In website operation, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) plays a vital role, it is not only the path for users to access website content, but also an important basis for search engines to understand and index website information.A clear and semantically friendly URL that can significantly improve the website's search engine optimization (SEO) effect, bringing more natural traffic.AnQiCMS as an efficient and customizable content management system provides flexible URL structure customization features, helping us easily create SEO-friendly websites.

Understanding SEO-friendly URL structure

Before delving into the AnQiCMS URL customization feature, we must first clarify what features an ideal SEO-friendly URL should have:

  1. High readability:The URL should be clear to the user, allowing them to judge the content of the page at a glance. Avoid using long URLs, which contain meaningless numbers or complex parameters.
  2. Include keywords:Integrate core keywords highly relevant to the page content in the URL, which helps search engines understand the page theme and may improve rankings.
  3. Hierarchical clarity:The URL structure should reflect the logical hierarchy of the website, helping users and search engines understand the organization of the site.
  4. Concise:Try to keep the URL length moderate, as long URLs are not easy to remember and share.
  5. URL rewriting:URLs with many dynamic parameters (such asexample.com/article.php?id=123&category=newsNot friendly to search engines. Pseudo-static URLs likeexample.com/news/article-title.htmlLook more like static pages and are favored by search engines.

The URL structure customization option provided by AnQiCMS

AnQiCMS knows the importance of URL structure for SEO, and therefore integrates a powerful static rule management function in the system backend. We can find it by following these steps: log in to the AnQiCMS backend, navigate tofunction managementand then selectStatic rules.

Here, AnQiCMS provides us with various built-in static rules to meet the needs of different types of websites:

  1. Numeric mode:This is one of the simplest URL patterns, usually identified by the content ID. For example:/article/123.htmlThis pattern has the advantage of being simple and efficient, but lacks semantic information, which is not conducive to search engines understanding the content through URLs.
  2. Model naming pattern:This pattern integrates the content model into the URL (such as article/productAnd the custom name or ID of the content. For example:/article-seo-friendly-url.htmlor/product/product-id.htmlIt is more semantic and especially suitable for English sites, as it can clearly show the type of content.
  3. Categorization naming pattern 1/2:These two modes combine classification information. For example:/category-name/article-id.htmlor/category-name/article-title.htmlThis helps to build the hierarchical structure of the website, making the URL more logical and navigable.

In addition to these built-in options, the most powerful feature of AnQiCMS lies in itsCustom patternsThis allows us to design the URL structure in a fine-grained manner based on the characteristics of our website and SEO strategy.In custom mode, we can use the following variables to combine a unique URL:

  • {id}:The unique ID of the content or category.
  • {filename}:The custom URL name of the content (article, product, single page, etc.), usually the pinyin or English alias of the title.
  • {catname}:Custom URL name for categories.
  • {catid}:Unique ID for category。
  • {module}:Alias for content model (e.g.)article/product)
  • {page}:Page number for pagination, often used on list pages.

For example, if we want the URL structure of the article to be/{module}/{filename}.htmlAnd the URL structure of the category is/{catname}/And we can make the following configuration in the custom mode:

archive===/{module}/{filename}.html
category===/{catname}/

By flexibly combining these variables, we can create a URL structure that is both in line with SEO practices and has the website's characteristics. For example, an e-commerce website can set the product URL to be/products/{category-name}/{product-name}.htmlIt includes product categories and product names, with a high degree of semanticization.

How to configure the URL structure while maintaining SEO advantages.

AnQiCMS URL customization is not just a setting item in the background, it runs through the entire process of content creation and management.

  1. Global configuration in the pseudo-static rules:InFunction Management -> Static RuleInterface, select an embedded mode or enable according to our needsCustom patternsThen configure according to the above variable rules. Be sure to save after completing the configuration.

  2. Utilize the "Custom URL" field for content level optimization:When creating and editing articles, products, categories, tags, and single pages, AnQiCMS provides aCustom URLField (in "Other Parameters" or corresponding settings).

    • Content (article, product) and single page:By default, the system will automatically generate a custom URL in Pinyin or English based on the title.But to better integrate keywords or make them more readable, we strongly recommend manually filling in this field.For example, the title of an article is 'How to Optimize SEO for AnQiCMS', the system may automatically generate itanqicms-ruhe-youhua-seoWe can optimize it toanqicms-seo-optimization-guideComma, more concise and keywords are clear. Make sure that the custom URL is unique throughout the site.
    • Categories and Tags:Similarly, these hierarchical custom URL fields also support manual editing.Set meaningful, keyword-containing English or pinyin aliases for categories and tags, which can further enhance the website's SEO performance.

With these detailed controls, we can ensure that every page of the website has a 'address number' friendly to search engines.

SEO maintenance after URL structure adjustment

It is not enough to simply configure the new URL structure, especially for websites that have been launched and indexed by search engines. Any adjustment to the URL structure must be handled carefully to avoid traffic loss and ranking decline.

  1. Strategic use of 301 redirect:

    • Importance:If we change the old URL structure, and the old URL has been indexed by search engines or there are external links, then we must set up a 301 permanent redirect.301 Redirect informs search engines that “this page has permanently moved” and transfers the ranking weight of the old URL to the new URL.
    • Practice in AnQiCMS:AnQiCMS built-in 301 redirect management feature (infunction managementWe can redirect the old URL accurately to the new URL here, effectively preventing traffic and weight loss due to URL changes.
    • The 'Fixed Link' in the document: In the document editing interface, under the "Other Parameters", there is a "Fixed Link" field. If we want to make the link of a document persistent and not change with the pseudo-static rules, we can fill in the relative link here (such as/downloadThis is a special URL handling method.

  2. Application of Canonical Tag:

    • Purpose:When a website has multiple URLs with identical or similar content (such as tracking parameter URLs accessed through different channels, or multiple pages with slightly different content), search engines may consider them duplicate content, which can affect ranking.The Canonical tag can tell search engines which is the preferred version of the content.
    • Practice in AnQiCMS:In the AnQiCMS document editing interface "Other Parameters", we can setCanonical Link (Canonical Url). In the template, you can use `