How to Format Page Slugs for SEO

What Is a Page Slug?

https://www.example.com/blog/how-to-format-page-slugs

Why Are Page Slugs Important for SEO?

• Improved Readability: Clear slugs help users understand what the page is about.
• Keyword Optimization: Including relevant keywords can enhance search engine understanding.
• Better User Experience: Well-crafted slugs can increase click-through rates from search results.

Best Practices for Formatting Page Slugs

1. Keep It Short and Descriptive
   • Aim for 3-5 words that summarize the content.
   • Example: Use /contact-us instead of /get-in-touch-with-our-team.
2. Use Lowercase Letters
   • URLs are case-sensitive; using lowercase avoids confusion.
   • Example: /about-us over /About-Us.
3. Use Hyphens to Separate Words
   • Hyphens improve readability and are SEO-friendly.
   • Example: /our-services instead of /ourservices or /our_services.
4. Include Relevant Keywords
   • Incorporate primary keywords naturally.
   • Example: Use /seo-tips if targeting “SEO tips.”
5. Avoid Stop Words
   • Remove common words like “the,” “and,” “of.”
   • Example: /benefits-seo over /the-benefits-of-seo.
6. Exclude Special Characters and Numbers
   • Stick to letters and hyphens to prevent encoding issues.
   • Avoid /price-$99 or /step-#1.
7. Ensure Uniqueness
   • Each slug should be unique to avoid duplicate content.
   • Don’t reuse /blog for multiple pages.

Best Practices for Changing Existing Page Slugs

1. Evaluate the Impact
   • SEO Considerations: Changing a slug can affect search rankings and backlinks.
   • Necessity: Only change if it significantly improves SEO or fixes errors.
2. Plan the Change
   • Backup Your Site: Always create a full backup before making changes.
   • List External Links: Identify important backlinks to the page.
3. Update the Slug Carefully
   • Consistency: Keep the new slug aligned with the content and SEO goals.
   • Avoid Frequent Changes: Repeated changes can confuse search engines.
4. Implement 301 Redirects
   • Preserve SEO Value: Redirect the old URL to the new one to maintain link equity.
   • User Experience: Prevents users from encountering 404 errors.
5. Update Internal Links
   • Navigation Menus: Ensure all menus link to the new URL.
   • Content Links: Update any internal links within your site.
6. Notify External Sites (If Possible)
   • Reach Out: Contact webmasters of sites with significant backlinks to update the URL.
7. Monitor Performance
   • Analytics: Watch for traffic changes to the page.
   • Search Console: Check for crawl errors or indexing issues.

How to Modify a Slug in WordPress

For Existing Posts or Pages

1. Navigate to the Post or Page
   • Go to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Find the post or page you want to edit and click Edit.
2. Edit the Slug
   • Gutenberg Editor:
     • Click on the post title.
     • In the right sidebar under Permalink, you’ll see the URL Slug field.
     • Modify the slug as needed.
   • Classic Editor:
     • Below the title field, you’ll see the Permalink with an Edit button.
     • Click Edit, change the slug, and click OK.
3. Update the Post or Page
   • Click Update to save your changes.

Implementing Redirects After Changing Slugs

Why Use Redirects?

• Preserve SEO Equity: Redirects pass on the ranking power from the old URL to the new one.
• Prevent 404 Errors: Ensures users and search engines aren’t met with dead links.
• Maintain Backlinks: Redirects retain the benefits of any backlinks pointing to the old URL.

Types of Redirects

• 301 Redirect (Permanent): Informs browsers and search engines that the page has moved permanently.
  • Best for SEO: Passes most of the original page’s ranking power to the new URL.
• 302 Redirect (Temporary): Indicates a temporary move.
  • Not Recommended: Doesn’t pass full SEO value and can confuse search engines.

How to Set Up a 301 Redirect in WordPress

Using a Plugin

1. Install a Redirection Plugin
   • Go to Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for Redirection, Simple 301 Redirects, or Yoast SEO.
   • Install and activate your chosen plugin.
2. Redirection Plugin:
   • Go to Tools > Redirection.
   • Click Add New.
   • Enter the Source URL (old slug) and Target URL (new slug).
   • Click Add Redirect.

Testing Your Redirect

• Check in a Browser:
  • Enter the old URL to see if it redirects properly.
• Use Online Tools:
  • Tools like httpstatus.io can verify the redirect status.

Additional Tips

• Update Sitemaps
  • Regenerate your XML sitemap if you use an SEO plugin.
  • Submit the updated sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
• Notify Search Engines
  • Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to request indexing of the new URL.
• Update Backlinks
  • Reach out to webmasters of sites linking to your old URL and request an update.
• Monitor Analytics
  • Keep an eye on traffic patterns and ranking positions for any fluctuations.
• Avoid Keyword Stuffing
  • Keep slugs natural and user-friendly; over-optimization can harm SEO.
• Regularly Check for Broken Links
  • Use tools or plugins to scan your site for 404 errors.