Is Adding Keywords to URLs of your website still Required in SEO 2017?

Am Akinyemi Wizard of [url=climaxbox.com.ng]Climaxbox[/url] and am writing this piece to share an insight into keywords in URLs in 2017 SEO.

Have mentioned this earlier on a Digital Marketing Whatsapp group earlier but it seems I was not properly understood and this created a lot of controversies among SEO forks and Digital Marketing Experts, most of them agreed and concluded that the Best Practice is to add keywords to URLs.

After reading there views have decided to spear little time to put up this piece in order to be properly understood.

The first question is why do we need to add keywords to our website URLs?

A lot of Specialists believe that the main reason is to increase Click through Rate (CTR), which according to my school of thought I do not agree.

However, if that is the reason why keywords should be added to URLs then it has become useless and it is no longer required because URL paths are already disappearing from search results and are been replaced with Search Breadcrumbs.

Then if url paths are disappearing from search results then I see no reason why adding keywords to URLs is required. Users who search on Google see display URLs and breadcrumbs which indicates the navigation pattern of the particular page showing in search Result.

If you check the screenshot below you will notice I circled the Breadcrumbs which is just a combination of a display URL and a navigation patch. It does not appear to be a full URL patch.

Above piece is to show that adding keywords to URLs is no longer required in SEO 2017. Feel free to contribute to this School of thought about keywords in URLs.

It actually still works. But before Google rewards your efforts with that, you need to have proven beyond doubt that you deserve it. That is, you must have worked your tail off to grow your site into a valuable resource on that topic.

Once Google sees that your site truly has a bunch of top-quality articles on that niche that been frequently and consistently published, and that readers seem to love, they'll give you the edge in rankings over similar websites without the focus keyword in their URL.

webincomeplus:
It actually still works. But before Google rewards your efforts with that, you need to have proven beyond doubt that you deserve it. That is, you must have worked your tail off to grow your site into a valuable resource on that topic.

Once Google sees that your site truly has a bunch of top-quality articles on that niche that been frequently and consistently published, and that readers seem to love, they'll give you the edge in rankings over similar websites without the focus keyword in their URL.

It does not have anything do with your Ranking. I can send you a screenshot conversation between I and JohnMul of Google.

There are company websites that there index ranks on first page of Google and there are no keywords in the URL.

akinjuly77:


It does not have anything do with your Ranking. I can send you a screenshot conversation between I and JohnMul of Google.

There are company websites that there index ranks on first page of Google and there are no keywords in the URL.

No real Google employee will give direct hints on what helps rankings or not. The only globally recognized Google expert in charge of SE rankings is Matt Cutts. Leave screenshots of private chats out of this. Practical experience is what matters.

Besides, when I talk, I do based on experience. I have 2 niche sites presently ranking among top 3 for their respective keywords. Both are ahead of other sites that are slightly older and have more content.

In addition, think randomly about any keyword that people build niche sites around and see the front page of Google results for that keyword. You'll see that for most keywords, you'll see at least one or two sites on the home page with the keyword in their URL. That's not coincidence. It speaks volumes!

Finally, why do you think domain traders charge high for domain names with keywords in them? And why do you think buyers readily pay heavily to buy such keywords. If they have lost that advantage, they won't command such huge prices.

I'm not saying you can't rank without having keywords in your domain name. And I'm not saying you will rank automatically if you have a keyword domain name. You can rank with any domain name if you offer quality content and attract quality backlinks. But when you have a keyword domain to add to that, you get a slight edge ahead. It might not be much of an impact, but it's a boost, anyway.

So, in essence, if you can't get a keyword domain name, don't sweat over that. Just use something else. But if you can still find it available, use it. It doesn't hurt, and it comes with some long-term advantages.

webincomeplus:
So, in essence, if you can't get a keyword domain name, don't sweat over that. Just use something else. But if you can still find it available, use it. It doesn't hurt, and it comes with some long-term advantages.

