Don't Let a Bad URL Hurt Your Columbus SEO: The Anatomy of a Perfect Slug
Learn how to craft the perfect URL slug to boost your Columbus, Ohio business's local SEO with a simple 4-step checklist that our agency uses to deliver consistent, high quality search results.
As a business owner in Columbus, Ohio, you're always looking for an edge. You've perfected your services and you know the local market, but have you ever just looked at your website's address bar?
That string of text after the ".com" is your URL slug, and it's one of the most overlooked—and powerful—parts of your SEO toolkit.
A messy, random URL can signal to both Google and your potential Central Ohio customers that your page might be low-quality or untrustworthy. A clean, descriptive URL, however, builds instant confidence and gives your search ranking a helpful boost.
Think of it as digital curb appeal for your business. Here's how to build the perfect URL slug with a simple 4-step checklist.
1. Keep It Short & Descriptive
Your URL slug should tell a user exactly what the page is about at a glance. Ditch the random numbers or confusing codes. Keep it concise and easy to read.
* Bad: `.../p=123`
* Good: `.../about-our-company`
2. Weave In Your Target Keyword
This is key for your local SEO strategy. If you want to rank for "kitchen remodeling in Dublin," that phrase needs to be in your URL slug. This confirms your page's relevance to Google and to the person searching.
* Example for a Columbus business: If your page is about emergency plumbing services, the slug should be `/emergency-plumbing-columbus-ohio`.
3. Use Hyphens to Separate Words
This is a non-negotiable rule in SEO. Google's algorithm reads hyphens (`-`) as spaces, allowing it to understand the individual words. Underscores (`_`) or no separation at all just mashes them together into a confusing mess.
* Right: `/new-albany-roof-repair`
* Wrong: `/new_albany_roof_repair`
4. Make it Human-Readable
Before a potential customer in the 614 even clicks your link, they're glancing at the URL in the search results. Does it make sense? Does it look professional? A clean URL passes this "human test" and will improve your click-through rate.
Let's look at the difference. Which link would you trust more?
* Messy URL: `yourbakery.com/index.php?category=cakes&product_id=78c`
* Perfect URL: `yourbakery.com/wedding-cakes-columbus`
The second one wins every time. It's clear, keyword-rich, and builds trust before the page even loads.
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Fixing your URLs is a simple change with a big impact on how your business ranks in Columbus. Ready to stop leaving easy results on the table?
If your website's technical SEO is holding you back, we can help. Final Orbit is the local SEO agency that helps Cbus businesses thrive. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation SEO audit!