The old AJAX crawling scheme URLs are a relic of a bygone era of the web. They are URLs that contain a `#!` (hashbang), and they were part of a deprecated AJAX crawling scheme that Google introduced in 2009 as a workaround to help search engines crawl and index content on AJAX-based websites. Today, they are a sign of an outdated and potentially problematic approach to JavaScript SEO. This guide will explain why this old scheme is bad for your SEO and how to fix it.

Think of these URLs as a rotary phone in a world of smartphones. It’s a technology that has been superseded by better, more efficient methods. For a broader look at modern JavaScript SEO, see our guide on the JavaScript SEO category.

An illustration of a dinosaur, symbolizing the deprecated status of old AJAX crawling scheme URLs.

Why the Old AJAX Crawling Scheme is a Problem

As explained in Google’s own guide to JavaScript SEO, modern search engines are much better at rendering and indexing JavaScript.

  • It’s Deprecated: Google officially deprecated the AJAX crawling scheme in 2015. While they still support it for a while, it’s a clear signal that your site is using an outdated technology.
  • It’s Inefficient: The old scheme required you to create HTML snapshots of your pages, which was a cumbersome and resource-intensive process.
  • It Can Cause Confusion: The old scheme can create confusion for search engines, which can lead to indexing issues.

A Step-by-Step Guide to a Modern Approach

The goal is to remove the old AJAX crawling scheme and to ensure that your site is using a modern approach to JavaScript SEO. For more on this, check out this guide to JavaScript SEO from Moz.

Code Example: The Fix

<!-- Before: The old AJAX crawling scheme URL --> <a href="https://example.com/ajax.html#!key=value">My Page</a> <!-- After: A clean, crawlable URL --> <a href="https://example.com/my-page">My Page</a>
  1. Remove the `#!` from Your URLs: The first and most important step is to remove the `#!` from your URLs.
  2. Implement a Modern JavaScript SEO Strategy: There are several modern approaches to JavaScript SEO, such as server-side rendering, dynamic rendering, and pre-rendering. Choose the approach that is right for your site.
  3. Use Clean, Crawlable URLs: Make sure that your internal links are using clean, crawlable URLs that do not contain the `_escaped_fragment_` parameter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are old AJAX crawling scheme URLs?

Old AJAX crawling scheme URLs are a deprecated way of making AJAX-based websites crawlable by search engines. They’re a major SEO issue, as they can confuse search engines and prevent them from indexing your pages correctly.

Why are old AJAX crawling scheme URLs important?

Old AJAX crawling scheme URLs are important because they can confuse search engines and prevent them from indexing your pages correctly. They can also be a frustrating experience for users, as they may not be able to find the pages they’re looking for.

How do I fix old AJAX crawling scheme URLs?

There are a variety of different things that you can do to fix old AJAX crawling scheme URLs. You should start by using an SEO audit tool like Creeper to identify any pages with old AJAX crawling scheme URLs. Once you’ve identified the pages, you can take steps to fix them.

Ready to bring your website into the 21st century? Start your Creeper audit today and see how you can improve your website’s JavaScript SEO.