There is no long term advantage. It was never been a Ranking factor, you can just choose to use or ignore it.

Makes no difference. That is my point...

If you feel there is a Long term Advantage, then tell me the advantage.

akinjuly77:


There is no long term advantage. It was never been a Ranking factor, you can just choose to use or ignore it.

Makes no difference. That is my point...

If you feel there is a Long term Advantage, then tell me the advantage.

He really goofed by saying "They never were". If they never were, what prompted the EMD algorithm update of 2012. Google that to read more about it.

And I'm telling you my own based on personal and referred experience. Don't let anyone play mind games with you.

Matt Cutts is the only Google expert whose words are taken as far as SEO is concerned. Who knows John Mu.

Google "exact match domain update" or "EMD update", and you'll see that his statement (They never were) is crappy.

Know also, that search engines and their top engineers deliberately play mind games just to discourage people from taking shortcuts. For example, they claimed that nofollow links have no SEO advantage, but many SEO experts have conducted practical experiments to prove that they actually boost rankings.

SEO isn't about what someone somewhere says, bro. It's about what you've practically tested and found to work. If I were to have listened to everyone who claimed to be a guru, I wouldn't be where I am today as far as Internet marketing is concerned. I've gotten lots of great results by creatively breaking rules and going against norms.

That's why I encourage people to join forums like Blackhatwor.ld. There, you'll find experts who are ready to share practical tips and give relevant answers based purely on real-life experience. And they show convincing proofs of what they do.

webincomeplus:

He really goofed by saying "They never were". If they never were, what prompted the EMD algorithm update of 2012. Google that to read more about it.

And I'm telling you my own based on personal and referred experience. Don't let anyone play mind games with you.

Matt Cutts is the only Google expert whose words are taken as far as SEO is concerned. Who knows John Mu.

Google "exact match domain update" or "EMD update", and you'll see that his statement (They never were) is crappy.

Know also, that search engines and their top engineers deliberately play mind games just to discourage people from taking shortcuts. For example, they claimed that nofollow links have no SEO advantage, but many SEO experts have conducted practical experiments to prove that they actually boost rankings.

SEO isn't about what someone somewhere says, bro. It's about what you've practically tested and found to work. If I were to have listened to everyone who claimed to be a guru, I wouldn't be where I am today as far as Internet marketing is concerned. I've gotten lots of great results by creatively breaking rules and going against norms.

That's why I encourage people to join forums like Blackhatwor.ld. There, you'll find experts who are ready to share practical tips and give relevant answers based purely on real-life experience. And they show convincing proofs of what they do.

Explain the advantages. I only used his words to support my claim. Based on my experience in the industry. If only you can explain the advantages you are taking about then I will agree with you that it truly as advantages.

And Read who JohnMul is in Google and then you will know he as q good insight in the industry.

akinjuly77:



Explain the advantages. I only used his words to support my claim. Based on my experience in the industry. If only you can explain the advantages you are taking about then I will agree with you that it truly as advantages.

1. Slight boost in rankings for primary target keywords and related long-tails.

2. Increased click-through rates in SERPs (such domain names immediately reveal what the site is all about, and this prompts search engine users to favor them. Over time, increased CTR leads to better rankings.)

3. Increased website value. Check many of the niche sites that sell on Flippa. They are keyword domains.

As I said earlier, these benefits don't come early, but they do. And if we even think of it, they are more memorable than brandable domains. It's easier to remember "cheaptecnophones.com" than "gbanjosmartphones.com".

It does not increase CTR, users don't even know what a URL is?

akinjuly77:
It does not increase CTR, users don't even know what a URL is?

Users don't know what a URL is? Do you even know what you're talking about? It seems both you and John Mu are confused. I googled his name now and the results can only prove that he has no footing to give advice regarding SEO. Just Google Matt Cutts to see the difference.

Well, you're free to choose whatever you like. But when you see keyword domain sites outranking yours later on, don't say you weren't told.

Best of luck.