You can perform a task in Google Webmaster Tools called “set URL parameters.” This function is used to tell Google which URLs you would like indexed and which ones to ignore. Moreover, the primary goal of this feature is to get rid of duplicate pages, which can have a negative effect on SEO. Google also claims that you can have a more effective crawl.

However, you might want to avoid using URL parameters as part of your SEO strategy. In this article, we will discuss three reasons not to use parameter URLs for your website.

What Is a URL Parameter?

The part of a URL that comes after a question mark is regarded as a parameter and is also recognized by the URL variables or query string aliases. They consist of an equal sign separating a value and a key pair. An ampersand can be used to add many parameters to a single webpage.

Reasons to Avoid URL Parameters 

Here are our top three reasons why URL parameters are best left alone: 

1. You Could Make a Mistake

The fact that large websites often employ URL parameters without fully understanding what they are doing. This could lead to web pages being removed from the index without their knowledge.

Moreover, the “include everything” option can include URLs that the site may not have intended to restrict, which makes them risky. Additionally, you can configure several URL parameter settings for the same URL and the less limiting settings will be disregarded by Google.

2. Parameters Create Duplicates

The contents of a page are frequently not significantly altered by URL parameters. A webpage that has been updated frequently looks very similar to the original. Moreover, the URL of a page containing tracking tags or a session ID is the same as the original. 

Imagine having all these URLs for the same content across all your website’s categories. It can pile up quickly. 

The problem is that search engines consider any URL with a parameter to be a brand-new page. They consequently view various versions of the same page. These offer duplicate material and focus on the same semantic keyword or phrase. 

3. They Split Page Ranking Signals 

Backlinks and social shares may be arriving on different copies of the same page content if you have many variations of it. Your ranking signals are diluted as a result. When you mislead a crawler, it becomes uncertain which of the contending web pages to index for the search query. 

Final Thoughts

Although URL parameters may seem like a good idea, they can cost you when it comes to SEO. Because they can split page ranking signals, create duplicates, and leave much room for serious errors, it’s best to avoid them. 

If you need more information about URL parameters or need help with backlinks, you can give us a call today at World Wide Backlinks.