Introduction
When setting up a website, it is worth understanding how to select a domain name and website address correctly. URLs traditionally contain a variety of special characters, symbols, and letters. However, not all of these signs are appropriate for a domain name or URL path.
This guide will discuss the characteristics of domain names and URL paths and outline the available options for building website addresses.
1. Domain Name and URL Path
A domain name is a part of the URL address, and both elements are interconnected. The URL address is composed of several parts, and an example of the structure is provided below:
URL: https://example.com/section-one/wire-cable
• Domain: example.com
• Website address: example.com/section-one/wire-cable
Website addresses usually have a domain name and a URL path. It is important to note that the rules for domain names and URL paths are slightly different, and varying restrictions apply to the two website address elements.
As a result, users may encounter different restrictions when selecting a domain name and URL path for their website.
2. Domain Name Rules
A domain name is subject to specific rules established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). In general, domain names have the following characteristics:
• A combination of letters and numbers.
• The use of hyphens allowed; underscores are not allowed.
These restrictions are in place to ensure that domain names are properly delivered across browsers and other platforms.
Before considering other aspects of a domain name, it is important to ensure that the selected name meets the established requirements and is not complicated to enter and use.
3. Internationalized Domain Names
It is important to note that not all websites use English domain names. In some cases, websites apply internationalized domain names (IDNs), which use non-English characters. Different languages can share the same set of letters and symbols, with variations in the use of accents, diacritics, and other signs.
At the same time, the Punycode system exists for representing Unicode characters using ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange); it uses the xn– prefix for international domains. As a result, browsers can display the web address correctly.
The use of IDNs is appropriate in certain cases, for example, if a company wants to represent a domain name in a foreign language. The selection of an international language option should be based on specific needs and should consider potential complications.
For instance, some characters may be too similar in certain languages, which may cause confusion and security issues. At the same time, international characters can help establish trust with specific customers and ensure that the website is recognizable.
4. Using Emojis in the Domain Name
With the increased use of social media and messaging services, emojis have become a popular tool for expressing emotions and ideas. However, emojis are not applicable to international domain names because they do not meet the required standards. As noted previously, domain names can use a combination of letters, numbers, and hyphens, and emojis are not an acceptable option.
An alternative encoding option exists but only for the internationalized domain names discussed previously. In other words, the use of emojis in Punycode encoding is not allowed, and this rule also applies to the selection of standard domain names.
As a result, using emojis to create a domain name is not an option, even if a company wants to use an unusual selection of letters and numbers. A small selection of special characters is allowed, but only if they meet the specified requirements. However, such an option may not be appropriate for all companies.
In most cases, it is better to select a standard URL name instead of using non-traditional options. A business should choose the domain name that reflects its brand and is easy to remember and type.
5. Keywords in Domain Name and URL
Using keywords in a URL path can improve search engine optimization (SEO), but the overall benefits of the practice are limited. For example, it is not possible to provide a website with a competitive advantage by using multiple keywords in a website address.
A company should consider that multiple keywords in a URL are not significant compared to the content of the website itself. Furthermore, additional keywords in a website address can raise the possibility of keyword stuffing, which is not beneficial for SEO.
In general, a company should select a brief domain name and a URL path that uses keywords in an appropriate manner. At the same time, a business should not stuff the website address with extra keywords in an effort to increase its visibility in search results.
A clear example of an appropriate URL is provided below:
https://example.com/section/wire-cable
It does not have multiple keywords or unnecessary words, but it still provides an idea of the website content. In a similar manner, an appropriate URL path for an electrician business can look like house-fitting-wires or industrial-power-cables .
6. Using Emojis in the URL
Unlike domain names, URL paths offer more flexibility and can include a variety of characters and symbols. Emojis can also be used, but such an option is not recommended. Emojis in URL paths will appear in the encoding because browsers typically only support UTF-8 encoding.
In other words, an emoji in a URL will take on a new appearance. In practice, it means that some applications, browsers, and social media platforms will show the URL path differently.
One of the most common ways to encode characters is to replace them with %xx codes, with xx representing a hexadecimal value. For instance, %E2%9D%A4 will be converted to a heart-shaped emoji. For UTF-8 encoding, the same process applies, but the %C3 and %A9 codes are used. Emojis can also appear as Unicode code points, for example, as U+2764.
In general, the URL path with emojis can be entered and shared online. However, it is worth noting that Google will only crawl and scan the website path for the keywords.
7. Avoiding Emojis in Website Addresses
The use of emoji in a URL path seems like a fun and creative idea, but it has several significant drawbacks. First of all, a URL path with emojis is not likely to be understood by all users because different browsers and social media platforms can render it differently.
As a result, such an address will appear in different ways to different users. For instance, one person can see a flower emoji, but another user can see a star. In addition, a long string of %xx codes can look unappealing and may arouse suspicion in some users.
In general, a URL path with emoji characters can be shared online but is not safe and may damage the reputation of a business. Furthermore, such an option is not practical because most users will not be able to recognize the URL.
8. Using Hyphens or Underscores
The selection of a URL path involves the use of either hyphens or underscores. Both options are acceptable, but URL paths with hyphens are preferable for SEO purposes.
In other words, URLs with hyphens are more likely to appear in search results. Furthermore, it is important to distinguish between house-fitting-wires and house_fitting_wires .
From the perspective of Google, the first URL path appears to be more readable, while the second option may prompt the search engine to perceive the URL as a single word. For this reason, it is better to use hyphens in a URL path because they separate words and contribute to the clarity of a website address.
9. Tips for Creating SEO Friendly URLs
To summarize, the guide outlines the key considerations related to the creation of a website address. First of all, a URL path provides more flexibility than a domain name. However, both elements should be built with care, and the selection of special characters and symbols should be based on specific needs.
It is important to distinguish between useful and useless elements that a company can use for its website address. A business should select a brief domain name that reflects its brand and is easy to type and remember. In terms of the URL path, keywords are essential, but they should not be added unnecessarily.
In other words, keyword stuffing will not improve the performance of a website and may lead to negative consequences. At the same time, the use of keywords in a URL path is important, and a company should choose descriptive words for its website path.
A clear example is provided below:
https://example.com/section-one/ethernet-cables
It depicts a website URL that uses keywords related to the website content but does not stuff the URL path with extra words. Furthermore, it uses hyphens to separate words, which is the recommended practice for website addresses.
In general, there are several tips for creating an appropriate URL for a business. First of all, a company should aim for simplicity and avoid unnecessary complexity in a website address. Second, a business should use descriptive words in the URL path.
These words will help users understand what the website is about and improve the visibility of a website in search results. At the same time, words in a URL path should be separated with hyphens. Furthermore, keyword stuffing should be avoided, and a company should carefully consider the use of international letters and characters.
In terms of domain names, emojis are not an option, but a business can use other special characters. A business should choose a clear domain name that reflects its brand and is easy to type and remember. The use of emojis in a URL path should also be avoided because the practice may lead to the deterioration of the company’s reputation.
Lastly, a company should use a mixture of letters, numbers, and hyphens and develop a system that will help organize the website pages in a specific manner. It is also worth noting that a URL should always be user-friendly.
