URL Segments Dashboard Guide

Analyze your website's URL structure performance to understand which page types and content categories drive the most search traffic. Optimize your site architecture based on data-driven insights.

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Data Source: URL Segments analysis processes your Google Search Console page data to identify performance patterns by site structure. Check your connection status.

What are URL Segments?

URL segments are the individual parts of your website's URL structure, broken down by path levels. They help you understand how different sections of your site perform in search results and identify opportunities for site architecture optimization.

Example URL Breakdown

https://example.com/blog/2024/seo-tips/
Level 1: /blog Main content category
Level 2: /blog/2024 Year-based organization
Level 3: /blog/2024/seo-tips Specific content topic

Key Features

Multi-Level Analysis

Analyze URL segments at 5 different levels to understand your site structure performance.

  • Level 1: Main categories (/blog, /products, /services)
  • Level 2: Subcategories (/blog/2024, /products/electronics)
  • Level 3: Specific topics (/blog/2024/seo, /products/electronics/phones)
  • Level 4-5: Detailed content organization

Performance Metrics

View comprehensive performance data for each URL segment to identify high and low performers.

  • Total clicks and impressions
  • Average CTR and position
  • Page count per segment
  • Performance trends over time

Advanced Filtering

Filter segment data by multiple criteria to focus your analysis on specific areas.

  • Date range filtering
  • Path term filtering
  • Device and country filters
  • Search type filtering

Comparison Analysis

Compare segment performance across different time periods to identify trends and changes.

  • Period-over-period comparison
  • Year-over-year analysis
  • Delta calculations
  • Visual change indicators

Understanding Segment Levels

Each segment level provides different insights into your site structure. Understanding when to use each level is key to getting the most value from your URL segments analysis.

1

Level 1 - Main Categories

Analyze your main site sections and content categories.

Examples:
  • /blog - Blog content performance
  • /products - Product pages performance
  • /services - Service pages performance
  • /about - About pages performance
Best for: Understanding which main content types drive the most traffic
2

Level 2 - Subcategories

Analyze how subcategories within main sections perform.

Examples:
  • /blog/2024 - 2024 blog posts
  • /products/electronics - Electronics category
  • /services/seo - SEO services
  • /blog/tutorials - Tutorial content
Best for: Identifying high-performing content themes and topics
3

Level 3 - Specific Topics

Analyze specific topics and content areas within subcategories.

Examples:
  • /blog/2024/seo - SEO content in 2024
  • /products/electronics/phones - Phone products
  • /services/seo/technical - Technical SEO services
  • /blog/tutorials/beginner - Beginner tutorials
Best for: Finding specific content opportunities and gaps
4-5

Levels 4-5 - Detailed Organization

Analyze very specific content organization and individual page performance.

Examples:
  • /blog/2024/seo/technical - Technical SEO content
  • /products/electronics/phones/iphone - iPhone products
  • /services/seo/technical/audit - SEO audit services
Best for: Detailed content analysis and individual page optimization

How to Use URL Segments Analysis

Follow this systematic approach to get the most value from your URL segments analysis. Each step builds your understanding of your site structure and identifies optimization opportunities.

  1. Start with Level 1 Analysis

    Begin by analyzing your main site categories to understand which content types perform best overall.

    What to look for:

    • Which main sections drive the most traffic
    • Categories with high impressions but low clicks
    • Unexpected high performers
    • Categories that need more content
  2. Drill Down to Level 2

    Analyze subcategories within your top-performing main categories to identify specific themes.

    What to look for:

    • High-performing content themes
    • Seasonal or temporal patterns
    • Content gaps in popular categories
    • Opportunities for content expansion
  3. Explore Level 3 and Beyond

    Dive deeper into specific topics to find detailed content opportunities and optimization targets.

    What to look for:

    • Specific topics that perform well
    • Content areas with high potential
    • Detailed content gaps
    • Individual page optimization opportunities
  4. Apply Filters for Targeted Analysis

    Use filters to focus on specific aspects of your site performance.

