If you have a website or planning to have one in the near future, then you should have a clean and clear URL. Here is a good blog that lists the dos and don’ts of an URL or web address.

For example in the picture shown, see the URL from the government, look how many folders they have listed in the URL address, if somebody had to type this manually it will be irritating to the user and most likely will never return to the site. So, the main aim is to have a user friendly web site.

Seth Godin, the marketing guru gives the following tips when you design your website.

1. Never use long names, short names are better, like this one for example: DON'TUSEALLCAPSMUSHEDTOGETHER.COM. This one is not there on the internet, but there is a website named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.com.

2. Instead of using www as a prefix you can omit from now on. For example Hubpages can be reached with either http://www.hubpages.com or just http://hubpages.com. So when you ask your visitors, use the second notation, it is easy to remember and follow.

3. Some URLs might look good for your web company but it may not mean much to the public. It is like a dress you wear, you may think it looks good, but you are not the one seeing it.

Also read about web design usability at Useit.com by Jakob Nielsen.

If you have any tips about the URLs either as a website owner or as a user please leave a comment so others can follow.