Guide On How To Write URL Structure For Various Industries

A URL is a web address that directs users to specific resources on a website. The structure of a URL is critical for usability, SEO, and overall site navigation. A clear, logical, and industry-tailored URL not only helps search engines index your site but also enhances user experience. Whether you're in e-commerce, finance, healthcare, or any other industry, the right URL strategy can drive traffic and conversions.

Key URL Structure Elements

• Domain: Your brand name or a relevant keyword.
• Subdomains (Optional): Can be used to segment your website (e.g., blog.example.com, support.example.com).
• Subdirectories: Create a clear hierarchy to organize content. Example: /products/, /solutions/, /resources/, /support/
• Product/Service Names: Include concise and descriptive names in URLs. Example: /products/cloud-storage/
• Features: Highlight key features to attract specific user groups. Example: /products/cloud-storage/data-encryption/
• Use Cases: Target specific user needs and scenarios. Example: /solutions/healthcare/data-security/

Let's learn how to create optimized URL structures for different industries, including e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and more all while keeping SEO best practices in mind.

1. How To Structure URL Structure In E-Commerce

For e-commerce websites, your URL structure needs to mirror your site’s category hierarchy and product organization.

Best Practices For URL Structure In E-Commerce:

• Use Categories and Subcategories: Reflect your site's structure in URLs to improve navigation. For example https://www.example.com/electronics/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s23
• Incorporate Keywords: Include relevant keywords without overloading.
• Avoid Query Parameters: Static URLs outperform dynamic ones.

❌ www.example.com/product?id=12345

✅ www.example.com/womens-clothing/summer-dress

Tip: URLs should be short but descriptive. Avoid stuffing them with unnecessary details like “color” or “size” unless crucial (e.g., /red-summer-dress).

2. How To Structure URL Structure In Finance

In the finance industry, clarity and credibility are paramount. Complex URLs can deter users from clicking, especially in sensitive niches like loans or investment advice.

Best Practices:

• Highlight Services and Resources: Structure URLs to guide users intuitively like https://www.example.com/personal-loans/low-interest
• Minimize Numbers: Avoid unnecessary numbers in URLs unless they denote years or vital figures like https://www.example.com/investment-guides/stock-market-2025
• Focus on HTTPS: Security is a ranking factor and builds user trust so make sure your URL is https: and not http:

Tips: Finance sites should emphasize clean, professional URLs that align with expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T).

3. How To Structure URLs Structure In Medical and Healthcare

Healthcare URLs need to be patient-centric while adhering to strict compliance rules.

Best Practices:

• Use Informational Keywords: Craft URLs that match patient search queries.

For example:

• example.com/heart-disease-symptoms
• https://www.example.com/find-a-doctor/dermatology

• Avoid Medical Jargon: Use layman’s terms for better user understanding. For example, instead of using "/products/antihypertensive-medication" it is advisable to use "/products/high-blood-pressure-medication". This is because using layman's terms makes your website more accessible to a wider audience, including those who may not have a medical background.
• Highlight Locations: For clinics and hospitals, location-specific URLs improve local SEO. For example, https://www.example.com/clinic/new-york/pediatric-care

Tips: Always keep HIPAA or local regulations in mind when designing URLs, ensuring patient data remains secure. URLs, even seemingly innocuous ones, can sometimes reveal sensitive data if not carefully designed.

4. How To Structure URLs Structure In Blogs and News Sites

For blogs and news sites, a URL should signal content relevance and freshness.

Best Practices:

• Include Primary Keywords: Reflect the title or topic in the URL like https://www.example.com/seo-tips-for-2025
• Keep It Current: Use dates sparingly unless time-sensitive like https://www.example.com/breaking-news/presidential-debate-2025
• Remove Stop Words: Words like “and,” “of,” and “the” can often be omitted.

Tips: Set up proper 301 redirects when changing dated URLs to maintain link equity.

5. How To Structure URL Structure In Technology and Software

Tech companies need URLs that highlight solutions, features, and use cases.

Best Practices:

• Segment by Solutions: Organize URLs by the specific solutions your company offers. This helps users quickly find what they're looking for.

Example: https://www.example.com/cloud-solutions/data-storage

• Use Simple, Non-Technical Language: Just like medical and healthcare sites, it is better to use simple language and avoid complex terms. While technical terms are important for engineers and developers, they can confuse or deter potential customers who may not have a deep understanding of technology. Simple URLs are easier for users to understand and remember, making navigation more intuitive. For example, instead "/products/api-integration-platform", consider using "/products/connect-apps" or "/products/integrate-with-other-software".
• Optimize for B2B or B2C: Match URL structure to your target market. For example, if your target audience is tech-savvy (B2B), you can use more technical terms. On the other hand, if your target audience is more relevant to B2C sectors, it is recommended to use simple, everyday language that resonates with a broader audience.

Tips: Ensure URLs remain future-proof to avoid frequent changes when products are updated or renamed.

General SEO Principles for All Industries

1. Use hyphens and not underscores to separate words in URL structure.

✅ www.example.com/seo-tips

❌ www.example.com/seo_tips

2. Keep URLs as concise, short, and simple as possible. Avoid excessive subdirectories when designing your URL structure.

✅ www.example.com/blog/seo-tips

❌ www.example.com/articles/blog/2025/january/seo-tips

3. Stick to lowercase instead of uppercase to avoid duplicate content issues.
4. Use tools like Google Search Console to ensure your URLs are performing well and free of crawl errors.

Final Thoughts

Designing user-friendly URLs requires a deep understanding of user intent and industry standards, as well as complying with SEO best practices to improve the search visibility and user experience for the users. In general, URLs should be concise and easy to understand, conveying the page's content at a glance. Keep URLs concise, descriptive, secure (HTTPS), and consistent in format with natural keyword usage. Use SEO-friendly practices and regularly audit for errors.

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