Do you use post slug feature in WordPress? If yes, then great! If not, then you should really start using it. Post Slug feature is located among one of those boxes at the right side: Categories, Post Status, Discussion… etc.
SEO Advtantage of Using Post Slug
When you use it, you greatly improve your blog’s SEO. In WordPress, if you enable permalinks and if you use Post Title in the URL structure, then you know that the post title becomes part of the URL for each individual post page.
Below is a screenshot of Permalink’s preferences in WordPress:
As you can see, I have set Date (Year/Month/Date) followed by Post Title for the URL structure.
Feed Search Engines with Different Important Keywords
As you know Search Engines pay more attention to page’s Title, URL, and Headings (or the content in general). So it’s always better if you input important keywords in page’s Title and URL in particular, and to repeat the keywords in the content of the page. Therefore, using Post Slug gives you this advantage of putting different words in the URL of the page.
As you can see from the screenshot below, words that you enter in the Post Slug becomes part of the URL (instead of the Post Title, that is set by default).
So, if I hadn’t used Post Slug, my page URL would be http://www.adesblog.com/2008/01/12/write-pillar-articles-but-dont-overdo-it-please/ instead of http://www.adesblog.com/2008/01/12/what-is-pillar-articles/
So what’s the benefit?
Why did I choose “what is pillar articles” for the URL and not use the post title that was set by default? Because I know that people won’t be searching Google using “Write Pillar Articles but Don’t Overdo It” phrase. I am pretty sure that people will be going for searches like “What is Pillar Articles”, “How to write Pillar Articles”, “Pillar Article Structure” etc. Among these alternatives, I have chosen the first one.
Was it the correct choice? I am quite confident that it was, because if you search Google for “What is Pillar Article“, you will see that my post comes up on No.4 position (at this point in time, it might climb up or go down).
So as you can see, when you use it correctly, the results are very encouraging.
Don’t abuse it
When using this feature you should only use keywords that are directly related and mentioned in your post. Idea here is to let the users find your blog, find the article useful, and become your regular reader. Therefore putting not related keywords in the Post Slug won’t bring you any good. You will just destroy your reputation and credibility.
Do you have to use it for every post? If you can do that, then why not? Personally I do not use it all the time, I only use it on some articles that I think important.
I hope you find this post useful, look forward to read your thoughts.
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I think it’s worth using the following custom permalink structure in combination with post slugs
“/%postname%.html”
This has the advantage of creating a file name with the conventional .html at the end e.g.
http://www.sciencetext.com/google-site-links.html
Many readers outside the fringe of bloggers and the computer savvy will worry that they missed something out if they see no .html in the filename, so having it serves to reassure them that they got things right.
db
David, thanks, that’s a very useful tip! I will seriously consider integrating it into my blog.
I totally disagree with you, David. I think now its time for the web without any extensions. Furthermore, with the bang of web2.0 applictions, you don’t really get to see much of the extensions. It’s AJAX, the urls and extension are rewritten for the ease of the user.
Yes, OVERDO names can spoil much sometimes.
this is a tip i miss, your tutorial is great Ades i follow your instructions!! yes sir!!!
Nice one, bloggers should practice it on their blogs
I never really understood what post slug meant until today. Thanks
Having the html extension is not something which makes that much of a difference. Sure, it may help a little, but there are other factors which are far more important. And as far as people who are new to the Web are concerned, I think that they would rather remember website.com/keyword as opposed to website/com/keyword.html.
Alan Johnson
I think .php extension would be more appropriate for dynamic sites that run on php engine. But as Arstan said URLs without extension is becoming a norm nowadays. Moreover, it has no effect (or little effect) on Search Engines.
this makes me really want to have a wordpress blog. Hope I could find a sponsor soon or win your contest :)
my blog can use that.
comes error: You should update your .htaccess now.
ades, did you know why this happen to me?
because of i can’t use SEO friendly link, im using index.php for my url.
example: http://www.balootisme.com/index.php/the-1969-chevrolet-chevelle-ss/
see that index.php after my URL??
Getting the balance between SEO and usability is an art in itself.
Great explanation.
Ades! You are the man. This is so useful. Other sites fail to enlighten me on the “post slug” matter. Thanks! (the graphics really worked!)
anybody knows what happen to my blog? ades, did u know the answer?
ades,
how to use permalink as your blog, eg: http://www.adesblog.com/2008/01/17/benefits-of-post-slug-for-seo/
but my blog permalink is: http://www.balootisme.com/index.php/the-1969-chevrolet-chevelle-ss/
see that index.php? when I remove that, an error appear, “You should update your .htaccess now”.
what should I do to update my .htaccess?? where to find this .htaccess??
thanks for emailing me ades…!! ;)
balootisme, i see no error on your blog… maybe you have already fixed it.
Interesting follow up to my comment about using the “.html” type of permalink. I guess I’m just a traditionalist, but for me a URL that has a proper old-fashioned tail looks more “genuine” than one without and with the surge in phishing and malware sites around, I guess it makes a URL to only-half-savvy users look more real.
db
I’m not convinced that .html really adds anything for the less tech savvy. They wont even appreciate what it is.
A simple keyword is sufficient.
Thanks! This is just what I been searching for!
having the name of the post in the actual url would probably help with the rankings considering having the domain with the actual keyword does give much weigh
Yes post slugs are great.. we get more control over URL and yes keywords can be inserted easily in URL.. But we do have t take caution tht we don’t spam it..use only relevant keywords in post slug and it should look natural.. else site may be penalised..
I think I got some result. Thank you here.
Thanks! This is just what I been searching for!
Awesome advice, I always know where to come when I need a little info on optimizing my blog.
im using %postname%.html. And there is not index yet. im waiting..
i think most usefull one is category included.
Example: http://www.yoursite.com/categoryname/postname.html
So that there isnt any duplicate content.
Nice one, bloggers should practice it on their blogs
Getting the balance between SEO and usability is an art in itself.
This is new to me. Never heard of postslug. I don’t use it but I do make sure my keywords are in my post link.
Thanks for sharing, this is really important for bloggers to optimize their post fo search engines…
I’ve been juggling with idea of using post slug on my WordPress for quite some time now. I think they made some new improvements on the feature recently. Since you make a very convincing case, I might just use it already. Thanks!