Considering removing the dates from your WordPress site’s URLs? WordPress is renowned for its SEO-friendly URL structure, providing a range of formats, one of which includes dates in post URLs. However, there are scenarios where a cleaner, date-free URL is more suitable, particularly for timeless content or for aesthetic reasons.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the process of removing dates from your WordPress URLs. We’ll explore the reasons for this change, its benefits, and the important considerations to ensure the transition is smooth and beneficial for your site’s SEO and user experience.
Understanding the Presence of Dates in WordPress URLs
WordPress’s default setting generates URLs that are not particularly readable or user-friendly. For example, a typical default URL would appear as:
https://example.com/?p=123
In this format, the URL utilizes the post ID, which is functional but not particularly informative or easy on the eyes.
Thankfully, WordPress offers a solution. Through the Settings » Permalinks page, you can modify these basic links into versions that are more meaningful and aligned with SEO best practices.
WordPress Permalink Settings
In WordPress, you can select from various permalink options, some of which include date parameters in the URLs. Users often opt for either the ‘Month and name’ or ‘Day and name’ options, leading to URLs such as:
- ‘Day and name’ format:
https://example.com/2024/12/03/sample-post/ - ‘Month and name’ format:
https://example.com/2024/12/sample-post/
While these are an improvement over the default URLs and offer more context for SEO, they can be lengthy, and the included dates might give the impression that your content is outdated.
Many users prefer the ‘Post name’ format for a timeless and concise URL structure. This option removes the date, focusing on the post slug:
https://example.com/sample-post/
This structure is short, informative, SEO-friendly, and remains relevant irrespective of the content’s age.
Important Considerations Before Removing Dates
Before you start modifying the date format in your WordPress site’s URLs, it’s crucial to weigh a few key factors, especially if your site has been live for a while. Changing URL structures isn’t just a cosmetic update; it can have significant implications for your site’s functionality and search engine performance. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Impact on Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Altering your URLs can lead to ‘Page Not Found’ (404) errors. This can temporarily affect how search engines and users interact with your site. Such errors might also show up in your Google Search Console, signaling issues that need your attention. Although these can be mitigated, it’s important to plan carefully to minimize any negative impact on your site’s search rankings and user experience.
- Backlinks and Social Shares: If you’ve been running your site for some time, you likely have a collection of backlinks pointing to your content. Changing your URLs means these backlinks may no longer direct users to the correct pages, leading to a potential loss in referral traffic. Similarly, social share counts that are tied to the URL may reset, as most sharing platforms don’t recognize the new URLs as being the same content. This can affect perceived popularity or social proof of your content.
- User Experience and Accessibility: Regular visitors to your site may have bookmarked certain pages or become familiar with your URL structure. A sudden change can be jarring and potentially confusing. It’s important to consider how these changes might affect the user experience and take steps to ensure a smooth transition.
Making changes to your WordPress URL structure is a strategic decision that should be approached with careful planning and consideration of these factors. This ensures that the transition is as seamless as possible for both your users and search engines, maintaining the integrity and performance of your site.
Guide to Removing Dates from URLs
To remove dates from WordPress URLs, follow these steps:
- Create a Website Backup: Start by creating a complete backup of your WordPress site. This step allows you to restore your site if needed.
- Adjust Permalink Settings: Go to Settings » Permalinks and select ‘Post name’ as your permalink structure. This change applies to all current and future posts and pages.
- Save Changes: Don’t forget to save your changes to apply the new permalink structure.
Setting Up Redirects to Maintain SEO
After removing dates from your URLs, setting up 301 redirects is crucial. These redirects will prevent users from encountering 404 errors when accessing old links and inform search engines about the updated URLs, thus preserving your SEO rankings.
FAQs About Changing WordPress URL Structures
- Will changing my URLs affect my site’s SEO? Initially, there might be some fluctuations in SEO as search engines re-index your site. However, with proper redirects, this impact is usually minimal and temporary.
- Can I revert back to the old URL structure? Yes, you can revert back. However, keep in mind that frequent changes can be confusing for users and search engines.
- Do I need to update internal links? Ideally, yes. Updating internal links to reflect the new URL structure is good practice.
Tips for Maintaining SEO After URL Changes
- Monitor Your Site: Keep an eye on your site’s performance through tools like Google Analytics and Search Console.
- Update Your Sitemap: Make sure your sitemap is updated and submitted to search engines.
- Check for Broken Links: Use tools to check for and fix any broken links on your site.