🔗 URL Structure Guide

Create SEO-friendly URLs that users and search engines love

🔍 Anatomy of a URL

https:// psilobase.com /microdosing/ fadiman-protocol
Protocol (https)
Domain
Path/Directory
Slug (Page Name)

Good vs Bad URLs

✅ SEO-Friendly URLs

  • /microdosing/fadiman-protocol
  • /safety/harm-reduction-guide
  • /species/golden-teacher
  • /research/psilocybin-depression
  • /beginners-guide/getting-started

❌ Poor URL Structure

  • /page.php?id=123&cat=5
  • /article_12345_final_v2.html
  • /MICRODOSING/Fadiman_Protocol
  • /a/b/c/d/e/f/page.html
  • /the-complete-guide-to-microdosing-psilocybin-mushrooms-for-beginners

📋 Best Practices

1 Keep URLs Short

Shorter URLs are easier to read, share, and remember. Aim for 3-5 words maximum in your slug.

✓ /microdosing/protocols
✗ /microdosing/complete-guide-to-all-protocols-explained

2 Use Hyphens, Not Underscores

Google treats hyphens as word separators but underscores as word joiners.

✓ /harm-reduction-guide
✗ /harm_reduction_guide

3 Use Lowercase Letters

URLs are case-sensitive on most servers. Stick to lowercase to avoid duplicate content.

✓ /golden-teacher
✗ /Golden-Teacher

4 Include Target Keywords

Place your primary keyword in the URL slug for better relevance signals.

✓ /psilocybin-therapy-guide
✗ /article-12345

5 Avoid Dynamic Parameters

Static URLs are cleaner and more trustworthy than URLs with query strings.

✓ /species/cubensis
✗ /species?id=42&type=3

6 Create Logical Hierarchy

URL structure should reflect site architecture. Limit depth to 3 levels.

✓ /category/subcategory/page
✗ /a/b/c/d/e/f/page

🏗️ URL Hierarchy Example

Logical Site Structure

🏠
/
Homepage
📁
/microdosing/
Category Index
📄
/microdosing/protocols/
Subcategory
📝
/microdosing/protocols/fadiman
Individual Page
📁
/safety/
Category Index
📝
/safety/harm-reduction
Individual Page

🔄 URL Redirects

301

Permanent Redirect

Page has permanently moved. Transfers ~90% of link equity to new URL.

✓ Use for: Page renames, site migrations, merging content
302

Temporary Redirect

Page temporarily moved. Link equity stays with original URL.

✓ Use for: A/B testing, temporary maintenance
404

Not Found

Page doesn't exist. Should show helpful error page with navigation.

⚠️ Avoid: Fix or redirect broken URLs promptly

⚠️ Common Mistakes

🚫 Stop Words Overload

Including too many stop words (the, a, an, of, to) makes URLs unnecessarily long without SEO benefit.

🚫 Date-Based URLs

Adding dates (/2026/01/15/post) makes content look dated and URLs longer.

🚫 Changing URLs Without Redirects

Renaming pages without 301 redirects causes 404 errors and loses link equity.

🚫 Session IDs in URLs

Dynamic session parameters create infinite URL variations for crawlers.

✅ URL Optimization Checklist

  • URLs are short and descriptive
  • Using hyphens as word separators
  • All URLs are lowercase
  • Primary keyword included in slug
  • No dynamic parameters when possible
  • Logical hierarchy (max 3 levels)
  • Trailing slashes consistent site-wide
  • 301 redirects for changed URLs
  • No duplicate content issues (www vs non-www)
  • HTTPS enforced for all URLs