The URL address of your WordPress pages or posts are called Permalinks and the URL address structure that WordPress uses by default is definitely not the best option to use.
If I was using WordPress’s default URL structure for this post then the URL address would look like this:
www.peterstavrou.com/?p=973
If you click on the link above you will notice that it links back to the URL of this post which is:
www.peterstavrou.com/change-default-url-address-in-wordpress
The default URL structure generates a web address by using the Page/Post ID which is what the number 973 represents in the example above.
The post structure that I use and recommend is Post name. In this structure the URL address is generating using the Page/Post Title and not the ID.
The main advantages of using the ‘Post name’ structure
It’s readable and makes sense to us humans.
It’s easier to remember and hyperlink to.
It’s much more SEO friendly as your Keyword(s) can be included in the URL address and this makes it easier for Google to crawl your pages.
How to Change the Default URL Address Structure in WordPress
- 1. Login to the admin panel of WordPress.
- 2. Scroll down to Settings and click on Permalinks.
- 3. Select the Post name URL structure.
- 4. Scroll down and click on Save Changes.
All of your URL’s in WordPress should now be changed.