What Is URL Facets in SEO?
Use Cases
URL facets help SEOs identify and control unnecessary pages from being crawled, helping search engines focus on higher-value content.
Online retailers use URL facets to let users filter by size, color, brand, etc., enhancing UX while requiring SEO strategies to prevent duplicate pages.
SEOs often implement canonical tags or parameter handling settings in Google Search Console to consolidate faceted URL equity into main category pages.
Analytics Segmentation
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are URL facets bad for SEO?
Not inherently. But when unmanaged, they can cause duplicate content, waste crawl budget, and dilute rankings.
How do you identify harmful URL facets?
Use tools like Google Search Console, log analysis, or SpotRise crawlers to find URLs with low value but excessive parameter variations.
What’s the best way to manage facets on an eCommerce site?
Block low-value combinations via robots.txt, use canonical tags for preferred URLs, and set parameter handling rules in search engines.
Can URL facets be indexed by Google?
A URL facet is a type of query parameter specifically used for filtering or modifying content views, often seen in search result URLs.
What is the difference between a URL facet and a query string?
Not directly, but excessive facets can hinder crawl efficiency, slowing how fast new content is discovered or updated.
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