Simple SEO URL (OLD version) [support thread]

[fairestcape]

... and now sincerely wish Zen would offer pretty URLs as a core feature to not run into the same situation over and over again.

There is no compelling technical reason why the dev team should add this feature, for the same reason they have no obligation to offer other "nice to have" features.

In the latest version (1.5) there was a GOOD reason to incorporate a feature that was initially developed as an "add-on" (Admin Profiles), and while the feature in 1.5 is functionally different in some respects, the decision to incorporate it stemmed out of a practical necessity... making zencart PCI compliant.

But this whole prettying-up of URL's is still very contentious. In my opinion, it is used mostly by people who need a "crutch", and who are generally incapable of proper seo, or who have a sheep-like mentality and just follow the crowd. Most people add the URL feature because they HOPE it will raise their page rank. They think, "that's all I have to do..." and they sit back and cross their fingers...

All the while such modules remain contentious, and whose value is dubious, if not risky... there is no reason to even consider it - let alone actually incorporate it.

[SPH]

But this whole prettying-up of URL's is still very contentious. In my opinion, it is used mostly by people who need a "crutch", and who are generally incapable of proper seo, or who have a sheep-like mentality and just follow the crowd. Most people add the URL feature because they HOPE it will raise their page rank. They think, "that's all I have to do..." and they sit back and cross their fingers...

Fairestcape, I think you're a little harsh here, even though what you say re seo ranking may be true. How many would turn on seo urls if it came with zencart, like with other free carts? If unwritten and rewritten urls work equally well, then there would be no compelling reason not to turn them on, either.

I think the main risk with seo urls and zencart is that since they are not built-in mods, imcompatibality with other mods or upgrades will always be a concern.

Even so, I just installed and turned on Ultimate SEO URLs on my second test 1.5 cart, worked again:

http://www.prom-mart.com/zencart-demo-2/

My main site (1.3.9h) uses dynamic urls. Sometimes I wish I had rewritten urls, as I cannot tell what my product is by looking at the url. That alone would cause me to use it, if it were totally reliable.

sph
www.prom-mart.com
My Ecommerce Cart Testing Area

[mydanilo]

How many would turn on seo urls if it came with zencart, like with other free carts? If unwritten and rewritten urls work equally well, then there would be no compelling reason not to turn them on, either.

I think the main risk with seo urls and zencart is that since they are not built-in mods, imcompatibality with other mods or upgrades will always be a concern.

Thank you! Exactly my point. If core, I would turn them on on all my sites because they are just simpler for the consumer. Even the newest Google Panda puts a lot more importance on user experience. User friendly sites will win. URL is just one small component in marketing your site easier. Not for the search engines but for sure for the site visitor. Posting clear text links in social media or blogs just makes sense in my books. But hey, if you don't all agree, that is perfectly ok.

I say it again, I would love to have a built in choice to turn it on. Is it a must have from technical point? No.
Is it a desirable feature of a modern cart for better user experience? Yes.

[DivaVocals]

Thank you! Exactly my point. If core, I would turn them on on all my sites because they are just simpler for the consumer.

So consumer's are UNABLE to find content on a site if the URLs aren't pretty URLs?? that's what you are saying?? Based on what evidence??? (other than anecdotal evidence) Since there are MAJOR retailers who don't have pretty URLs, are you also saying that consumers are having a tough time with their sites???

I say it again, I would love to have a built in choice to turn it on. Is it a must have from technical point? No.
Is it a desirable feature of a modern cart for better user experience? Yes.

Except HOW does this improve user experience?? You still haven't said HOW..

In the 20+ years of developing webbased software I know from more than just pure anecdotal opinions that user experience has NOTHING to do with pretty URLs. If your site has lousy content or poor navigation, the user experience is shaped based on these aspects. User experience is NOT based on whether or not the URL was easy to remember. What users remember is that they could find what they needed to find because the search didn't work. Nearly every single time we look into why this is we discover that the search didn't work because the CONTENT wasn't there to be found.. Not ONCE in my 20+ years has usability been improved by pretty URLS alone.. Content and a user interface which does not interfere with user experience are stronger driving factors to improve user experience.

