Changing the permalink structure of your WordPress website can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and the right tools, it can be done without causing any damage to your site. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of safely changing your permalinks and avoiding any errors or broken links.
Before we dive into the details, let’s first understand what permalinks are and why changing them is important. Permalinks are the unique URLs assigned to each page and post on your blog. They serve multiple purposes, such as giving readers a brief idea about the content, helping search engines discover the topic of the page solely from the URL, and providing a permanent location for visitors to return to.
By default, WordPress uses the Day and name option for permalinks. However, if the focus of your posts is more on the content rather than the date, it’s best to use the Post name option. This structure makes it clear to both readers and search engines what the post is about.
There are several reasons why you might consider changing your permalink structure. If you started with an older version of WordPress, you might still be using the previous default structure, which provides no useful information for SEO. Changing your site’s direction or rebranding may also necessitate a permalink structure update. However, it’s important to carefully consider whether or not it is necessary to alter your permalinks, as it can have negative consequences if not planned properly.
Now let’s discuss how to safely change the permalink structure of your WordPress website. The first step is to decide on a new permalink structure. You need to make choices about what you want to include in the syntax of the link, such as whether or not to include a date. Once you have made a decision, you can proceed to change your permalink structure in WordPress.
To do this, navigate to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard. Select your desired structure from the settings screen and click Save. This will update all of your internal URLs with the new syntax. However, it’s important to note that all links to your site from external sources will be broken, and the content indexed by search engines will be incorrect.
To fix these broken links and ensure a smooth transition, you need to set up 301 redirects on your website. These redirects tell browsers and search engines where the relevant content is located and inform them of the permanent change. There are several plugins available to help you with this process, such as the Simple 301 Redirects plugin or the Redirection plugin. These plugins allow you to easily create and manage redirects without manually editing your .htaccess file.
Once you have set up the redirects, you may also want to create an XML sitemap and manually re-index your site with search engines to ensure they have the correct information.
In conclusion, changing the permalink structure of your WordPress website is a task that requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this guide and using the right tools, you can safely change your permalinks without causing any damage to your site. Remember to make a backup of your site before making any changes, test your changes on a staging site first, and consider the potential impact on SEO and broken links. With a clear plan and the right tools, you can benefit from a more optimized permalink structure for your website.
