URL Path to Store Article Library for SEO

[ErnieB]

What is the best URL structure for a domain to start adding a main directory for educational articles under? We want to find the best URL structure to keep articles under as a main, then category, then subcategory:

For example, if my client is going after TWO SPECIFIC KEYWORD PHRASES as their primary (let's say they are KIDNEY DIALYSIS and CKD DIALYSIS, should they start building up their article library (for educational purposes as well as ranking/SEO), should they list it under which structure for the best SEO ranking opportunities:

• domain.com/KIDNEY-DIALYSIS/article1, article2, article3
• domain.com/CKD-DIALYSIS/article1, article2, article3
• domain.com/ARTICLES/article1, article2, article3

Both KIDNEY DIALYSIS and CKD DIALYSIS are critical phrases for them.  Is it a waste of URL space to just have a home of domain.com/ARTICLES then build off that URL structure like:

• domain.com/articles/kidney-dialysis
• domain.com/articles/ckd-dialysis

Thoughts? Ideas? Thank you!

[Ray-pp]

I'd suggest dropping the /articles from the URL and just go with a friendly URL that is http://www.domain.com/name-of-article

You could include the categories, such as /kidney-dialysis, but I suggest keeping the URL train short and focusing the article title as the main portion of the URL.

Create efficient category pages for your main terms and try to get them to rank as well.

[ErnieB]

I thought about that, but I was under the impression that it's better "seo-wise" to

• have a url structure where there is a MAIN PAGE that links to SUB CATEGORIES then ARTICLES like domain.com/kidney-dialysis/articlename/ but if we are targeting 2 incredibly important keyword phrases I want to avoid domain.com/kidney-dialysis-ckd-dialysis/article since that is too long and too keyword stuffy, unless I'm wrong.

I agree with short URL's but what page would they link from if not a URL structure that supports showing the bots that there is an article library url structure like COUNTRY > STATE > CITY > NEIGHBORHOOD.

Thoughts?

[Ray-pp]

I agree to avoid a domain such as:

domain.com/kidney-dialysis-ckd-dialysis/article

Your article URL will probably include a similar keyword and it does start to get too long/stuffy.

I also agree that you want to setup an internal structure as described: Category > Article Name

Where I differ is by including the category in the URL, I believe it is not needed. Instead, allow the URL to be the article name. Then, structure your website so that you have a strong category page for your main keyword phrase and include links to these articles (and vice-versa) as appropriate.

Your internal link structure will tell Google just how important the main category page is for the main term and your supporting articles will be organized into categories through your UI & navigation structure.

Setting it up this way will inform google how each piece of content is related and still allow for the article to be the main term in the URL structure.

However, this is just a preference. You can include the category in the main URL structure and it may even be a big benefit to your site. I prefer the more direct URLs and enforcing the structure through UI & internal link design - I think it allows for more flexibility and attention on the article's terms.