1.8 URL structure & internationalisationLowInferred
Excessively long URLs
Very long URLs are awkward to share, get truncated in results, and often signal a messy hierarchy. Shorter, cleaner paths are easier for everyone, machines included.
What it is
Very long paths.
Why it matters
Harder to share; marginal.
How to fix it
Keep URLs reasonably short.
How to find it on your site
- Sort your URLs by length and review the longest.
- Look for deep nesting or redundant path segments.
- Flatten and shorten where the structure allows, without breaking meaning.
- Redirect any URLs you shorten.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
URL length is a weak signal at most, but shorter URLs present better in results and citations and usually reflect cleaner architecture.
Impact
Low. Inferred.
Evidence
Simple URLs are recommended. Google Search Central, Keep a simple URL structure