Remove Wordpress Website Pages Path Navigation Urls In Wordpress

Removing WordPress Website Page Path Navigation URLs: A Clean URL Structure Guide

WordPress, by default, generates URLs that include the path to a page. For example, /yourwebsite.com/about-us/our-team/ While functional, these long URLs can negatively impact SEO and user experience. This article will guide you through methods to remove the page path from your navigation URLs, resulting in a cleaner, more streamlined website structure. This is particularly beneficial for improving site navigation and boosting your search engine rankings.

Why Clean URLs are Important for SEO and UX:

• Improved User Experience: Shorter, simpler URLs are easier for users to read, remember, and share. This contributes to a better user experience, a key factor in improving website ranking and reducing bounce rate.
• Enhanced SEO: Search engines prefer clean, concise URLs. Removing unnecessary path information makes your URLs more focused and relevant to the content, potentially boosting your search engine rankings.
• Better Link Building: Clean URLs make your content easier to link to, which is crucial for off-page SEO. It's simply easier to share and remember a shorter URL.
• Reduced Crawl Errors: Excessive nested pages can lead to crawling issues for search engine bots. Streamlining URLs reduces this risk.

Methods to Remove WordPress Page Path Navigation URLs:

There are several approaches to achieve clean URLs. Let's explore the most effective options:

1. Using WordPress Permalinks Settings (Simplest Method)

This is the easiest approach and ideal for simpler website structures. It involves changing your WordPress permalink structure:

1. Access Settings: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and go to Settings > Permalinks.
2. Choose a Structure: Select the "Plain" option under "Common Settings". This will create URLs like /yourwebsite.com/?p=123 where '123' is the post ID. While not as aesthetically pleasing as custom structures, it removes path navigation effectively.

Note: While this method removes the path in navigation, it results in less user-friendly URLs. Consider the other methods below for more elegant solutions if this is a concern.

2. Customizing Permalinks (More Control, Advanced Users):

If you require more control over your permalink structure, a custom structure is the best way to go. This requires more technical knowledge. However, you can achieve cleaner, more SEO-friendly URLs.

This typically involves creating a custom structure using either the %postname% or %page_id% placeholder, for example: /yourwebsite.com/%postname%/ or /yourwebsite.com/%page_id%/

Important considerations:

• This approach might require using a plugin or editing your .htaccess file to implement the custom structure correctly.
• Make sure you have a backup of your website before making these changes. Incorrectly editing the .htaccess file can break your site.
• After implementing changes, always check your website to ensure functionality before removing the backup.

3. Utilizing a Plugin (Easiest for Non-Technical Users):

Several WordPress plugins help manage and customize permalinks. These plugins offer user-friendly interfaces, eliminating the need for manual code editing. Look for plugins focusing on permalink management or SEO. Always carefully research and review plugins before installation. Ensure the plugin is actively maintained and has positive user reviews.

Choosing the Right Method:

The best method depends on your technical skills and the complexity of your website. If you're comfortable with code and require a highly customized solution, manipulating the permalink structure directly is the best option. For less technical users, using a plugin offers the most user-friendly and straightforward approach. The simplest method for quick removal of path navigation is changing permalink settings to 'Plain.' Remember, always back up your site before making significant changes to your WordPress settings. A clean URL structure is an investment in your website's long-term success. Choosing the right approach will lead to improvements in SEO, user experience, and overall website performance.