The path to web happiness

Image credit: yum

Deciding what naming convention to use for the directories within your site is no small task. Decisions made now will have long reaching effects both in relation to the other directories and in relation to how the site will grow in the future. And as ever, this is a subject that is full of differing views and opinions.

Do you follow a logical protocol that treats all directories in the exactly same way. Or perhaps you should hang all directories off the root address utilising acronyms wherever possible to keep URLs short. Users will want something that is easy, and search engines have a part to play too.

Here are six important factors:

• search engines - if exposure is important then use real words that relate to the subject or content. Keyword URLs carry a lot of weight.
• human beings - they tend to prefer real words too, unless it means too much typing.
• management structure - this can be useful but don’t let it set the rules because over time the management structure will change.
• administration - keeping similar things together makes for easier administration. But remember the rule of thumb that making things easier to administer does not equal making them easier for users. If anything the opposite often applies.
• flexibility - be aware of different content. Information about a department and the content produced by that department are different things and might require different places.
• shortness - this is helpful for humans when typing or remembering, but also useful in emails where long URLs might break in certain programs. Consider also the marketing requirement - how would it look printed on a leaflet?

Got any more?