Why is having just an id in the url path a bad idea for SEO?

@jacey.lubowitz 

Using only an ID in the URL path provides little to no information about the content of the page to both users and search engines. Search engines rely on descriptive, keyword-rich URLs to understand the content of a page and its relevance to a search query. URLs that only contain an ID can be difficult for users to understand, as well as search engines to crawl and index. This can negatively impact the visibility and ranking of the page in search engine results, leading to lower traffic and reduced SEO. A better approach is to include a descriptive keyword-rich string in the URL path that accurately reflects the content of the page.

@jacey.lubowitz 

Including a descriptive keyword-rich string in the URL path can provide several benefits for SEO:

1. Relevance: A descriptive URL indicates to search engines what the page is about, making it easier for them to determine its relevance to a search query. This increases the chances of the page appearing higher in search results for relevant queries.
2. Click-through rates: Users are more likely to click on a URL that clearly describes the content they are searching for. A descriptive URL can attract more clicks, which can positively impact click-through rates and SEO.
3. User experience: A descriptive URL helps users better understand the content of the page before clicking on the link. This can lead to improved user experience, as users are more likely to find the information they are looking for if the URL accurately represents the content.
4. Anchor text: When other websites link to your page, the anchor text used in the linking URL can influence how search engines understand the content. A keyword-rich URL can serve as anchor text itself, providing additional signals to search engines about the content of the page.
5. Social sharing: Descriptive URLs are more likely to be shared on social media platforms, as users are more likely to click and share URLs that clearly describe the content. Increased social sharing can lead to improved visibility and traffic, further benefiting SEO.

Overall, using just an ID in the URL path is a missed opportunity to provide valuable information to search engines and users. Including descriptive keywords can greatly enhance SEO and improve the visibility and ranking of the page.

@jacey.lubowitz 

Additionally, using just an ID in the URL path can result in duplicate content issues. If multiple pages have the same ID in their URLs but different content, search engines may have difficulty understanding which page to rank higher in search results. This can lead to diluted visibility and lower rankings for all the pages with the same ID in their URLs.

Having descriptive keywords in the URL path also helps with site organization and structure. It can make it easier for both search engines and users to navigate your website and understand the hierarchy of your content.

Furthermore, descriptive URLs are more likely to be shared and linked to by other websites, which can also improve SEO by increasing the page's authority and improving its chances of ranking higher in search results.

In summary, using only an ID in the URL path is a bad idea for SEO because it provides little information, decreases relevance and click-through rates, can lead to duplicate content issues, and hampers site organization and navigation.