    What to look for:

    • Mobile vs desktop performance differences
    • Geographic performance variations
    • Branded vs non-branded search performance
    • Specific content type performance

Understanding the Dashboard

The URL Segments dashboard presents your site structure data in an organized, easy-to-analyze format. Learn how to interpret each section for maximum insight.

Segment Level Selector

Choose the segment level (1-5) to analyze different depths of your site structure:

Level 1-2: Strategic Analysis

Use for high-level content strategy decisions and understanding main content performance.

Level 3-4: Tactical Analysis

Use for content planning and identifying specific content opportunities.

Level 5: Detailed Analysis

Use for individual page optimization and very specific content analysis.

Data Table Columns

Each segment entry shows key metrics to help you understand performance:

URL Segment

The actual URL path segment being analyzed (e.g., "/blog", "/products/electronics")

Clicks

Total clicks generated by pages in this URL segment

Impressions

Total impressions from pages in this URL segment

CTR

Average click-through rate for pages in this URL segment

Position

Average ranking position for pages in this URL segment

Page Count

Number of pages included in this URL segment

Export Options

Export your URL segments analysis data in multiple formats for further analysis, reporting, and site optimization planning.

CSV Export

Raw data in spreadsheet format for detailed analysis and custom calculations

  • All segment data with metrics
  • Filtered data based on current selections
  • Comparison data included
  • Perfect for pivot table analysis

Excel Export

Formatted workbook with multiple sheets and visualizations

  • Summary dashboard sheet
  • Segment data by level
  • Charts and graphs included
  • Professional formatting for presentations

PDF Export

Professional report format for sharing and presentations

  • High-quality charts and visualizations
  • Executive summary of key findings
  • Print-ready format
  • Perfect for client reports and team presentations

Common Use Cases

Here are practical ways to use URL segments analysis in your SEO and site optimization strategy. These use cases will help you get maximum value from your site structure data.

Site Architecture Optimization

Identify which URL structures perform best and optimize your site architecture accordingly. Look for patterns in high-performing segments.

Content Strategy Planning

Use segment performance to guide your content strategy. Focus on creating more content in high-performing categories.

Navigation Optimization

Identify which site sections are most important to users and optimize your navigation to highlight these areas.

Content Gap Analysis

Find underperforming segments that might need more content or better optimization to improve their search performance.

Mobile vs Desktop Analysis

Compare segment performance across devices to identify mobile-specific optimization opportunities.

Geographic Performance Analysis

Analyze how different segments perform in different countries to inform your international content strategy.

Pro Tips for URL Segments Analysis

Start High, Go Deep

Begin with Level 1 analysis to understand your main content performance, then drill down to specific levels based on what you find.

Track Performance Over Time

Regularly analyze segment performance to identify trends and changes in your site structure effectiveness.

Use Filters Strategically

Filter by device, country, or search type to understand how different audiences interact with your site structure.

Compare Periods

Use comparison features to see how segment performance changes over time and identify improvement opportunities.

Troubleshooting

Having issues with your URL Segments analysis? Check these frequently asked questions for quick solutions to common problems and questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some segments showing no data?

No data can occur when:

  • You're analyzing a segment level that doesn't exist in your URLs
  • Your date range is too narrow
  • Filters are too restrictive
  • Your site has a flat URL structure

Try using a lower segment level or expanding your date range to see more data.

What's the difference between segment levels?

Segment levels represent different depths of your URL structure. Level 1 shows main categories, Level 2 shows subcategories, and so on. Higher levels provide more detailed analysis but may have less data.

How often should I analyze URL segments?

We recommend analyzing URL segments monthly to track performance trends. For sites with frequent content updates, consider analyzing more frequently.

Can I use this data to restructure my site?

Yes! URL segments analysis is excellent for informing site restructuring decisions. Look for high-performing patterns and consider applying them to underperforming areas.

Ready to Optimize Your Site Structure?

Now that you understand URL segments analysis, start exploring your site structure performance to identify optimization opportunities.

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Pro Tip: Combine URL segments analysis with your Search Terms by Page dashboard to understand which specific queries drive traffic to different site sections, giving you a complete picture of your content performance.