2024 Best URL structure

[newtolocalseo]

Hi all. Recently started helping a friend with SEO and after reading a ton of posts, decided to sign up here.

One thing that I still see a lot of conflicting information on is url structure. Is this ahrefs article the best practice in 2024? It looks like a few years ago that may not have been the case, and a flat structure with the location & service in the slug was more common?

What are implementing today?

Type A

www.example.com/emergency-plumbing-new-york

www.example.com/wallpaper-removal-new-york

** when I check new client sites from other agencies, there’s quite a bit of this structure being used

Type B

www.example.com/location/service

www.example.com/new-york/emergency-plumbing

www.example.com/new-york/wallpaper-removal

Type C

www.example.com/service/location/

www.example.com/emergency-plumbing/new-york

www.example.com/wallpaper-removal/new-york

https://ahrefs.com/blog/location-pages/
https://localsearchforum.com/threads/what-url-structure-to-use-for-local-seo.52374/page-2#posts

 

[Colan Nielsen]

I'll take Type A all day.

 

[newtolocalseo]

I'll take Type A all day.

Thanks! That’s what I initially planned on using but the ahrefs article & some other posts sent me back to researching the best structure.

We have a site with 300+ pages, 2 locations & two specialties (think hvac & roofing, for example) which could become cumbersome with a flat structure.

Do you mix and match flat url structures for more important key words, with a parent/child structure for others ?

 

[Conor Treacy]

Same as Colan, we use Type A 99% of the time. It's rare that we would go outside of that structure.

 

[newtolocalseo]

Same as Colan, we use Type A 99% of the time. It's rare that we would go outside of that structure.

Thanks! How would you tackle a franchise with 25 locations & many services?

Just hope to spark some great conversation points on this.

I’m not surprised by the preference of Option A based on what we’ve seen in practice, but makes ya wonder about that ahrefs article!

 

[Colan Nielsen]

How would you tackle a franchise with 25 locations & many services?

I would create pages for each location + service combo. I'd first check to see that a main location page isn't already ranking for the service you plan to create a specific page for.

 

[newtolocalseo]

I would create pages for each location + service combo. I'd first check to see that a main location page isn't already ranking for the service you plan to create a specific page for.

Great point on checking the home page ranking.

Out of curiosity have you tested using /location/service vs /location-service?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

/location-service performed best in our testing.

 

[Trikru]

Type B is generally preferred in 2024, especially for multi-location businesses. It’s organized, helps with local SEO, and is scalable.

 

[Jessica C]

/location-service performed best in our testing.

Hi Colan! Question for you- does it matter if the url is:

/location-service
or
/service-location

just curious what your thoughts are. Clients looking for my services will always search "service + location" in Google (they tell me and thats what I see in Google Search Console, too).

 

[Jessica C]

Same as Colan, we use Type A 99% of the time. It's rare that we would go outside of that structure.

Hi Conor! Question for you- does it matter if the url is:

/location-service
or
/service-location

just curious what your thoughts are. Clients looking for my services will always search "service + location" in Google (they tell me and thats what I see in Google Search Console, too).

 

[Jessica C]

Hi all. Recently started helping a friend with SEO and after reading a ton of posts, decided to sign up here.

One thing that I still see a lot of conflicting information on is url structure. Is this ahrefs article the best practice in 2024? It looks like a few years ago that may not have been the case, and a flat structure with the location & service in the slug was more common?

What are implementing today?

Type A

www.example.com/emergency-plumbing-new-york

www.example.com/wallpaper-removal-new-york

** when I check new client sites from other agencies, there’s quite a bit of this structure being used

Type B

www.example.com/location/service

www.example.com/new-york/emergency-plumbing

www.example.com/new-york/wallpaper-removal

Type C

www.example.com/service/location/

www.example.com/emergency-plumbing/new-york

www.example.com/wallpaper-removal/new-york

https://ahrefs.com/blog/location-pages/
https://localsearchforum.com/threads/what-url-structure-to-use-for-local-seo.52374/page-2#posts

Hi there! what structure did you end up going with?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Hi Colan! Question for you- does it matter if the url is:

/location-service
or
/service-location

just curious what your thoughts are. Clients looking for my services will always search "service + location" in Google (they tell me and thats what I see in Google Search Console, too).

I don't think it matters a ton, but I would probably go with the second option based on what you're seeing in search console.

 

[fisicx]

Hi Conor! Question for you- does it matter if the url is:

/location-service
or
/service-location

Makes no real difference. The URL is pretty much irrelevant as a ranking signal.

 

[Jessica C]

I don't think it matters a ton, but I would probably go with the second option based on what you're seeing in search console.

thank you!

 

[Peter W]

url structure can definitely be confusing.

right now, type A (example.com/service-location) is generally best for SEO since it's shorter, simpler, and easy for users and Google to understand.

type B (example.com/location/service) is good too if you have lots of locations and services, but it can make urls longer

type C (example.com/service/location) isn't used much since it can confuse people searching location-first

I'd stick with type A for clarity and SEO benefit, and focus more on good internal linking and clear navigation.. that's where you'll see bigger wins anyway.

hope that helps!

 

[fisicx]

right now, type A (example.com/service-location) is generally best for SEO since it's shorter, simpler, and easy for users and Google to understand.

Except Google doesn't really care. Years ago EMD and highly structured URLs were being promoted by the likes of MOZ. And then Google turned down the dial making the domain name and URL worth almost zero. Categorization on the other hand is really important. Which is why you need those case studies to promote locations and services.