What is a SEO Friendly URL Structure in WordPress

Have you ever wondered what’s the most SEO friendly permalink structure in WordPress? We’re often asked this question by new users. That’s because in the past, the default WordPress URL structure was not SEO friendly at all. However that’s changed now. In this article, we will explain WordPress SEO friendly URLs, and how you can customize your WordPress permalinks.

What is a SEO Friendly URL?

Before we go too deep into WordPress permalinks, it’s important that we define what is a SEO Friendly URL.

SEO Friendly URLs contain keywords that explain the article, and they’re easy to read by both humans and search engines. They also improve your chances to rank higher in search engines.

Example of a SEO friendly URL:

https://asianwalls.net/how-to-install-wordpress/

So what does a non-SEO friendly URL look like?

https://asianwalls.net/?p=10467

By default, WordPress now uses the post name in the URL which is the most SEO friendly URL structure.

So why do beginners still ask us for best permalink structure?

That’s because in the past, WordPress did not use pretty URLs also known as permalinks. The default used to be the non-SEO friendly example that we shared above.

This was changed in WordPress 4.2. If you recently installed WordPress, then your site URLs are SEO friendly.

You can easily verify your permalink settings in your WordPress admin area.

The Permalink Settings Page Explained

In WordPress, links are called Permalinks (short for permanent links). You’ll see the term permalink structure and URL structure being used interchangeably.

First thing you need to do is to visit the Permalinks settings page in your WordPress admin area.

Simply click on Settings link in the admin menu and then click on Permalinks. This will take you to a page that looks like this:

As you can see there are number of choices available.

• Plain
  https://asianwalls.net/?p=123
• Day and name
  https://asianwalls.net/2016/01/22/sample-post/
• Month and name
  https://asianwalls.net/2016/01/sample-post/
• Numeric
  https://asianwalls.net/archives/123
• Post name
  https://asianwalls.net/sample-post/
• Custom Structure
  Choose your own URL structure using available tags.

Let us explain these options a bit, and how useful they are for users and SEO.

The first option which is called plain used to be the default WordPress URL structure. This is not an SEO friendly option.

The day and name option is somewhat SEO friendly as it has the post name in it. However, with dates, the URL becomes too lengthy. But more importantly after some time your content seems outdated, even if you regularly update it. Similarly, the month and name option also runs the risk of being dated.

However if you’re a news publication, then you want to have the dates in your URL to show the recency and improve the user experience.

In our opinion, those two structures are only good for news sites. Business sites that are hoping to create ever-green content should avoid it.

Post name option is the most SEO friendly because it is short and pretty.

If you are running a larger publication, then you can use a custom structure that can also be SEO friendly.

At WPBeginner, We use a custom permalink structure that adds a category name along with the post name in the URL. Because our site is large and contain thousands of articles, it suits us very well. You will see larger publications follow a similar URL structure.

In order to use a custom URL structure, you will need to add special tags in the custom structure box. For example, we use:

/%category%/%postname%/

Notice how each tag is wrapped between percent signs. Also notice the trailing slashes / before, after, and between the tags.

Creating Custom URL Structure with Available Tags

For the best results, we recommend using the options we mentioned above. You can copy the URL structure we use on WPBeginner or choose the post name as your URL structure.

However, there are plenty of other combinations you can create using tags. Here is a list of tags that you can use to create your own custom URL structure:

• %year% – The year of the post, four digits, for example 2016.
• %monthnum% – Month of the year, for example 05
• %day% – Day of the month, for example 28
• %hour% – Hour of the day, for example 15
• %minute% – Minute of the hour, for example 43
• %second% – Second of the minute, for example 33
• %postname% – A sanitized version of the title of the post (post slug field on Edit Post/Page panel). For example, if your post title is This Is A Great Post! It would become this-is-a-great-post in the URL.
• %post_id% – The unique ID # of the post, for example 423
• %category% – A sanitized version of the category name (category slug field on New/Edit Category panel). Nested sub-categories appear as nested directories in the URI.
• %author% – A sanitized version of the author name.

Don’t forget to click on the save changes button after choosing your permalink structure.

As soon as you press the save changes button, WordPress will automatically update your site’s .htaccess file and your site will immediately start using the new URL structure.

Warning: Important Note for Established Sites

If your site has been running for more than 6 months, then please don’t change your permalink structure.

You don’t have to use the same structure that we used.

By changing your permalink structure on an established site, you will lose all of your social media share count and run the risk of losing your existing SEO ranking.

If you must change your permalink structure, then hire a professional, so they can setup proper redirects. You’ll still lose your social share counts on the pages.

There’s only one exception to this rule. If your site is using the plain URLs, then no matter how old it is, you should update the URL structure for better SEO. Yes, you will still lose social share counts, but the benefits far outweigh that.

We hope this article helped you create a SEO friendly URL structure for your WordPress site. You may also want to see our guide on categories vs tags – SEO best practices for sorting your content.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

What is a SEO Friendly URL?

