SEO slug definition:A search engine optimization (SEO) slug (also known as URL slug or permalink) is a keyword in a URL designating a specific web page. It’s the text that follows the domain name and summarizes the information on the page. It simplifies the URL for visitors to remember and share while assisting search engines in comprehending the page’s content.
If you’ve noticed that specific URLs are long and complex while others are short and simple, it’s because of the SEO slug. A well-crafted URL slug mayincrease the page’s visibility in search resultsand the likelihood that people will click on it.
Nevertheless,selecting keywords and phrasesthat correctly represent the website’s content and are likely to be used in user searches takes considerable analysis. The good news is that there are practices to create permalinks toboost your website’s rankings. We will look more closely at these topics:
- What is an SEO slug?
- How is a URL slug important for SEO?
- Google’s guidelines for an excellent permalink
- How to optimize an SEO Slug
Let’s get started!
Looking for an all-in-one SEO audit tool? You’ve found it.
SEO Checker provides data on key metrics to give you:
- Complete SEO score
- Content Grade
- Site Speed Analysis
- and more.
What is an seo slug?
An SEO slug is a URL component that designates a particular website page or post. It’s the portion of the URL following thedomain nameand subdirectories. It gives a concise overview of the page’s information for people andsearch enginesto understand its content.
How is a URL slug important for SEO?
A URL slug is essential for SEO since it allows search engines to understand your page’s subject matter. You can tell search engines that your website is suitable for visitors searching for that specific topic byusing relevant keywordsin the URL slug. This approach can improve your site’s rankings andincrease organic visitors.
For instance, If your blog article is about “healthy smoothie recipes,” your URL slug may be “yourwebsite.com/healthy-smoothie-recipes.” This permalink tells search engines what information is on your page and attracts website visitors looking for that subject. The URL slug is simpler for search engines to scan and comprehend when hyphens separate words.
Also, a clear and concise URL slug can enhance how users interact with your website. Users are more inclined to trust a website and feel confident in their choice to click through when they see a URL that genuinely matches the information they seek. This method may result ingreater engagementand a greater chance of conversion.
Google’s guidelines for an excellent permalink
Google guidelinessay a good SEO slug is concise, simple to understand, and contains relevant keywords. It must accurately reflect the information on the page to which it links. Google recommends hyphens rather than underscores or spaces to divide words in the URL.
This recommendation is because search engines do not recognize spaces and underscore as word separators, but hyphens are. Following these guidelines can improve your website’s visibility and ranking insearch engine results pages (SERPs).
Learn how we increased traffic by over40%, and conversions by over100%for an ecommerce client.
Read the Case StudyHow to optimize an SEO slug
As we stated earlier, tweaking your SEO slug is essential for raising your website’s traffic and search engine rankings. Following our guidance, you can develop a brief, pertinent slug that includes your primary keyword without being spammy or crammed with other phrases.
Here’s how to optimize an SEO slug in six simple steps:
- Keep it relevant to the content on the page
- Use lowercase letters only
- Add hyphens to separate words within the slug
- Shoot for 3-5 words
- Include your primary keyword or phrase, but avoid keyword stuffing
- Remove any stop words such as “and,” “the,” or “of”
Step 1: Keep it relevant to the content on the page
Assuring that your SEO slug is pertinent to the content of your website is the first and most crucial stage in theoptimization process. Your URL slug should appropriately reflect your pages’s subject to make it simpler for readers and search engines to grasp what the page is about.
Use specific, unique slugs for each page on your website instead of general, ambiguous ones. Make an effort to add precise information regarding the page’s content — subject, location, or product name.
例如,“pacific-northwest-hiking-trails”a better slug for a page on hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest than “outdoor-activities” or “nature walks.” This particular and evocative slug aids search engines in comprehending the page’s content and increases the likelihood that it will appear in relevant search results.
You’ll increase your chances of ranking higher in SERPs for your target keywords by keeping your slug relevant.
Step 2: Use lowercase letters only
Next, be sure that the URL slug only contains lowercase characters. Making all of your URL’s letters lowercase enhances readability and makes it simpler for consumers to remember and share. Search engines prefer lowercase letters in URLs to better grasp the website’s structure and the keywords it aims to rank for.
For instance, if “best coffee shops in New York City” is your target keyword, a suitable slug might be “best-coffee-shops-new-york-city” instead of “best-coffee-shops-New-York-City.” The URL becomes more user- and search engine-friendly by adopting lowercase characters.
Also, since different servers and browsers may read uppercase and lowercase characters differently, adopting lowercase letters can ensure everything is clear when linking to your page.
Step 3: Add hyphens to separate words within the slug
Another crucial step in increasing your website’s visibility in search engines is to use hyphens to separate terms in the URL slug. Hyphens improve readability and comprehension for search engines, increasing the likelihood that your website willappear higher in search results.
