A page’s URL is a small detail that helps both people and search engines understand what the page is about. Clean URLs also look more trustworthy when shared on WhatsApp and social media.
What makes a good URL
- Short and descriptive: /web-design-harare/ rather than /?p=1234 or /services/category/item-2-copy/.
- Lowercase words separated by hyphens.
- Includes the main topic naturally, without stuffing keywords.
- No dates for content you plan to keep updating.
- A sensible structure, such as /services/seo/ for related pages.
Setting it up in WordPress
Under Settings, then Permalinks, choose the “Post name” structure. When publishing, edit the slug to remove filler words.
Changing existing URLs safely
Changing a URL that already ranks can lose its visibility unless you:
- Add a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one.
- Update internal links to the new address.
- Update your sitemap.
- Monitor Search Console for errors.
If a page ranks well with an imperfect URL, it is usually better to leave it alone.
Need help with this in Zimbabwe?
Web Entangled has been helping Zimbabwean businesses grow online since 2002. Explore our SEO services in Zimbabwe, or request a free quotation and we will get back to you with a clear, itemised proposal.
