Does Google Read URL's if they include a # tag? Re: SEO Value of Clean Url's

[Atlanta-SMO]

An ECWID rep stated in regards to an inquiry about how the ECWID url's are not customizable, that "an important thing is that it doesn't matter what these URLs look like, because search engines don't read anything after that # in URLs. " Example http://www.runningboards4less.com/general-motors#!/Classic-Pro-Series-Extruded-2/p/28043025/category=6593891

Basically all of this: #!/Classic-Pro-Series-Extruded-2/p/28043025/category=6593891

That is a snippet out of a conversation where ECWID said that dirty urls don't matter beyond a hashtag...

Is that true? I haven't found any rule that Google or other search engines (Google is really the most important) don't index, read, or place value on the part of the url after a # tag.

[sachin-sv]

These URLs are called AJAX URL- a URL containing a hash fragment, e.g., www.example.com/index.html#mystate, where #mystate is the hash fragment.

Reg. the above mentioned URL- This url is using Hash-Bang (#!) not hashtag, which makes Ajax/ javascript pages crawlable. The basic # indicates a location on a page (anchor) so does not get indexed as a separate URL.

You can find detailed information here- https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/174992?hl=en

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/174993

Hope this helps!

[Atlanta-SMO]

Thank you for your response. I am not implying that it is indexing a "separate" url.  I am referring to the SEO value of a proper "clean" url for the specific page.  ECWID doesn't allow for it's users to create custom urls.

If I were creating a url for the page I listed above, I would have it something like **** .com/chevy-van NOT _.com/#!/Classic-Pro-Series-Extruded-2/p/28043025/category=6593891  _

My question regards the low or lack of any value at all using a url like the long one above and if the statement made by the ECWID rep is factual.

[Atlanta-SMO]

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Also if anyone knows how to modify Ecwid urls so that they are "clean", please chime in...

[sachin-sv]

Traditionally, the search engines ignore everything after the hash-tag because it's usually content contained on the same page or URL. Therefore, those additional URLs should not get indexed (only the part before the hashtag should). As per my experience, they completely disregard anything after the # tag in a URL.

However, it is always advisable to have clean urls as both SEs and people prefer them over complicated one. Clean urls deliver enhanced usability to help users remember and share your URLs more easily. Another benefit of a simple URL is that other sites are more likely to link to a simple URL, because it is easier to do so.

[Atlanta-SMO]

Thanks Sachin

So basically on sites that use ECWID for their ecommerce, only the main pages on the actual website (not the product pages that ECWID generates which is the part from the hashtag on) get indexed?

Essentially Google is NOT indexing any products because ECWID uses an existing page on a website and shows products there.

Is that correct? For example if you look at an XML sitemap for the running boards site that we used as an example you will see there are only 10 pages on it. However there are over a 1000 different types of running boards sold on the site which have their own pages populate after a #tag in the url: http://www.runningboards4less.com/index.php?option=com_xmap&view=xml&tmpl=component&id=1