Keywords in file names vs folder names

[wcksmith]

We understand the value of a keyword phrase included in the URL.  Is there more value to having that phrase in the folder name of the URL or the file name or does it matter?

Example:

http://www.biztoolsone.com/website-design.php

or

http://www.biztoolsone.com/website-design/

Which is best?

Thanks,  Wick Smith

[RyanKent]

The short answer is, it does not matter.

The recommendation I would make is to use what some people refer to as "technology-proof" URLs. Drop the file extension. Why?

• it looks cleaner and nicer to users

• it makes it a bit harder (more work) for someone who wants to hack your site as they are unsure of your page's language

• it gives you the flexibility to change technologies without requiring a new URL (from html to php for example)

The only difference between your URLs then would be the trailing slash. It is a matter of personal preference but I add the trailing slash to indicate a folder, and no slash to indicate it is a file.

Matt Cutts has a couple videos on URLs and file names which you may enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRzMhlFZz9I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=971qGsTPs8M