Search engine optimization (SEO) is defined as “the art and science of publishing information and marketing it in a manner that helps search engines understand your information is relevant to relevant search queries.” (SEO Glossary)
So what is “On-site Search Engine Optimization”?
Simply stated, it’s anything you do ON your website to make it search engine friendly.
Here is a simple list of things you can do for on-site SEO, some of which we’ll walk you through today in this tutorial:
- Permalink Structure or Friendly URLs
- Title Tags, Meta Description, Meta Kewyords
- Internal Linking Structure
- Page Name Structure
- Header Tags
- Content and Keyword Repetition
The main purpose of this tutorial today is to walk you through the first item on the list – Permalink Structure or Friendly URLs.
Before I show you HOW to set them up, I want to show you examples of two different websites. One of the sites will have a Friendly URL structure, the other will not – your job will be to tell me which is which…
Example 1:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=143&sid=11146344
Example 2:
http://www.etreps.com/how-to-set-up-a-bluehost-account-in-5-minutes-or-less/
So, which is more “friendly” and why?
…
…
My non-biased answer is Example 2. Here’s why:
- By looking at the content after the / in example 2, I can tell what the page is about. It includes keyword phrases that are also useful for search engine purposes.
- With Example 1, I have NO IDEA what I’m going to get when I arrive at that page. Having numbers, characters, etc. in a website URL is not friendly to the reader or a search engine.
Are you more clear now on what a “Friendly URL” or an effective Permalink Structure means now?
Good!
Now the How To!
How to Set Up Effective Permalink Structure in WordPress
Step 1: Login to your new account
http://www.[yournewdomainname.com]/wp-admin
Step 2: Click on “Settings” on the left side of the Screen
When you click on Settings, you’ll be directed to the General Settings page. The side navigation will now look like this:
Step 3: Click on Permalinks
You’ll now see that by default your website is set up as a “non-friendly URL” – numbers, a question mark, etc.
Step 4: Change the Permalink to a Custom Structure
I recommend adding this text in the Custom Structure box: /%postname%/ (and so does Matt Cutt’s from Google – see video below)
Step 5: Click Save Changes at the Bottom of the Page
Your site is now on it’s way to being at the top of Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)
What Matt Cutts from Google Has to Say about Permalinks
What’s Next? All You Need to Know about General Settings in WordPress
Stay tune!
