If you’ve ever used WordPress, you’ve probably come across slugs—those small but significant parts of a URL that help organize and define your content. But what exactly is a slug, and why does it matter? In this guide, we’ll dive into what slugs are, how to edit them, best practices for creating SEO-friendly slugs, and how to avoid common mistakes.
What is a Slug in WordPress and How Are Slugs Handled in Permalink Settings?
A slug in WordPress is the portion of the URL that appears after the domain name.
Take a look at this URL: https://www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/ppc-competitor-analysis/
The slug here would be “ppc-competitor-analysis.”
By default, WordPress generates slugs from the post or page title. So, if you create a post called “WordPress Slugs: A Guide,” the automatically generated slug might look something like “wordpress-slugs-a-guide.”
While slugs are typically derived from the post title, they can be customized to make them more readable and SEO-friendly. So, you could change the slug “wordpress-slugs-a-guide” to “seo-friendly-wordpress-slugs” to better reflect the content and target specific keywords.
WordPress also allows you to configure permalink settings that define how slugs are structured across the site. You can select different formats for the URL, like including categories or post names, to keep things consistent.
Why Slugs Matter: Impact on User Experience and SEO
Helping Users Navigate
A clean, descriptive slug makes it easier for users to understand what your page is about just by looking at the URL. When users can glance at a URL and immediately get a sense of the content, it enhances the overall user experience.
A URL like “www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/wordpress-slug-importance” is far more user-friendly and intuitive than “www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/post-12345.” Descriptive slugs give users confidence that they’re clicking on the right link.
Improving SEO
Well-optimized slugs also play a significant role in SEO. Search engines like Google use slugs to understand the content of a page. If your slug contains relevant keywords, search engines are better equipped to rank your page appropriately. A URL with a slug like “/seo-best-practices” is more likely to rank well for search terms like “SEO best practices” than a generic or random string of numbers and characters.
Incorporating keywords into your slugs (without overstuffing) helps both search engines and users find your content more easily. Plus, slugs that align with your content and keywords can give you an edge in organic search rankings.
How to Edit a Slug in WordPress
Editing a slug in WordPress is a straightforward process. Whether you’re working in the Classic Editor or the Block Editor, the steps are easy to follow.
Classic Editor:
- When editing a post, look for the Permalink section directly beneath the post title.
- Click Edit next to the slug to modify it.
- After making your changes, click OK to save your new slug.
Block Editor:
- With the post open in the Block Editor, look for the Permalink option in the sidebar on the right.
- Click Edit to modify the slug.
- Once you’ve made your edits, press Save to apply the new slug.
If you’re working with custom post types or pages, the process is the same. Just be sure to double-check your slugs before publishing to make sure they’re clear, concise, and SEO-optimized.
Best Practices for Creating SEO-Friendly Slugs
Keep Slugs Short, Relevant, and Keyword-Rich
A concise slug that accurately reflects your content’s main topic is ideal. For example, “seo-optimization-tips” is short, keyword-rich, and accurately reflects the content of the page. Avoid making slugs unnecessarily long by including extraneous information like dates or irrelevant terms.
Avoid Stop Words
Stop words such as “and,” “or,” and “but” don’t add value to slugs and can make them longer than necessary. Removing these words not only makes the URL shorter but also helps search engines focus on the most important keywords. So, instead of “the-importance-of-a-slug-in-wordpress” we have “wordpress-slug-importance,” which is shorter and gets right to the point.
Examples of Good vs. Poor Slugs
Good Slugs:
- https://www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/tiktok-seo-101/
- https://www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/amazon-ppc/
- https://www.makeyourmarkdigital.com/ppc-competitor-analysis/
These slugs are clear, concise, and include keywords that users and search engines can easily recognize.
Poor Slugs:
- www.yoursite.com/2025/post-12345
- www.yoursite.com/seo-guide-page
The first example is filled with unnecessary numbers, and the second doesn’t use any keywords. Both could confuse users and hurt SEO performance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Slugs
Using Long and Complicated Slugs
Long and complex slugs not only look messy, but they can also confuse both users and search engines. The goal is to create slugs that are easy to read and share. A long, complicated slug is often a sign that it’s trying to cover too much or include too many unnecessary words.
DON’T: /how-to-create-optimized-wordpress-slugs-for-seo-success
DO: /optimized-wordpress-slugs
Changing Slugs Frequently
Once you’ve published a post, avoid changing the slug unless absolutely necessary. Changing a slug after it’s been indexed by search engines can lead to broken links and negatively impact SEO. If you must change it, make sure to set up redirects from the old URL to the new one to preserve traffic and SEO value.
Optimizing Slugs for a Better WordPress Site
Slugs may seem like a small part of your WordPress site, but they play a significant role in both user experience and SEO. By keeping slugs short, relevant, and keyword-rich, you can make your content more accessible and improve your site’s performance in search engines. Pay attention to these best practices, avoid the common mistakes, and your WordPress site will be better optimized for both users and search engines alike.
