category=manuals

[/ignore][/blue]
[blue][ignore]

http://www.mysite.com/library.php?category=technotes

[/ignore][/blue]
and only the external world to see their search engine friendly format.

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Apache/Search-Engine-Friendly-URLs-with-mod-rewrite/

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[ChrisHunt]

Though bear in mind that search engines these days are more tolerant of query strings in URLs than they once were.

If your on-page navigation is good enough, I don't think visitors will pay any attention to the URL. The SEO impact can be wildly overstated as well. Pick a system that you find easy to get on with, and spend your time on something more important...

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[BabyJeffy]

and spend your time on something more important

Which remains probably the most practical suggestion to anyone working at SEO

The content for this site is still being written (although I've already migrated past the "Lorem Ipsum" state). Fortunately the client is malleable enough to accept our suggestions as fact (which allowed us to "suggest" they go for an accessible layout -- doubling up as search-engine "friendly").

Currently working on a revamp on the CSS (the current styles break IE5.2 on the Mac) -- rebuilding the layout styles has resolved that and hopefully within a few days I'll have something that I'm happy for people to look at.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[ChrisHirst]

How is a structure using folders less maintainable than one using querystrings which you then propose to use mod_rewrite to make it look like folders and therefore adding a small overhead to the server processing?

The latest fad of using mod-rewrite or ISAPI-Rewrite (IIS) is simply a cover up for programmers short comings in dealing with the dynamics of creating URIs without a lot of parameters.
SE "Friendly" URIs arent all they are cracked up to be either.
On a test with one site half of the site with parameters the other half using SEF URIs which do you think got indexed first?
mod_rewrite should be reserved for the time when it is needed in getting over technical issues with crawling NOT for the mistaken belief that it will bring better rankings, because it won't.




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.