URL Slug Best Practices for SEO in 2024
Create SEO-friendly URL slugs that improve your search rankings and click-through rates.
📌 Key Takeaways
- ✓Keep slugs short: 3-5 words maximum
- ✓Use hyphens, not underscores
- ✓Include your target keyword
- ✓Remove stop words (a, the, and)
What is a URL Slug?
A URL slug is the part of a web address that comes after the domain name and identifies a specific page. For example:
texttools.site/blog/url-slug-best-practices-seo
The highlighted part is the slug.
Why Slugs Matter for SEO
URL slugs are a ranking factor for search engines. They help:
- Search engines understand page content
- Users know what to expect before clicking
- Improve click-through rates in search results
- Create shareable, memorable URLs
Best Practices for URL Slugs
1. Keep It Short and Descriptive
Aim for 3-5 words that accurately describe the page content. Shorter URLs are easier to share and remember.
/how-to-create-the-best-seo-friendly-url-slugs-for-your-website-2024/url-slug-best-practices2. Use Hyphens, Not Underscores
Search engines treat hyphens as word separators, but underscores join words together.
/word_counter/word-counter3. Include Your Target Keyword
Put your main keyword in the slug, preferably near the beginning. This helps with both SEO and user understanding.
4. Remove Stop Words
Words like "a," "the," "and," "of" add length without SEO value. Remove them unless they're essential for meaning.
5. Use Lowercase Letters
URLs are case-sensitive on some servers. Always use lowercase to avoid duplicate content issues.
6. Avoid Numbers and Dates (Usually)
Unless the date is essential (like for news articles), avoid putting years in slugs. It makes content seem outdated.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using auto-generated slugs with random characters
- Including special characters or spaces
- Making slugs too long or keyword-stuffed
- Changing slugs after publishing (breaks links)