How to create SEO-friendly URLs in TYPO3?

@zion 

Creating SEO-friendly URLs in TYPO3 is an essential aspect of optimizing your website for search engines. Here are some steps and best practices to help you achieve this:

1. Enable RealURL or Route Enhancer: If you're using TYPO3 version 8 or below, you might use the RealURL extension. For TYPO3 version 9 and above, use the built-in routing and site configuration feature. For newer versions, utilize the Route Enhancer to configure SEO-friendly URLs.
2. Configure Routing: Access your TYPO3 backend, and navigate to Site Management > Sites. Select your site and configure the URL suffix settings and specify the routeEnhancers. Define URL patterns using route enhancers for different page types, such as news articles or custom plugins.
3. Set Speaking URLs: Use clear, descriptive, and readable keywords in your URLs to describe the content accurately. Avoid using special characters, spaces, or too many numbers.
4. Use Slug Field: TYPO3 provides a slug field for pages and records, where you can manually edit the URL slug to make it more readable and keyword-rich. Ensure each page or record has a unique slug, reflecting the content's purpose.
5. Page Titles and Metadata: Ensure your page titles are concise and contain relevant keywords. Page titles usually become part of the default URL if not customized, so it's essential they make sense for the URL structure.
6. Configure .htaccess or Alternative: Ensure your .htaccess file or web server configuration is set to allow clean URLs by removing index.php. This might be auto-configured in modern TYPO3 installations, but checking against your server environment is advisable.
7. Redirect Old URLs: Implement 301 redirects for any old or non-SEO-friendly URLs to ensure visitors and search engines can find the correct pages. You can configure redirects in the TYPO3 backend or utilize an extension such as redirects.
8. Use Consistent Naming Conventions: Stick to lowercase letters, use hyphens to separate words, and maintain a consistent style across the site. Avoid using underscores, as hyphens are generally better understood by search engines.
9. Language Settings: Configure language options if you run a multilingual site. Use TYPO3's language handling features to ensure URLs are appropriately translated and structured.
10. Regularly Update and Audit: Continuously review your URLs to ensure they remain SEO-friendly after content updates or structural changes. Use TYPO3’s reports or external SEO tools to audit and optimize URLs.

By following these best practices, you can enhance your TYPO3 site's visibility and usability through well-structured, SEO-friendly URLs.