SEO serves as a success factor in the field of digital marketing, where visibility and online presence are critical. There is a subtle but important element that frequently goes unnoticed in the complex web of SEO tactics.
Recently, SEOLeverage conducted an interesting case study that highlighted URL structure, a relatively unappreciated SEO component. This case study explores the crucial part that SEO-friendly URLs have in the online success of SEOLeverage's clients.
Join us on a journey that demonstrates the value of URL optimization.
What we found:
In our study, we found something interesting on a client’s website. They’ve put the year 2022 in their web addresses. This suggests that their content might be old.
Consider this example URL: https://XXX.com/XXX-XXX-2022-XXX/
Specifically, we identified two key issues:
- URL Date Inconsistency: The client’s website includes a year (2022) in the URL structure, suggesting that it is associated with content from that specific year.
- Outdated URL: The URL structure remains static with the year 2022, indicating that the content may not have been updated or refreshed to reflect current information.
This discovery is a big part of our study, and it shows how important it is to keep online content current so people find it useful, particularly in terms of SEO-friendly URLs.
What we did:
We checked the page and the URL that had a particular year mentioned.
The following steps were taken:
- Proposal for SEO-friendly URL: Suggested to the client that we remove the “2022” from this URL to make it future-proof. So from https://XXX.com/XXX-XXX-2022-XXX/ to https://XXX.com/XXX-XXX-XXX/.
- Page optimization suggestion: We also suggested optimizing the page as it is still in the year 2022.
What results we achieved:
We checked Ahrefs and noticed an increase in ranking after the year was removed. This is the client ranking now using https://XXX.com/XXX-XXX-XXX/:
This was the client ranking before, and it clearly shows that the page is losing traffic:
Now, we are closely monitoring this client’s page, and it shows that the traffic is improving.
Future-proof URLs are crucial because they ensure that the content on your website is still relevant and valuable to users over time. This contributes to a positive user experience and sustained SEO performance.
By avoiding specific date references or outdated terms in URLs, you minimize the need for frequent updates and maintenance. This makes your content more enduring and accessible.
Final Thoughts
The URL's ranks were enhanced as a result of the removal of particular date references. But it also made clear how important it is to make URLs future-proof. This strategy guarantees that users will continue to value the content over time.
The case study is an important reminder of how visibility IS crucial in the digital world. Also, how SEO-friendly URLs can improve a website's performance.
If you'd like to find a way to consistently optimize your site URL to make it SEO-friendly, contact SEOLeverage or book yourself into our schedule.
