PrintBorrowed from http://www.talltech.com
I have performed many searches on Google and have yet to find a sure relation between the URL and the search results.
However, when it comes to the URLs, the manager has a strong argument: All the big sites use URLs without query strings.
The counter-argument is that yes, they do use them - but is it also fair to assume that it is the reason for their high page rank? I shouldn't think so.
Computerworld.dk had a fine page rank before October 3rd 2005 with URLs like http://www.computerworld.dk/Default.asp?Mode=2&ArticleId=22834 and has not seen a great increase in page rank or Google search result ranking since the new system was implemented, showing URLs like http://www.computerworld.dk/cto/34317
With the argument that all the big sites use this type of URL one can also make it a matter of the Chicken and the Egg - are all the big sites getting better search results because of the URLs? Or is it merely that the sites with the best search results all use them?
Conclusion #1
"Search engine friendly" URLs is a myth.All major websites nowadays use "search engine friendly" URLs, but there are no real indicators that it makes any difference to the search rankings.
When I encourage people to use them anyway, it is because they are much prettier to look at, easier to remember and easier to pass on to friends. It is also much much easier to change the underlying system to a completely different architecture and/or platform that still supports this URL structure than with the filename.ext?querystring equivalent.
For that reason - and only that - do I endorse changing the URLs. But don't ever ask me for "Search Engine Friendly" URLs.
