Permalinks: Including Category or Not?

2 responses to “Should permalinks include the category or not?”

1. When it comes to structuring permalinks for a news website, choosing between including a category in the URL or opting for a simpler structure without it is a consideration that impacts both user experience and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Let’s break down the pros and cons of each option to help you make a more informed decision.

   Including Category in Permalinks

   Pros:

   1. Improved URL Context and Readability:

   2. Including the category in the permalink can make the URL more descriptive and provide immediate context about a page’s content. For instance, example.com/technology/apple-launches-new-product clearly indicates what the article is about without needing to click through.

   3. Potential SEO Benefit:

   4. Search engines use URLs as a ranking factor. Categories in URLs can provide additional keywords that can help in ranking if the category names are relevant search terms.

   5. Better Navigation and Organization:

   6. URLs with categories can help segment content more effectively for users, making it easier for them to understand the website’s structure and navigate to related content.

   Cons:

   1. Longer URLs:

   2. Including categories can lengthen URLs, which might pose a problem for UX and negatively affect keyword prominence in URL string.

   3. Potential for Complexity and Errors:

   4. Maintenance and management of the permalink structure become more complex. This complexity can lead to potential issues, such as duplicate content if articles change categories and permalinks are not redirected properly.

   5. SEO Risks with Changing Categories:

   6. If often you change article categories, the remaining redirects can clutter the website, which is disadvantageous for SEO.

   Without Category in Permalinks

   Pros:

   1. Simplicity and Clarity:

   2. A simpler URL structure, such as example.com/apple-launches-new-product, can be easier to remember and type. It’s straightforward and often more visually appealing.

   3. Reduced Risk of Technical Issues:

   4. With fewer elements in the URL, there’s less chance of bugs or errors like broken links due to category changes or renaming.

   5. Flexibility:

   6. Changing categories won’t necessitate changing URLs, meaning that the existing backlinks continue to work without requiring redirects.

   Cons:

   1. Lack of Immediate Context:
   2. Removing the category might make it less clear what the article’s focus is, placing more emphasis on the article’s title for clarity.

   Reply

2. Thank you for raising such an interesting topic! While it’s true that including categories in permalinks may not drastically impact SEO or user experience in every case, there are certainly benefits to consider.

   For one, categories in permalinks can enhance clarity and relevance. When users see a URL that includes a category, it provides immediate context about the content they can expect, which can lead to higher click-through rates. Additionally, from an SEO perspective, category-rich permalinks can help search engines understand the structure and topical hierarchy of your website better, potentially aiding in indexing.

   That said, it’s crucial to strike a balance. If a permalink becomes excessively long or convoluted due to too many categories, it could deter users. Plus, as your site evolves, maintaining permalinks with categories can become challenging if you decide to reorganize your content or categories down the line.

   Ultimately, your choice should align with your site’s strategy and the way you want to present your content to your audience. A/B testing different structures could be beneficial to determine what resonates best with your visitors. Looking forward to hearing more perspectives on this!

   Reply