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  4. Does Google count the domain name in its 115-character "ideal" URL length?

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Does Google count the domain name in its 115-character "ideal" URL length?

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  • RScime25
    RScime25 last edited by May 24, 2013, 11:39 AM

    I've been following various threads having to do with URL length and Google's happiness therewith and have yet to find an answer to the question posed in the title. Some answers and discussions have come close, but none I've found have addressed this with any specificity.

    Here are four hypothetical URLs of varying lengths and configurations:

    • EXAMPLE ONE:
      my-big-widgets-are-the-best-widgets-in-the-world-and-come-in-many-vibrant-and-unique-colors-and-configurations.html (115 characters)

    • EXAMPLE TWO:

    sample.com/my-big-widgets-are-the-best-widgets-in-the-world-and-come-in-many-vibrant-and-unique-colors-and-configurations.html (126 characters)

    • EXAMPLE THREE:

    www.sample.com/my-big-widgets-are-the-best-widgets-in-the-world-and-come-in-many-vibrant-and-unique-colors-and-configurations.html (130 characters)

    • EXAMPLE FOUR:

    http://www.sample.com/my-big-widgets-are-the-best-widgets-in-the-world-and-come-in-many-vibrant-and-unique-colors-and-configurations.html (137 characters)

    Assuming the examples contain appropriate keywords and are linked to appropriate anchor text (etc.,) how would Google look upon each? All I've been able to garner thus far is that URLs should be as short as possible while still containing and contextualizing keywords.

    I have 500+ URLs to review for the company I work for and could use some guidance; yes, I know I should test, but testing is problematical to the extreme; I look to the collective/accumulated wisdom of the MOZVerse for help.

    Thanks.

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
    • MickEdwards
      MickEdwards last edited by May 24, 2013, 11:50 AM May 24, 2013, 11:50 AM

      I have understood the length of the URL to be calculated post http:// unless it's https://.

      Just the way it is displayed in the results.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • IOSC
        IOSC last edited by May 24, 2013, 11:49 AM May 24, 2013, 11:49 AM

        Here is Matt Cutts talking about this topic:

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

        The idea  is to avoid spammy looking urls (which all of those do) and focus on URLs that are easy for users to remember and link to while also keeping some sort organizational structure for the site.

        eg: example.com/widgets/blue

        example.com/widgets/green

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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