Adding the year in the URL?

Hey all,

I think I made a big SEO mistake ...

I've made a guide on how to create a blog and called the URL something like '/blog/beginner-guide-2016/.

Now, since 2016 is getting closer to an end, I want ton change the URL to either 2017 or remove it completely. When creating this link, I wasn't thinking properly.

I've read that changing URLs can drop your traffic significantly ... does anyone have solutions to this?

Is it actually a good idea to add years in the url? If yes, how to edit it properly to avoid losing traffic? If no, how to remove it the best way?

Thanks for all of your help!

Ray

 

Hi Ray, actually adding year in the url is not a good idea anymore. Because when you passed the year this post don't get traffic for this ugly urls.
https://forums.digitalpoint.com/threads/can-give-clear-idea-about-url-link-structure.2787851/#post-19381738

Now you should remove the year in your url. But for this you need to redirect the old url into the new url. It's called 301 permanent redirection.

For, wordpress site, you can use Pretty Link Lite plugin for this task. It's a free plugins.



After changing your URL, do the same.

One more thing you should do, Go to the Google webmaster tools (Search Console) and go to inside your website property.

Click on Crawl >> Fetch as Google

Then add your new link and click on Fetch, after that click on Index.



Then Google visit your site and index it again. and all of your visitor who click the old links redirected to the new one.

Thanks.

 

Just drop the year in the permalink. Wordpress will automatically redirect the old URL to the new URL.

 

Hi Faruk,

Thank you for the explanation. As dcristo (user's answer below) said, that it redirects automatically, he is right.

Before changing the URL, I had my post on my FB fanpage and after changing the URL (jus removing the year) and I clicked on the old link on my FB fanpage, it redirected me directly to the post.

Do I still have to do your method? I use pretty link myself so it shouldn't be a problem - just want to know for the future.

Thanks!

 

I think, if it redirect automatically then fine but Pretty link is a good one to redirect 301.

But Fetch as Google is must. Because you need to inform Google that you modified the old url.

Thanks .