What is a URL Slug?
A URL slug is the part of a web address that identifies a specific page in a human-readable format. For example, in the URL yoursite.com/how-to-bake-a-cake, the slug is how-to-bake-a-cake. Slugs are essential for SEO because they tell both users and search engines what the page is about before they even click.
Why are SEO-Friendly Slugs Important?
Google uses keywords within the URL to rank pages. A clean, hyphenated slug increases the chance of ranking higher for those keywords. Moreover, short and descriptive slugs improve the Click-Through Rate (CTR) on social media and search results because they look more professional and trustworthy.
Best Practices for Slugs:
- Use Hyphens: Always use
-to separate words, never underscores_. - Keep it Short: Try to keep your slug under 5-6 words.
- Remove Stop Words: Avoid words like 'a', 'the', 'and' unless they are part of the main keyword.
- Lowercase Only: Ensure all characters are lowercase to avoid 404 errors.