Permalinks are the permanent URLs of your WordPress content, such as posts, pages, categories, and tags. Setting an effective permalink structure improves your site’s usability and search engine optimization (SEO). Let’s dive into the details!
1. What are Permalinks?
- Definition: A unique, unchanging URL for each piece of content on your site.
- Purpose:
- Helps users find specific pages or posts.
- Improves SEO by making URLs more descriptive and keyword-rich.
- Example:
- Default:
http://example.com/?p=123
- Friendly:
http://example.com/how-to-make-cakes/
2. Why Change the Permalink Structure?
- Default Permalinks are plain and not user-friendly (
?p=123).
- Improved permalinks:
- Boost user trust and readability.
- Help search engines index your site better.
- Avoid date-sensitive URLs unless writing news-based content.
- Example:
- Avoid:
http://example.com/2023/01/01/post-name/
- Use:
http://example.com/post-name/
3. Best Permalink Structures
- Post Name:
http://example.com/post-name/
- Commonly used, SEO-friendly, includes keywords.
- Custom Structures: Tailor to your site’s needs using tags:
- Examples:
/%category%/%postname%/ /%postname%/%author%/
- Include slashes (
/) between tags for proper formatting.
Tags you can use:
- %postname% - Post title.
- %category% - Category slug.
- %author% - Author username.
- %year%, %monthnum%, %day% - Date elements.
- %post_id% - Unique post ID.
4. How to Change the Permalink Structure
- Navigate to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
- Choose a pre-defined structure or select Custom Structure to create your own.
- Save changes.
5. Custom Permalinks for Categories and Tags
- Category Base: Change
category to something meaningful.
- Example:
http://example.com/recipes/cakes/ instead of http://example.com/category/cakes/.
- Tag Base: Update
tag for better alignment with your content.
- Example:
http://example.com/ingredients/chocolate/.
6. Important Tips for Managing Permalinks
- Set Early: Decide on your structure before publishing posts to avoid broken links.
- Avoid Frequent Changes: Changing permalinks can break links and cause traffic loss.
- Use Redirection Plugins: If you must change your permalink structure later, plugins like Redirection can help maintain link integrity.
Summing it up
A thoughtful permalink structure ensures your WordPress site is user-friendly, SEO-optimized, and adaptable. Choose a structure that reflects your content’s purpose and improves navigation.
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