Best Practice for Using Descriptive URLs

The following list describes best practice for using Descriptive URLs in Site Builder:

• When naming categories and tabs published on your website, use keywords that describe what can be found on the page. For example, if you sell movies, instead of naming a tab “Catalog,” name it “Shop For Movies,” or “DVD Movies.” Alternatively, you can enter those keywords in the URL Component field.

• When naming images published on your website, consider search engine optimization (SEO). The name should describe the image or the item that the image is associated with.

• To manually edit the URL Component field on a set of item records, you can customize the item list view to display the field, and then click Edit on the list page to enable inline editing.

• Use the option to clear URL components only when first setting up a site, or if you need to regenerate URL components with updated item information. To continue using descriptive URLs, be sure to run the Bulk Set URL Components task again. After a site is up and running, do not clear URL components, as visitors' bookmarks may result in broken links.

• Note the following when turning off the Descriptive URLs feature or clearing URL components:

  • If you turn off the feature, URLs are generated using the default NetSuite format (using internal record IDs). After you turn the feature off, visitors to your site using descriptive URLs may receive a 404 page-not-found error.

  • If you choose to clear URL components permanently, select one of the options under the preference, Action for Unrecognized URLs.

Related Topics

• Setting Up Descriptive URLs
• Descriptive URLs in Site Builder
• Using Canonical URLs in NetSuite Websites

General Notices