Best url structure

Hi guys's, I'm after your suggestions about the below,

Which is the best setup if I'm targetting say for example "I WANT TO BUY A DOG" and I own "IWANTTOBUYA.COM"

Dog would be one of a number of items.

would the best url setup be (below)

Also, I would also set the title tag, keyword h1 etc as my main phrase

option 1) iwanttobuy.com/a-dog.html
option 2) iwanttobuy.com/a-dog/
option 3) iwanttobuy.com/i-want-to-buy-a-dog/
option 4) iwanttobuy.com/i-want-to-buy-a-dog.html

I would say 3 as its SEO ish and has all the main words in
But I am a noob so probably guessed wrong

Option 3 and 4 are better than 1 or 2.

A search engine will take into account your domain name and any optimization for keywords on that index page to try and develop an idea as to what your website is about. If your website is going to be around ""I want to Buy a dog" then having a page with those keywords will help add to the overall theme.

You are asking a lot for the search engine to make the connection between a domain/index for "iwanttobuya" and a page for "a-dog".

Now - does that mean a search engine like google won't make the connection? No, if the pages on your site are kw optimized correctly the search engines will get the jist of what your website is about: aka "I want to buy a dog"

By using the url "i-want-to-buy-a-dog" you are leaving nothing to question. It will also help that individual page rank better for the keyword term. I think if done properly it's likely you would have two listings under that keyword in the SERP. 1 for your index and another for the page above.

Of course title, h1 and file names are only the beginning. Theres a lot more involved in this, but you will want every possible benefit going your way. Best to have every element of your website working for you, than against.

#4 one level deep
# 3 two levels deep - correct me if im wrong

option 3..

you have double the keywords and it looks like a directory so google will treat it as a forever changing page

I like both 3 and 4 ..

googlemonster said:

#4 one level deep
# 3 two levels deep - correct me if im wrong

Click to expand...

Good spotting - I am wondering if the trailing slash on #3 (which indicates that the URL refers to the root of a directory) is seen as a level 3 page (defaulting to the server default index page whatever that may be), and if any SEO benefit exists anymore for 2nd level vs 3rd level URL structure??