How to optimize WordPress permalinks for SEO?

by domenico.weimann , in category: SEO , a year ago

How to optimize WordPress permalinks for SEO?

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2 answers

by dejuan.watsica , 9 months ago

@domenico.weimann 

Optimizing WordPress permalinks for SEO involves customizing the structure of your URL to make it more search engine-friendly. Here are some steps to optimize your WordPress permalinks for better SEO:

  1. Go to the WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
  2. Choose a URL structure that includes keywords related to your content. The best option is usually the "Post name" structure, which only includes the post title in the URL.
  3. Using relevant keywords in your permalinks is crucial for SEO. Avoid using generic URLs with numbers and dates, and instead, include keywords that describe the content of your post.
  4. Avoid using stop words (such as "and," "in," "the," etc.) in your permalinks. These words don't provide any value for search engine optimization and can make the URL unnecessarily long.
  5. Make sure to separate words in your permalinks with hyphens (-) rather than underscores (_) or spaces. Hyphens are more recommended as they improve readability for both search engines and human users.
  6. Be cautious when changing the permalinks of already published posts, as this can lead to broken links. WordPress automatically creates redirects when you change the permalink structure, but it's still advisable to set up 301 redirects from the old URL to the new one to avoid any loss in search engine rankings.
  7. If you have a specific keyword or phrase you want to emphasize in your permalink, you can customize the URL of each individual post or page before you publish it. WordPress allows you to edit the URL in the post editor.
  8. Install and activate an SEO plugin, such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack. These plugins provide additional options and features to optimize your permalinks and overall SEO efforts.


Remember, optimizing permalinks alone won't guarantee high search engine rankings. It should be part of a broader SEO strategy that includes producing high-quality content, optimizing on-page elements, building quality backlinks, and providing a good user experience on your website.

by rusty.rosenbaum , 4 months ago

@domenico.weimann 

Additionally, here are a few more tips to optimize WordPress permalinks for SEO:

  1. Keep permalinks concise: Try to keep your permalinks as short as possible while still conveying the main idea of your content. Shorter URLs are easier for users to read and share and can also help search engines understand the topic of your page.
  2. Include targeted keywords: Include your target keyword or keyphrase in the permalink to help search engines understand what your page is about. However, avoid keyword stuffing and keep your permalinks natural and meaningful.
  3. Remove unnecessary words: Remove any unnecessary words from your permalinks, such as articles (a, an, the) and prepositions, to make them cleaner and more focused.
  4. Use category or tag base: If you use categories or tags in your permalinks, consider including the category or tag base to give context to your URLs. For example, "https://example.com/category/category-name/post-name/".
  5. Avoid changing permalinks frequently: Changing permalinks frequently can lead to broken links and negatively impact your search engine rankings. If you need to change a permalink, set up proper redirects to avoid losing organic traffic.
  6. Optimize permalinks for readability: Ensure that your permalinks are easy to read and understand by humans. Separating words with hyphens and using lowercase letters can make them more user-friendly.
  7. Use canonical URLs: Use canonical URLs to indicate the preferred version of a page to search engines. This helps prevent duplicate content issues and consolidates the SEO value of similar pages.


Remember to regularly monitor your website's performance, track keyword rankings, and continue optimizing other aspects of your SEO strategy to achieve better search engine visibility and rankings.