Keywords In URLs - Not Just For Search Engines
Is it just me, or are you also paying more attention to the URL listed in search engine result pages?
Let's say you're searching for a new memory stick for your child's PSP. The top two results at Yahoo have equally compelling listings, however, the URLs displayed are:
www.seospeedwagon.com/psp_memory_stick.htm
and
www.seospeedwagon.com/store/Other_W0QQsacatZ21189QQsocmdZListingItemList
Which might you be more persuaded to click on?
Boy, that first one may be just what I'm looking for eh?
Apparently the first site refers to a PSP memory stick as "psp_memory_stick" whlie the second site calls it a "Other_W0QQsacatZ21189QQsocmdZListingItemList".
I think this is a good example of how URLs displayed in search engine results pages are becoming more and more valuable as CONTENT that may affect the clickability of the entire listing.
But what about you? How are the search engines displaying your URLs? How about the URLs of your competitors? Do they qualify as keyword-relevant or as keyword-jibberish?
I'm a firm believer in keyword-enhanced, logical URL structure because:
A. There is some (no one knows exactly how much) benefit in search engine performance when keywords are included in the names of your domain and/or pages.
B. From a usability (and common sense) aspect, a URL that displays my searched keyword or similar tells me a click will likely lead me where I want to go.