For instance, “my-awesome-blog-post” is better than “mywebsite.com/MyAwesomeBlogPost” as your SEO slug. This permalink improves the URL’s readability for both people and search engines. Using hyphens to separate words in a URL makes it more memorable and shareable.
By clearly separating the terms and facilitating user comprehension, using hyphens improves your URL’s readability and usability. Moreover, using hyphens rather than underscores or other characters when entering or copying the URL helps to reduce confusion and potential mistakes.
Step 4: Shoot for 3-5 words
The next step is to ensure that your SEO slug short — ideally, no more than 3-5 words. Shorter URLs rank higher in search results and are simpler to share and remember.
Consider the primary keywords that best represent the information on your website when building your URL, and aim to incorporate them as briefly and meaningfully as possible.
Keep your URL free of filler words and extraneous information that doesn’t enhance it. By keeping it brief and to the point, you’ll increase the likelihood that consumers will remember and share your material and that you’ll appear higher in search results.
Step 5: Include your primary keyword or phrase, but avoid keyword stuffing
Use your primary keyword or phrase, but avoid cluttering your text. Even though it’s crucial, use your primary keyword or phrase sparingly in the URL.Stuffing your content with keywordsmight lower your rating on search engines and make it appear spammy.
For instance, using “chocolate chip cookies” in the title, meta description, and throughout the post is crucial for SEO if you are a food blogger writing about a recipe for cookies.
Concentrate on naturally incorporating your primary keyword or phrase throughout the body of your page’s content. Also, to further improve your URL’s SEO, consider inserting supplementary keywords or phrases pertinent to your content. This method can raise your chances of appearing for relevant search terms and increase your website’s visitors.
Step 6: Remove any stop words such as “and,” “the,” or “of”
Remove stop words like “and,” “the,” or “of.” Search engines frequently disregard stop words when indexing content. They might be necessary for sentence structure and readability, but they can clog up your SEO slug and make it harder for search engines to find your main keywords.
This URL is now shorter and contains important keywords like “delicious recipes” and “family,” which increases its likelihood of appearing in relevant search results.
By eliminating stop words, you can make your URL more transparent, focused, and straightforward for search engines to scan and interpret. Ultimately, this approach could boost your website’s exposure and search engine ranks.
260%
increase in organic revenue
198%
increase in organic transactions
150%
increase in organic traffic
3872%
increase in sessions from SEO
Get the most out of your SEO slugs with WebFX
WebFX is a full-servicedigital marketing agencythat optimizes the SEO slugs for your website. Our skilled team has 1.6 million hours of expertise in developing efficient SEO techniques that help your website rank better on SERPs.
We use a data-driven methodology to identify the keywords and phrases most crucial to your company and include them in the website’s content and metadata. With our expertise, you can improve your website’s exposure, get more organic traffic, and ultimatelyenhance conversions and revenue.
Contact us onlineor call888-601-5359to learn more about how ourSEO servicescan benefit your business.
Table of Contents
- What is an SEO Slug?
- How is a URL Slug Important for SEO?
- Google’s Guidelines for an Excellent Permalink
- How to Optimize an SEO Slug
- Step 1: Keep It Relevant to the Content on the Page
- Step 2: Use Lowercase Letters Only
- Step 3: Add Hyphens to Separate Words Within the Slug
- Step 4: Shoot for 3-5 Words
- Step 5: Include Your Primary Keyword or Phrase, but Avoid Keyword Stuffing
- Step 6: Remove Any Stop Words Such As “and,” “the,” or “of”
- Get the Most out of Your SEO Slugs with WebFX
Related Resources
- What is FAQ Schema? (And How to Get Started with FAQ Schema for Google)
- What is Sales Collateral? 10 Real-Life Examples of Collateral for Sales
- The Easiest Way to Understand Google? Twitter.
- Google on Search Engine Optimization: 3 Great Resources
- Sorry Google, YouTube Captions Aren’t for the Deaf. They’re for Your Robots.
- Is Google a Search Engine or a Sales Engine?
- Google Search Algorithm Change for Freshness
Marketing Tips for Niche Industries
- SEO for Department Stores
- SEO for Discount Stores
- SEO for Vacation Rentals
- Long Tail SEO Keywords for Medical Practices
- 5 Must-Read SEO Tips for Auto Manufacturing Companies
- 5 Revenue-Driving SEO Strategies for Excavation Companies
- Medical SEO: 3+ Reasons to Invest in SEO for Medical Practices
- Top-of-the-Line SEO Services for Health Insurance Companies
How is your website’s SEO?
Use our free tool to get your score calculated in under 60 seconds.
WebFX Careers
Join our mission to provide industry-leading digital marketing services to businesses around the globe - all while building your personal knowledge and growing as an individual.