Every day I read and hear a lot about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SEF (Search Engine Friendly) urls.
For me the number one question is "are the urls HEF (Human Ear Friendly)?"
What does that mean and why should you care?
Google have several excellent recommendations for your urls and although they come close to explaining HEF they don't go all the way.
When I am on the telephone, in a crowded bar or at a Joomla!Day I want, no I need, to be able to tell you exactly which page to go to on my web site.
Can you really imagine this conversation having a positive outcome
- Q. When is the next meeting?
- A. Sorry I don't remember
- Q. Is it on the web site?
- A. Oh yes, so it is, you can go to www.example.com/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&view=calendar&Itemid=87
Wouldn't it be so better if the conversation was
- Q. Is it on the web site?
- A. Yes you can go to www.example.com/meetings
Don't believe me? Just try it for yourself.
Pick up your cell and "phone a friend" and see which url they remember.
HEF urls really are the most important thing for me and that is why I always use sh404sef on my sites.
By default the sh404sef created urls satisfy all the advice that google gave and when I want to really tweak a url to give it maximum HEF then I can do that in a few clicks.
I've been banging on about making your urls HEF for a few years now and although the acronym hasn't taken off the principle has become commonplace.
When you need to download Joomla you don't have to remember http://joomlacode.org/gf/project/joomla/frs/ - instead all you have to remember is www.joomla.org/download.html.
The first link does satisfy google's advice for URL structure but I challenge you to remember that url and even if you can remember it do you think you can tell it to a friend.
