Simple SEO URL (SSU) Module using category_name instead of actual category name

[mayleesboutique]

Hello,

This is my first time asking a question in these forums, so please bear with me. I normally can find answers to my questions, but this one is different.

I use Simple SEO URL (SSU) to make my URLs search engine friendly. There were working fine until I installed and began using Easy Populate (which I'm pretty sure has caused my problem). Now, instead of listing the actual category names, for new categories, I get a URL that looks like this: http://mayleesboutique.com/categories_name-c-38 . In the past (before I started running into this problem), I would get category names that looked like this: http://mayleesboutique.com/baby-bedding-c-4. Does anyone know what might be keeping the SSU module from using the correct category name in the URL?

Thanks,

Lisa

[schoolboy]

These "SEO URL" modules have no effect at all on your SEO - and in fact can do more harm than good.

If you want to rewrite your URI's to make them more understandable to humans, then you should rather use CEON's URI module.

Search engines can analyse and index zencart just fine without any need to fool about with the URL's

We have never used them, and never will (over 200 Zencart sites to our name since 2004) and many of our sites get excellent ranking on google and other search engines.

People who tell you that you need to re-write your URL's for "better SEO" have no idea on how Search Engines work.

[mayleesboutique]

@schoolboy I just noticed this reply...so I'm clarifying two years later.

I'm not sure where you got your data about SEO, but the statement that search-engine friendly URLs have "no effect at all on your SEO" is simply false. Search engines do look at the URLs to help them understand the content of the page. I've been doing this for over 10 years, and I've seen examples of differences in search rankings (especially for long-tail phrases). If you're in doubt still, I recommend that you read this from Google: http://support.google.com/webmasters...n&answer=76329 I know that the algorithm has changed a lot since this support document was written, but I can tell you that search engines parse every part of the page and factor those things back into the algorithm.

I once had the privileged opportunity to take an in-depth look at Bing's search algorithm. They had a specific process that evaluated the words in the URL.

Just thought I'd clarify.

I have used these SEO url modules on several stores, including http://prohealthcareproducts.com, http://onlinesafetydepot.com, http://sweatshirtstation.com, and I am positive that they help to draw in traffic.

[schoolboy]

Over 300 zencart sites we have built in 9 years, and not one of them converts URL's. The vast majority feature very strongly on search results. One client has 350 products, of which 297 get to google number one spot for all the critical keyword searches. His industry in the UK has about 2000 competing online businesses.

Since 2009, Google does not even use <meta description> anymore (for ranking purposes), and the future move for SEO is heading towards embedded microdata in the page content. (SEE schema.org).

Within a few months time, the entire META HEADER area - including the URL - will be totally irrelevant for SEO. Ranking and indexing will depend on how well the actual page content is defined in accordance to microdata formats and protocols.

And as far as BING is concerned... who uses BING? In the UK (our core market), less than 1% of people use BING to search - so it can be safely ignored here.

By all means continue to use URL rewriters - and as I have said on many occasions, if any of your sites compete with any of mine then I INSIST you use url rewrite... It means we have one less competitor to worry about in the SE ranking process.