The Perfect Search Engine URL

[esm]

I've had a first look at using the mod_rewrite MOD to produce the perfect Search Engine URL.

Given my limited knowledge of the Apache mod_rewrite function, two options appear to be available:

1. use the php file name in the URL
2. enter all of the URLs in the htaccess file

For an example of the first, the URL could be

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/browse-business_to_business-1.html

For the second option. it could be either:

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/business_to_business.html
or
http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/business_to_business-1.html

A word about the dash and underscore in the name used in the URL. In general, to display a page you need 3 bits of information:

1. the PHP file used to generate the page, e.g., browse.php
2. which category to display
3. which page of a multi-part listing to display

A regular php url would look lilke

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/browse.php?cat=2&pgwhich=5

Your browser would read this as: use the browse.php file to display page 5 of the category #2 listing.

Well, the mod-rewrite function still needs the same information. That is why you see

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/browse-business_to_business-5.html

The mod_write separates the information based on the dashes:

1. browse- tells the mod-write function to use the browse.php file ( and not any other file like the detail.php file )
2. -business_to_business- tells the mod-write function to display the business_to_business category
3. and the -5 says to display page 5 of the business_to_business category

I said all of that to illustrate this point. If I now use dashes in the category name, I end up with

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/browse-business-to-business-5.html

and the mod_rewrite interprets the dashes in business-to-business as "bits" of information and becomes confused.

Unless, I can find a way around that, I must use something other than dashes within the category name. Thus, the use of underscores.

If you have a small number categories, you could just enter them in the htaccess file. But there is a "time" penalty assocciated with loading that file and another "time penalty" to read the contents of the file.

Just some first thoughts.


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[inspireme]

Intresting post.

It would be intresting to know how much difference this would actually make? google recently (about 6 months ago) changed their search engine so that it can index php pages with up to 5 variables in the url (according to webpro news)

Wouldnt all the _underscores_ be seen as an attempt to spam by google? google is very fussy about things like that. Anything that helps increase search position will always be appreciated.

[esm]

I will leave it to others to debate the effects of _underscores_ but I have seen them in URLs on some very popular sites.

Do you have a link to the webpro news article? I tried a search on their site but got a "fatal" error.


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[esm]

while I have not finished testing the mod_rewrite for the above, I am beginning to think that it cannot produce the perfect URL. While I happen to have come to really like the mod_rewrite feature, my knowledge is not good enough to tell me if there is more that can be done than what I have described above. My instincts say no. but I will pursue it some more.

having said that, I may look again at creating a static page MOD. I have seen aladdin's and even if I could understand the coding ( which I do not ), I cannot use it for my own. So, maybe I will try to create my own. I like my own stuff anyway... I'm sure it won't look anything like his. at least the code that is. but the effects would be the same.

I'm not sure if I can even do it or how long it will take even if I can ulitmately do it but I will at least start.

[Marlboro]

Hi ESM:
Can't tell you how much we appreciate you taking your time and applying your expertise to look at 3.2 and working on it to making it more URL friendly. Be looking forward to seeing if you have a major break through down the road and or success on your own static page MOD.

[Marlboro]

The debate rages. Some swear dashes in domain names send rankings soaring.


http://www.webpronews.com/ebusiness/...kingsMore.html

[Marlboro]

Directory Structure :
Keep your directory as shallow as possible:

http://www.smartads.info/articles/se...th-having.html

Search engines will determine the pagerank of each page based on its content, and distance away from your homepage. Use this as a rule of thumb; each level down from your homepage will cost that page one pagerank point.

[esm]

well, I like the mod_rewrite MOD and for small sites, this is certainly a viable option.

but I think, ultimately, a successful site starts with Search Engine friendly URLS. If it takes a static page to achieve that, then it is at least worth the effort.

So, if I understand correctly, the main INDEXU index page that lists all the top level categories should be on a page, say content.html ( would you have an index.html page that does an automatic referral to the content.html page ??? ).

On the content.html page, a category hyperlink would show something like http:www.mysite.com/business-and-commerce.html for say, a category. and on the business-and-commerce.html page you would have other categories and/or links, each of which would have a hyperlink similar to http:www.mysite.com/business-and-commerce.html or http:www.mysite.com/bed-and-breakfast-atlanta-georgia.html, etc.

not to mention the ability to automatically use fields from the database to populate the <title>, meta tags, etc...



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[Marlboro]

Hi ESM:

I just spent the last hour going back and forth between nicecoders demo and yours to make sure that what I was seeing was not a mod.

Having no experience with 3.2 - correct me if i am wrong -It appears that the only reason that everything on both sites does not appear to be at at the first level is only because these were both set up as demo sites.

If set up not as a demo then all categories in 3.2E are at the first level.

Am I correct in that http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/...iness-1-1.html

could have just as easily been set up as:

http://www.indexuhelp.com/business_to_business-1-1.html

If this is correct then half the battle is won.

Please advise!

[esm]

technically, it is not because my site is a demo site.

it is that way because I elected to install INDEXU to the indexu32e folder. I actually have several versions of INDEXU installed; all of them access the same database.

I could have just as easily installed INDEXU to the rool directory. the URL would have then read http://www.indexuhelp.com/business_to_business-1-1.html

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[Marlboro]

Hey ESM:

My apologizes on my part - bad choice of words. Just meant that it was not installed to the root directory as you said.

What would you think of me purchasing a V3.2E and seeing what I can get done to get the URL conversion. I have always wanted to run one of your modified scripts.

[esm]

take a look at it now...

http://www.indexuhelp.com/indexu32e/index.php

still using _underscores_ but not to bad on the category URLs...

still more to do but it is 2:30 am and I have to get up at 5:30




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[esm]

you may owe me on this one, big guy, but I may have just thought of a way to use -dashes- in the URLs.....!

but then I am a decrepit old man, too...

tomorrow will tell...

[Marlboro]

Hi ESM:

The progress on this is getting beyond amazing ! I would like nothing better than to
owe you big time. The URL's are looking great. Can't wait to see how the new idea works on the underscores.

[inspireme]

I get the webpro news newstletter, they do seem to change their mind all the time, but I will try and look for some relevant acticles.