What is a permalink? Also called a “slug,” permalink (short for permanent link) is the full URL that points to a specific page or blog post on your website. It’s the address people click, share, and that search engines crawl and rank.
If your permalinks are messy, long, or confusing, they can hurt SEO, user experience, and click-through rates, which is why I am going to show you how to use permalinks correctly and in a way that Google and you will love.
First things first…
What Is A Permalink For?
From an SEO point of view, a permalink helps search engines understand what your page is about before they even read the content.
A short, clean permalink that clearly reflects the page’s topic improves readability, trust, and click-through rates.
This is why understanding what a permalink is and setting it correctly from the start is an important part of building a well-structured, search-friendly website.
Once a page is published, its permalink should remain the same to avoid broken links and SEO issues.
Permalink Example: YourWebsite.com/blog/What-is-a-permalink
“what-is-a-permalink” would be the permalink for that websites page.
Why Clean Permalinks Matter For SEO
When I first started blogging, I paid no attention to my permalinks, nor did I understand the importance of keeping them clean and tidy.
Short, clean permalinks:
- Are easier to read and trust
- Perform better in search results
- Look cleaner when shared on social media
- Avoid keyword stuffing penalties
- Improve click-through rate (CTR)
Long, messy permalinks:
- Look spammy
- It’s harder to remember
- Often includes unnecessary words
- Can weaken SEO signals
Pro Tip: Once you get the hang of how to use permalinks properly, you will find most will only include the page or blog’s focus word.
Good Vs Bad Permalink Examples
Bad Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/blog/how-to-make-money-from-home-and-earn-while-you-sleep
Good Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/blog/how-to-make-money-from-home
Bad Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/blog/what-is-keyword-research-and-how-to-descover-unsaturated-niches
Good Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/blog/what-is-keyword-research
Bad Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/how-to-start-blogging-with-ease-in-2026-with-no-money
Good Permalink
theonlineblogger.com/how-to-start-blogging
Why The Good Permalinks Win
Good permalinks win because they are clean, readable, and easy for both users and search engines to understand.
Short, focused URLs clearly signal what a page is about, improve click-through rates in search results, and look more trustworthy when shared.
Pro Tip: By removing unnecessary words and keeping permalinks direct, you strengthen your SEO, improve user experience, and create links that stay relevant long-term.
How To Create SEO-Friendly Permalinks
When setting your permalink:
- Use lowercase letters
- Separate words with hyphens
- Remove:
- “and”
- “with”
- “in”
- dates (unless required)
- Keep it short and direct
- Match the main topic, not the whole title
Rule of thumb: If you can remove a word and the meaning stays the same—remove it.
Permalink Best Practices
- Focus keyword only (or very close)
- No unnecessary filler words
- No dates unless needed
- Shorter = cleaner = better
- Set it once and avoid changing later
My Conclusion To What Is A Permalink
Understanding what is a permalink and using them correctly is one of the easiest SEO wins you can make.
You don’t need fancy tools or advanced strategies… Just clean, readable, intentional URLs.
Short.
Direct.
and SEO-friendly.
That’s how permalinks should be done. ✅
As always if you have any questions or comments please do leave below.
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