Naming Your Website and Webpages

Introduction

Webpage names are some of the content owners' most important decisions. They impact site usability, search engine optimization (SEO), and accessibility. This article is for Cascade CMS users who go beyond page updates and create new website content pages.

Problem Statement 

Users of search engines and site searches will see URLs and page titles in their search results. These two elements should work together to give insight into the site content. When URL and page titles don't perform well, users can struggle to find the needed content on the Chico State website. 

Solution

How to craft a good URL

The URL is the web address appearing in the browser's address bar, based on the Chico State domain and Cascade folder structure (example: www.csuchico.edu/site/page-name).

The URL should be simple, meaningful, and easy to read or type into a browser bar.

1. Write a URL that is:
   • Short
   • Descriptive
   • Easy to spell
   • Keyword-rich
2. Contains lowercase letters only
3. Uses hyphens to separate words

How to write a useful page title

Your page title will appear in the tab of your browser, at the top of your content area, in your site breadcrumbs, in search engine results, and sometimes in your site navigation menu. While URLs set user expectations for what will appear on a webpage, the page title will deliver on that expectation.

1. Keep it short so search engine results show the whole title, long enough to be informative (60–70 characters)
2. Put important keywords/information at the front of your page title
3. Make sure your site title and page title are different on your home to avoid redundancy.
4. Give unique titles to each page within your site.

Common Mistakes

1. Using numbers, capital letters, spaces, or special characters (except hyphens) in the URL
2. Using words like "a," "and," "or" "the" in the URL
3. Do not reiterate the University name in your site title

Conclusion

Your URL and page titles should be descriptive, easy to read, and help users find the page in a browser search. While URLs set user expectations for what will appear on a webpage, the page title will deliver on that expectation. Its the first interaction your reader has with your website. Reach out to Web Services if you have questions or would like recommendations for naming webpages.