Parameters are a crucial component of how sites and their URLs are designed. For instance, URL parameters help get content filtered, organized and displayed to the end user. Since they can also track information, they are a great tool when used by qualified SEOs, analysts, marketers, and developers. So, what exactly are URL Parameters? Also referred to as URL variables or query strings, parameters are the URL section following a question mark. Moreover, they consist of a key and value pair that are separated with an equals sign. To add multiple parameters on a single page, you can use an ampersand symbol.
To put it simply, a URL variable is a way of passing info about a click-through using a URL. Its the evidence showing a parameter was created when the user made a particular click. This can be due to the user clicking the search button after inputting what they were searching for, the user clicking on a filter displaying a list of products, or the user clicking on something you’re tracking and to assist you in identifying the number of users, you designed a custom tracking parameter.
When it comes to the URL Parameter tool and the Google Search Console, Google utilizes a tool called, helpfully, that gives the option of selecting yes or no to web crawls when it comes to your website’s parameters.
Importance of URL Parameters
Query strings allow you to add multiple parameters to a web page and can be used for Filtering, Reordering, Tracking, Identifying, Paginating, Searching, or Translating. So, why should you implement startegic URL parameters in your site? Here are some reasons why:
– Reduces the number of duplicate content
– Enables efficient usage of crawl budget.
– Consolidates ranking to canonical links.
– Can be used for all parameter types.
URL Parameter Examples
There are basically two types of query strings you can use in your ad’s custom parameter or tracking template:
*Content-modifying parameters: These relay information to the main landing page, and need to be exclusively positioned in the final URL. For instance, http://xxxx.com?productid=87561 will send the visitor straight to product 87561’s page on your site.
*Tracking parameters: These relay information regarding the click for your campaign or account in the tracking template.
All you need to do to identify a URL parameter is to check the URL for a question mark, and an equals. Have a look at this URL for instance:
http://xxxx.com?productid=87561
In this scenario, the ‘?’ denotes the beginning of the URL parameter.
Canonical Tags & Robots.txt Files
A canonical tag is an HTML code snippet that labels your web pages for search engines. When implemented correctly in pages with identical or similar content, it will tell the search engine, the ‘canonical link’ – original page – and the successive copies. Furthermore, the canonical link is given priority over other pages, thereby avoiding duplicate content and avoiding internal competition.
Robots.txt files are used by search engine optimization agencies and developers to provide instructions to web crawlers that traverse and index websites. They tell the search engine what to do with certain web pages. It may request the search spider not to crawl the web page entirely. It prevents unwanted indexing by Google.
How And When To Use URL Parameters
Documenting your parameters’ impact in the search console can play an integral role in optimizing your crawl equity and making sure that the content with the most priority is indexed efficiently and quickly. As a result, the search console will enable you to define what a specific parameter does and inform Googlebot how that URL parameter will be treated when a crawl traverses your website.
Search engines will automatically configure parameters under the default mode ‘Let Googlebot decide.’ This sometimes isn’t best, which is why it is essential to proactive and add parameters yourself. You definitely don’t want your own duplicate pages stifling the ability of your website to rank. Here’s how to use this tool:
-Conduct keyword research to help you understand search engine friendly parameters. Static URLs.
-Execute proper pagination handling.
-Implement corresponding ordering rules that use keys once to limit URL usage
-To combine ranking ability, add a canonical tag to suitable parameter pages.
-Structure URL parameter handling in Bing and Google to assist search engines know every parameter function.
