A permalink is a permanent link.
It is a particular type of URL used to point to a specific piece of information, such as a web page or a blog post.
In other words, a link that does not change over time.
What is a permalink?
In practice, permalinks are static addresses: hyperlinks that identify the URL of a single web resource.
What does that mean?
Nothing too complicated. Simply that if:
- the content is edited, renamed or moved, the permalink stays the same.
- the content is deleted, the link no longer works.
Before we move on… a quick “historical” note.
Permalinks became widespread mainly with the rise of blogs, as a way to link to a specific post on the platform.
SEO optimization
Optimizing a permalink for SEO is essential to make your online content more visible.
Why?
The answer is simple: it helps search engines index your pages and improves the browsing experience for users.
Here are some solid tips for building effective permalinks.
- Be clear and descriptive; choose the right keywords so users can find you.
- Separate the words in the slug, always with a hyphen or an underscore. Avoid other characters.
- Drop stop words (pronouns, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, etc.) unless they are essential to understanding the meaning.
How to set up a permalink in WordPress
Do you use the WordPress platform?
Great. It is one of the best-known CMSs in the world for good reason.
It is functional, practical and really easy to use.
The same goes for setting up a permalink.
If you want to know which structure to choose, follow the instructions below.
Just read carefully:
- open the WordPress dashboard
- click SETTINGS, then PERMALINKS
- choose one of the available structures: PLAIN, DAY AND NAME, MONTH AND NAME, NUMERIC or POST NAME.
Remember that WordPress also lets you create custom permalinks using tags or static text.