Functions of WordPress Blog URLs

A URL tells a Web browser where to find your blog.

A URL is an address specifying the exact location of a file on the World Wide Web. It typically begins with http://, followed by the domain name of the hosting site, other location information and a file extension. When you create new pages and posts with a software platform such as WordPress, the program automatically generates a URL that serves several functions for you and your readers.

Content Management

The URL of a WordPress blog indicates how your content is managed or organized. The first part of the URL tells you the domain hosting the blog, and each folder and subfolder is separated by a forward slash. A typical URL for a WordPress post has the domain, followed by the year, then the month, day and a unique code, or set of numbers, to identify the exact post. For example: Myblog.com/2011/09/20/12345.

SEO

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the term used to describe the techniques and strategies you can employ to increase your site's visibility in search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Your WordPress blog automatically creates new URLs using numbers and letters, but you can change this in your Permalinks settings. Opt to include category names, and post names in URLs to maximize the amount of useful information the URL provides for search engines.

Memorability and Usability

When you create a WordPress page, the URL points to the folder containing the page. If you name a page "Contact," for example, the URL will be Myblog.com/contact. This incorporates a memorable keyword into the URL and also eliminates the need for a file extension, such as .htm or .html. If you create an important page or subsection, you can refer potential readers directly with a Web address that's easy to recall.

Redirects

You can alter the functions of Facebook URLs with plug-ins, which you can search for, install and activate from "Add New" under "Plugins" in your Dashboard sidebar. A 301 plug-in enables you to redirect a WordPress URL to another URL, whether for an internal or external site or page. Bypass unwieldy URLs by creating a page with an easy-to-remember URL and using a plug-in to redirect it to the lengthier URL.