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Blog URL Structure SEO: Should You Include Categories?

June 28, 2025
Blog URL Structure SEO: Should You Include Categories?

Let’s be honest: most of us have spent more time debating blog URL structure than we’d care to admit. Should you tuck your posts neatly into categories, or let them roam free at the root of your site? Is there a secret sauce for blog url structure SEO, or are we all just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? Grab your coffee (or your third, we don’t judge), and let’s break down the facts, the myths, and the slightly absurd realities of blog URL structure — so you can stop worrying and get back to, well, letting us at bloggingmachine.io do the heavy lifting.

The Basics: Why Blog URL Structure Matters

First, a confession: URL structure isn’t the most glamorous part of SEO. But it’s like the foundation of your house — ignore it, and things get wobbly fast. According to Google’s official guidelines, URLs should be “simple, logical, and intelligible to humans.” In other words, if your URL looks like a cat walked across your keyboard, it’s time for a rethink.

Key Ingredients for SEO-Friendly URLs

  • Clarity: Your URL should tell readers (and Google) what the page is about.
  • Brevity: Shorter URLs are easier to read, share, and remember.
  • Hyphens, Not Underscores: Use hyphens to separate words — Google prefers it.
  • HTTPS: Secure your URLs. Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor.

For a quick refresher on Google’s advice, check out their Search Central documentation.

The Great Debate: To Category or Not to Category?

Here’s where things get spicy. Should your blog post URLs include categories? For example:

  • With category: example.com/blog/seo-tips/how-to-optimize-urls
  • Without category: example.com/how-to-optimize-urls

The Case for Including Categories

Including categories in your URLs can:

  • Create a logical hierarchy: Search engines and users can see how your content is organized.
  • Add context: Categories give extra clues about the post’s topic.
  • Improve navigation: Users can easily browse related content.

SEO consultant Aleyda Solis notes, “A clear, hierarchical URL structure helps both users and search engines understand your site’s architecture.” (And, let’s be honest, it makes you look organized — even if your desk says otherwise.)

A real-world example? Rainbow Restoration uses category-based URLs like rainbowrestores.com/blog/category/fire-safety, which helps both Google and humans find their way around.

The Case Against Categories

On the flip side, some SEO pros prefer a flat structure:

  • Shorter, cleaner URLs: Easier to read, less likely to break when shared.
  • Less risk of keyword cannibalization: You won’t accidentally compete with yourself.
  • Future-proofing: If you ever reorganize your categories, you won’t break your URLs.

John Mueller of Google has said, “It doesn’t matter so much if you have categories in the URL or not. What matters is that the URLs are clean and descriptive.” So, if you’re losing sleep over this, maybe take a nap instead.

Best Practices for Blog URL Structure SEO

Whether you’re team “category” or “no category,” here’s what the experts agree on:

  1. Be Descriptive, Not Spammy: Use keywords naturally, but don’t stuff them in like you’re packing a suitcase for a month-long trip.
  2. Stay Consistent: Pick a structure and stick with it. Changing URLs later is a headache (and bad for SEO).
  3. Plan for Growth: Think about how your structure will handle hundreds of posts, not just the first ten.
  4. Avoid Stop Words: Words like “and,” “the,” or “of” add clutter without value.
  5. No Special Characters: Keep it simple — no spaces, no weird symbols.

For a deeper dive, Moz has a handy guide to SEO-friendly URLs.

Common Mistakes (And How to Dodge Them)

  • Auto-generated gibberish: URLs like example.com/12345?post=abc are a no-go.
  • Changing URLs without redirects: Always use 301 redirects if you must change a URL, or risk losing your hard-earned rankings.
  • Over-nesting: example.com/blog/2024/06/05/seo/url-structure/why-this-matters — just, no. Keep it shallow.

If you want to see what not to do, check out this Search Engine Journal article on URL mistakes.

How AI (Like Us!) Makes Blog URL Structure SEO Effortless

Here’s where we get to humble-brag a little. At bloggingmachine.io, our AI agent doesn’t just write SEO-optimized articles — it also:

  • Analyzes your content to suggest the most relevant, high-performing keywords for your URLs.
  • Checks your URL structure against the latest SEO best practices.
  • Automates consistency, so every post follows your chosen format.
  • Monitors performance and suggests tweaks if something’s not working.

In other words, we obsess over the details so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome.)

If you want to see how AI is changing the game, this Ahrefs article on AI and SEO is a good read.

Recent Trends and Industry Insights

  • Simplicity is winning: The trend is toward shorter, more user-friendly URLs. Google’s algorithms are getting better at understanding context, so you don’t need to over-explain in your URLs.
  • Site structure still matters: A logical hierarchy helps both users and search engines. Even if you skip categories in the URL, keep your site organized behind the scenes.
  • HTTPS is non-negotiable: If you’re not using HTTPS, you’re not just risking SEO — you’re risking user trust.

For more on the latest trends, check out Search Engine Land’s coverage.

FAQ: Blog URL Structure SEO

Does including categories in blog URLs help SEO?

It can help by adding context and improving navigation, but it’s not required. What matters most is clarity and consistency.

Are shorter URLs better for SEO?

Generally, yes. Shorter URLs are easier to read, share, and remember. But don’t sacrifice clarity for brevity.

What’s the biggest URL structure mistake?

Changing URLs without setting up proper 301 redirects. This can tank your rankings and break links.

Can AI really optimize my blog URL structure?

Absolutely. AI tools (like us at bloggingmachine.io) can automate keyword research, enforce consistency, and monitor performance — saving you time and headaches.

Should I use hyphens or underscores in URLs?

Always use hyphens. Google treats hyphens as word separators, but not underscores.

The Bottom Line

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the blog url structure SEO debate. Categories can add value, but they’re not essential. What’s crucial is that your URLs are clear, concise, and consistent. And if you’d rather spend your time on things other than URL debates (like, say, lunch), let us at bloggingmachine.io handle it for you. We promise, we’re way less fussy than your average SEO consultant.

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