WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems available, used by millions of websites around the world. One of the key features of WordPress is its ability to easily create and edit pages and posts. However, as websites evolve and change over time, it may become necessary to change the URL of a page. In this article, we’ll explore the steps to change the URL of a page in WordPress, including editing the page slug and setting up redirects for any old URLs that may be affected. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to update your WordPress site’s URLs and ensure a smooth transition for your visitors.
It’s best to proceed with caution and make sure you have a good reason for changing it. Here is the steps on how to change URL of a page in WordPress:
Navigate To The Page Editor
To change the URL of a page in WordPress, you’ll need to access the page editor. This can be done by navigating to the “Pages” section of your WordPress dashboard and selecting the page you want to edit.
Edit The Page Slug
Once you’re in the page editor, you can change the URL by editing the page slug. The page slug is the part of the URL that comes after your domain name. For example, if your domain is “example.com” and the page slug is “about-us”, the full URL would be “example.com/about-us”.
To edit the page slug, simply click on the “Edit” button next to the Permalink (located just above the page title) and make your changes. WordPress will automatically generate a new URL based on your changes.
Update The Page
After you’ve edited the page slug, click the “Update” button to save your changes. WordPress will automatically update the URL of the page to reflect the new slug.
Redirect Old URLs (Optional)
If the page you’ve changed the URL for was previously published and had other sites linking to it, you may want to redirect the old URL to the new one to avoid broken links. This can be done using a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO.
To set up a redirect, install and activate the plugin, then navigate to the plugin’s settings and create a new redirection rule. Enter the old URL in the “Source URL” field and the new URL in the “Target URL” field, and save your changes. The plugin will automatically redirect visitors from the old URL to the new one.
Things To Consider Before Changing URL Of The Page In WordPress
Before changing the URL of a page in WordPress, there are a few things to consider to ensure a smooth transition for your visitors and avoid any negative impact on your site’s SEO. Here are some important things to keep in mind:
Think carefully about why you want to change the URL: Before making any changes, it’s important to consider why you want to change the URL. If the page has already been published and shared on social media or other websites, changing the URL could result in broken links, which can negatively impact your site’s traffic and SEO. Make sure you have a good reason for changing the URL and weigh the potential benefits against the risks.
Use a descriptive and concise page slug: The page slug is the part of the URL that comes after your domain name, and it should be descriptive and concise. A well-crafted page slug can improve the readability of the URL and make it easier for visitors to understand what the page is about. Avoid using long or confusing slugs that could confuse visitors or negatively impact your site’s SEO.
Update any internal links: If you change the URL of a page, make sure to update any internal links on your site that point to that page. This will ensure that visitors can still navigate to the page, even if they are using an old link.
Set up redirects for any old URLs: If the page you’ve changed the URL for was previously published and had other sites linking to it, you may want to set up redirects to avoid broken links. This can be done using a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO, as mentioned earlier.
By keeping these considerations in mind, you can change the URL of a page in WordPress without negatively impacting your site’s traffic or SEO.