[SPH]

Mydanilo, this is probably best continued at this thread:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...=194493&page=4

I posted a google link indicating that pretty urls improve customer experience...at least in google's view.

Diva, the only thing that really matters is whether GOOGLE thinks that pretty urls improve customer experience (whether or not our own data supports that). But probably best picked up on the other thread above which seems better for this debate.

sph
www.prommart.com

[DivaVocals]

Diva, the only thing that really matters is whether GOOGLE thinks that pretty urls improve customer experience (whether or not our own data supports that). But probably best picked up on the other thread above which seems better for this debate.

Nope.. schoolboy said it on the other thread, what matters is this: IS THE SITE MAKING MONEY FOR THE OWNER?? It is if the owner has a good products, compelling content, is doing all the LEG WORK to market their site so that their customers know about it, and the user experience is one that does not interfere with the consumers ability to find what they are looking for and to purchase it.. On that note, this conversation SHOULD be continued on that other thread versus continuing this discussion here..

so like i said before..

getting back to the topic of this support thread

it doesn't look like SSU has an active maintainer at this time and therefore anyone looking to use SSU with Zen Cart v1.5 has only three options:

1. Live with dynamic URLs
2. Invest in the services of an outside developer to update SSU for them
3. Find another add-on to replace SSU
   (I recommend Ceon URI as it is better supported, written and maintained than other add-ons like SSU -- sorry that's my opinion)

[schoolboy]

Diva, the only thing that really matters is whether GOOGLE thinks that pretty urls improve customer experience

You have lost track of reality... the only thing that matters is if the site is making money.

Google is now rivalling some the major monotheistic religions for blind and irrational faith in its sheep-like audience.

Savvy business people never put all their eggs into one basket - if anything, they look for baskets that are empty. Google's basket is so full now the effort to "get noticed" has become a futile paraniod obsession with the vast majority of website owners. So much so they have forgotten even the most simple of marketing principles...

[SPH]

Well, maybe one can make even more money doing all of those good things...plus pretty urls, if google likes pretty urls. Personally, I'd like pretty urls for one person: me. I miss seeing what my product is just by looking at the url.

But I do agree with you re google and eggs in one basket. In fact, one of my sister's main prom dress sites...a leader...was hit hard by google and I'm corresponding with them now, trying to remove tons of junk incoming links, many probably put up by her ex-seo person. Others put up by who knows who. A real mess.

My sis constantly tells me she does not like her biz being dependent upon a third party ... google/search engines...over which she has little or no control. Fortunately, she has a brick n mortar store helping her...I don't and am totally web dependent.

We really are tired of this whole seo thing and are interested in another alternative...leg work...but one that is web based. (Traditional Print media and even local radio, which she has used, are too local and we cannot afford a national ad.) So it would have to be web based. Maybe social media is the new thing. I'm not sure of her social media results, but not as good as her killer biz before Panda and when her seo person was actually spot on.

sph
www.prommart.com

[DivaVocals]

You have lost track of reality... the only thing that matters is if the site is making money.

Google is now rivalling some the major monotheistic religions for blind and irrational faith in its sheep-like audience.

Savvy business people never put all their eggs into one basket - if anything, they look for baskets that are empty. Google's basket is so full now the effort to "get noticed" has become a futile paraniod obsession with the vast majority of website owners. So much so they have forgotten even the most simple of marketing principles...

**nods in agreement**

I'd like to add, many small business owners don't know the most simple of marketing principles to begin with.. Hence the Googlemania obsession for many of them..

[DivaVocals]

Most people add the URL feature because they HOPE it will raise their page rank. They think, "that's all I have to do..." and they sit back and cross their fingers...

and of the few clients that I have installed a URL re-write add-on it is for this reason here.. These few clients could NOT be convinced otherwise, and it wasn't worth the time arguing the point.. So I did all the things that REALLY needed to happen for good SEO and used one of the more stable URL re-writing add-ons (not SSU) and moved on. By and large I do not include URL re-writers in my standard install because I KNOW that it's NOT required at all.. I know shoppers and search engines aren't having "issues" with dynamic URLs, so why "fix" something that ain't broken..