Google warns that URL parameters cause crawl issues

Google warns that URL parameters cause crawl issues

Let’s talk about something Google’s been noticing lately. It’s all about how websites use special codes in their web addresses, called URL parameters. Google says these can cause some tricky situations for their search robots. Let’s break it down!

What Are URL Parameters?

Imagine you’re in a big library. Each book has a special code that tells you where to find it. Now, imagine if that code could change every time someone looked at the book. That’s kind of what URL parameters do to web addresses.

Why is this an issue?

Google’s search robots, which are like super-fast readers, get confused by all these changing addresses. They might think there are lots of different pages when it’s really just one page with different codes.

Who’s Most Affected?

Online stores are the biggest culprits here. They use these codes to show different colors, sizes, or types of products. About 80% of online stores use URL parameters in some way.

What Can We Do About It?

Google used to have a special tool to help with this, but they got rid of it in 2022. Now, they’re thinking about new ways to solve the problem. Some ideas include:

1. Making smarter robots that can figure out when addresses are actually the same page
2. Asking website owners to be clearer about how their addresses work
3. Using special instructions (called robots.txt) to guide the search robots

Why Should We Care?

If you have a website, especially a big one or an online store, this matters because:

1. It helps Google find all your important pages.
2. It can make your website easier for search engines to understand.
3. It might help your website show up better in search results.

The Big Picture

Google is working hard to figure this out. In the meantime, if you have a website, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how you’re using these URL parameters. The simpler you can make things for Google’s robots, the better!

Remember, the internet is always changing, and Google is always trying to keep up. Stay tuned for more updates on this URL parameter puzzle!