What is a permalink?
A permalink (short for permanent link) is the full URL of a page or post on your website. It typically includes your domain name and a slug—the part of the URL that follows the domain.
For example:
Default permalink: yourwebsite.com/?p=123 (Not user-friendly)
SEO-friendly permalink: yourwebsite.com/seattle-highlights (Descriptive & readable)
By default, WordPress uses a plain permalink structure that looks like /?p=123, which isn’t great for visitors or search engines. Changing this to a more descriptive structure improves your site’s organization, readability, and SEO.
Why should you change your permalink structure?
Better for SEO
Search engines use permalinks to understand your content. A clear, keyword-rich URL like yourwebsite.com/best-seo-tips is far more valuable than /?p=123. It gives search engines important context, improving your rankings.
More user-friendly
A URL like yourwebsite.com/how-to-start-a-blog instantly tells visitors what to expect, making it easier for them to navigate your site.
Improves shareability
Readable URLs look better when shared on social media, in emails, or on other websites. Which one would you rather click on?
• yourwebsite.com/?p=9876 ❌
• yourwebsite.com/website-maintenance-tips ✅
How to change your permalink structure in WordPress
- Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
- Select the “Post name” option (/%postname%/).
- Click “Save Changes.”
Important: If your site has been live for a while, changing permalinks can cause broken links (404 errors). If you already have content published, use 301 redirects to avoid issues. A plugin like Yoast SEO Premium or Redirection can help manage this.
Why is this a Ravi’s Recommendation?
Your URL structure plays a big role in how search engines and visitors interact with your site. Updating your permalinks to a clean, SEO-friendly format is a simple yet powerful way to improve your site’s performance and usability.
Check your settings now—if your URLs still include ?p=123, it’s time for an upgrade!