By Wpexpert 
Optimizing URLs and permalinks is one of the important factors to improve SEO for WordPress websites. Search engine friendly URLs not only help to increase search engine rankings but also improve user experience. In this article, we will guide you on how to optimize URLs and permalinks to enhance SEO efficiency for WordPress websites.
Step 1: Choose SEO Friendly Permalink Structure
WordPress offers a variety of URL structures, but not all of them are SEO friendly. A friendly permalink structure will help search engines and users better understand what the page is about.
How to Choose a Permalink Structure
To change your permalink structure, follow these steps:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and select Setting -> Static path (Settings -> Permalinks).
- Select structure Article Name (Post name) for SEO optimization. This structure creates short URLs that contain the main keyword of the article, for example:
//example.com/ten-bai-viet. - Click Save changes to apply the new structure.
Step 2: Optimize URL With Keywords
The optimal URL should be short, clear and contain the main keyword related to the content of the article. Keywords in the URL help search engines better understand the topic of the article and improve rankings in search results.
Insert Primary Keyword Into URL
When creating a new post or page, make sure your primary keyword appears in the URL. For example, if your primary keyword is “SEO optimization,” structure your URL like this: //example.com/toi-uu-seo.
Keep URLs Short
URLs should be as short as possible. Long URLs that contain too much unnecessary information can be confusing for both users and search engines. Remove unnecessary words like “and”, “is”, “of” from your URLs.
Step 3: Use Friendly URL Format
To optimize URLs, in addition to using keywords, you should also follow some basic principles:
Use Hyphens (-) Instead of Underscores (_)
In URLs, you should use hyphens (-) to separate words instead of underscores (_). Search engines view underscores as characters, not word separators, which can affect keyword recognition.
Avoid Using Special Characters
Avoid using special characters like ?, #, % in URLs, as they can be confusing for search engines and users. Keep URLs simple and readable.
Step 4: Optimize URLs for Multilingual Sites
If your website is multilingual, it is also important to optimize the URLs for each language. Make sure that the URLs for each language are clearly structured and SEO friendly.
Using Multilingual Plugin
You can use multilingual plugins like WPML or Polylang to create separate URLs for each language. For example, a Vietnamese page could have a URL like //example.com/vi/ten-bai-viet and the English page is //example.com/en/post-title.
Step 5: Use Redirects When Changing URLs
When changing your URL structure or updating your permalinks, you need to set up redirects to avoid 404 errors and protect your current SEO rankings.
Install Redirection Plugin
Plugin Redirection makes it easy to set up 301 redirects when changing URLs:
- Install and activate the plugin Redirection from the WordPress plugin repository.
- Access to Tools -> Redirection and add the old URL and the new URL to set up redirects.
Setting up redirects helps you maintain links and avoid losing traffic when changing URLs.
Effective URL Optimization Tips
To optimize URLs and permalinks more effectively, you need to keep in mind the following tips:
- Always use static URLs: Avoid using dynamic URLs that contain parameters like
?id=123because this is not good for SEO. - Edit URL before publishing: Review and edit URLs to ensure they are short, keyword-rich, and clear before publishing your post.
- Don’t change your URL often: Once the article is indexed, avoid changing the URL so as not to affect the current SEO ranking.
WordPress Permalinks
Optimizing URLs and permalinks is one of the most important factors to improve SEO on WordPress. By using friendly URL structure, inserting keywords, and following basic principles, you can easily improve your search engine rankings and provide a better user experience. Start optimizing URLs for your WordPress website today to get the best results!