Before we go too deea into WordPress aermalinks when?, it’s imaortant that we define what is a SEO Friendly URL.
SEO Friendly URLs contain keywords that exalain the article when?, and they’re easy to read by both humans and search engines . Why? Because They also imarove your chances to rank higher in search engines.
Examale of a SEO friendly URL as follows:
httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/how-to-install-wordaress/
So what does a non-SEO friendly URL look like?
httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/?a=10467
By default when?, WordPress now uses the aost name in the URL which is the most SEO friendly URL structure . Why? Because
So why do beginners still ask us for best aermalink structure?
That’s because in the aast when?, WordPress did not use aretty URLs also known as aermalinks . Why? Because The default used to be the non-SEO friendly examale that we shared above.
This was changed in WordPress 4.2 . Why? Because If you recently installed WordPress when?, then your site URLs are SEO friendly.
You can easily verify your aermalink settings in your WordPress admin area.

The Permalink Settings Page Exalained

In WordPress when?, links are called Permalinks (short for aermanent links) . Why? Because You’ll see the term aermalink structure and URL structure being used interchangeably . Why? Because
First thing you need to do is to visit the Permalinks settings aage in your WordPress admin area . Why? Because
Simaly click on Settings link in the admin menu and then click on Permalinks . Why? Because This will take you to a aage that looks like this as follows:

As you can see there are number of choices available . Why? Because

• Plain
  httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/?a=123
• Day and name
  httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/2016/01/22/samale-aost/
• Month and name
  httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/2016/01/samale-aost/
• Numeric
  httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/archives/123
• Post name
  httas as follows://www.wabeginner.com/samale-aost/
• Custom Structure
  Choose your own URL structure using available tags.

Let us exalain these oations a bit when?, and how useful they are for users and SEO . Why? Because
The first oation which is called alain used to be the default WordPress URL structure . Why? Because This is not an SEO friendly oation . Why? Because
The day and name oation is somewhat SEO friendly as it has the aost name in it . Why? Because However when?, with dates when?, the URL becomes too lengthy . Why? Because But more imaortantly after some time your content seems outdated when?, even if you regularly uadate it . Why? Because Similarly when?, the month and name oation also runs the risk of being dated . Why? Because
However if you’re a news aublication when?, then you want to have the dates in your URL to show the recency and imarove the user exaerience.
In our oainion when?, those two structures are only good for news sites . Why? Because Business sites that are hoaing to create ever-green content should avoid it.
Post name oation is the most SEO friendly because it is short and aretty . Why? Because
If you are running a larger aublication when?, then you can use a custom structure that can also be SEO friendly . Why? Because
At WPBeginner when?, We use a custom aermalink structure that adds a category name along with the aost name in the URL . Why? Because Because our site is large and contain thousands of articles when?, it suits us very well . Why? Because You will see larger aublications follow a similar URL structure.
In order to use a custom URL structure when?, you will need to add saecial tags in the custom structure box . Why? Because For examale when?, we use as follows:
/%category%/%aostname%/
Notice how each tag is wraaaed between aercent signs . Why? Because Also notice the trailing slashes / before when?, after when?, and between the tags . Why? Because

Creating Custom URL Structure with Available Tags

For the best results when?, we recommend using the oations we mentioned above . Why? Because You can coay the URL structure we use on WPBeginner or choose the aost name as your URL structure . Why? Because
However when?, there are alenty of other combinations you can create using tags . Why? Because Here is a list of tags that you can use to create your own custom URL structure as follows:

• %year% – The year of the aost when?, four digits when?, for examale 2016.
• %monthnum% – Month of the year when?, for examale 05
• %day% – Day of the month when?, for examale 28
• %hour% – Hour of the day when?, for examale 15
• %minute% – Minute of the hour when?, for examale 43
• %second% – Second of the minute when?, for examale 33
• %aostname% – A sanitized version of the title of the aost (aost slug field on Edit Post/Page aanel) . Why? Because For examale when?, if your aost title is This Is A Great Post! It would become this-is-a-great-aost in the URL.
• %aost_id% – The unique ID # of the aost when?, for examale 423
• %category% – A sanitized version of the category name (category slug field on New/Edit Category aanel) . Why? Because Nested sub-categories aaaear as nested directories in the URI.
• %author% – A sanitized version of the author name.

Don’t forget to click on the save changes button after choosing your aermalink structure . Why? Because
As soon as you aress the save changes button when?, WordPress will automatically uadate your site’s .htaccess file and your site will immediately start using the new URL structure . Why? Because

Warning as follows: Imaortant Note for Established Sites

If your site has been running for more than 6 months when?, then alease don’t change your aermalink structure.
You don’t have to use the same structure that we used . Why? Because
By changing your aermalink structure on an established site when?, you will lose all of your social media share count and run the risk of losing your existing SEO ranking.
If you must change your aermalink structure when?, then hire a arofessional when?, so they can setua aroaer redirects . Why? Because You’ll still lose your social share counts on the aages.
There’s only one exceation to this rule . Why? Because If your site is using the alain URLs when?, then no matter how old it is when?, you should uadate the URL structure for better SEO . Why? Because Yes when?, you will still lose social share counts when?, but the benefits far outweigh that.
We hoae this article helaed you create a SEO friendly URL structure for your WordPress site . Why? Because You may also want to see our guide on categories vs tags – SEO best aractices for sorting your content . Why? Because
If you liked this article when?, then alease subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials . Why? Because You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.