A permalink is a URL that directs to a specific blog when used correctly… can also be a helpful SEO strategy. Starting a blog you may want to try out the options available to you. As your blog gains momentum and you learn a thing or two….you may decide to go with a different approach.
If you’re considering this option, then it is essential to take some precautions to keep your old links from breaking. This changeover shouldn’t affect your present search engine rankings of the blog. There are many WordPress plugins that will allow you to make changes to your permalinks. I have found one that actually does what it says it called: permalink migration plugin. Not only will they give you very easy to install directions– you get to keep your links.
Take a look at a very common default permalink below:
/%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/
You may be interested in changing that permalink structure to the below format for improvement of your SEO efforts:
/%category%/%postname%/
Without using the plugin: This structure change will result into all indexed pages turn into invalid by the search engine. This will result into losing some visitors that already bookmarked those pages and other websites’ links.
This problem can be solved through the use of the plugin. This will advise the search engine that the previously indexed pages are permanently moved to a new address and a request will be generated to replace this new address with the old.
Technically, this is known as “301 Redirect” and “Permanent Redirect” too. This action will update the entire search engine indexes almost instantaneously with no chance of losing visitors or breaking those most important links. Finally, it will keep your current search engine rankings intact… almost like no change had taken place though the permalink structure.
I have found that the permalink migration plugin is very useful in changing your permalink structure. You can download this plugin to make use of it for your blog. This plugin will generate the mentioned “301 Redirect” for the site and help the visitor that is trying to land with the old bookmark or from the link located at other sites. There is no need to worry about losing links due to changing your permalink structure. The entire process is completely flawless and a perfect way to improve your SEO efforts to a further extent with the use of the plugin.
About Kathy Baka
Kathy Baka Founder & Editor of Review Crushers Social Media & Internet Marketing. Helping Small Businesses Find the Best Resources Online While Educating Clients - for more post by me view them here or contact me through the links below.
My friend advised me about your site and how nice it is. She is right, I am really impressed.
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Kathy Baka Reply:
December 18th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Thanks that is very nice:)
Kathy Baka recently posted..Data Center Services Today for Businesses
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Thanks for this post. A couple questions about that plugin though..will all the redirects still work after deactivating the plugin? And it looks like that plugin was last updated in 2007. Does it definitely still work?
Thanks.
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Kathy Baka Reply:
January 6th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Dustin,
I would ASSume it that it would not!! But that is my assumption! I have used the
plugin with no problems even though the last update was in 2007.
Kathy Baka recently posted..How To Improve Keyword Relevancy To Page Content
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