How to Create a Vanity URL in WordPress

A quick and easy method to boost SEO, improve branding, and make your links more readable is to create a vanity URL in WordPress.

Vanity URLs are ideal for marketing collateral and social media posts since they are clear, succinct, and simple to remember.

We’ll walk you through the process of making unique vanity URLs in this blog post on how to create a vanity URL in WordPress, making sure your links appear good and improve user experience.

This tutorial will assist you in creating short, memorable URLs from your long, complicated ones, regardless of your level of WordPress experience.

What is a Vanity URL in WordPress?

Let’s first grasp what a vanity URL in WordPress is before you learn how to establish one.

A WordPress Vanity URL is a short, memorable, and personalized web address that is intended to be simple to read and distribute.

Vanity URLs are shorter and frequently contain keywords related to the content they link to, in contrast to regular URLs, which can be lengthy and complicated.

Vanity URLs are frequently utilized for social media postings, marketing campaigns, and any other circumstance where having a tidy, expert-looking link is advantageous.

Example

• Standard URL: https://www.example.com/products/item?id=12345
• Vanity URL: https://www.example.com/product-name

Why Should You Use a Vanity URL in WordPress?

There are various advantages to using a vanity URL in WordPress.

1. Enhanced Branding: The simple and memorable nature of vanity URLs contributes to the fortification of your company’s identity. They are easier for people to remember and distribute, and they appear more professional.
2. Enhanced SEO: By including pertinent keywords in your vanity URL, you can raise your website’s search engine ranks and make it simpler for people to locate your content online.
3. Better User Experience: Enhanced User Handling User-friendlier URLs that are shorter and contain more information make the link easier for visitors to grasp before they click. Both user engagement and click-through rates may rise as a result.
4. Enhanced Trust: When users come across reliable links, they are more likely to click on them. Compared to lengthy, complicated URLs, vanity URLs appear more authentic and less spammy.
5. Simpler Sharing: Vanity URLs work great for offline advertising, social media posts, and marketing collateral. Your advertisements will be more successful because of how simple they are to remember and type.
6. Analytics and tracking: A lot of URL shortener plugins include with tracking capabilities that let you keep an eye on how well your vanity URLs are performing. This can provide you important information about user behaviour and the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

How to Create a Vanity URL in WordPress

Making changes to your URL to make it easier to read and remember is part of learning how to construct a vanity URL in WordPress.

This is a detailed tutorial on setting up a vanity URL in WordPress:

1: Select Your Vanity URL

Select the vanity URL that you desire.

A vanity URL must be brief, informative, and simple to recall.

For example, you might want something like https://yourwebsite.com/custom-page instead of a long URL like https://yourwebsite.com/?p=123.

2. Configure Eye-Catching Permalinks

Verify if “Pretty Permalinks” are being used on your WordPress website. For the purpose of making neat and understandable URLs, this is essential.

• Navigate to the dashboard on WordPress.
• Go to Settings > Permalinks.
• Choose a permalink structure other than Plain. “Post name” or a unique structure are typical options.
• Save the changes by clicking.

3. Create a New Post or Page

You can manually specify the URL slug when you’re creating a new page or post.

• Navigate to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New.
• Put your page’s or post’s title and text here.
• The URL is located beneath the title field. Next to it, select the “Edit” button.
• Put in the vanity URL slug you want (custom-page, for example).
• After selecting OK, publish your page or post.

4. Modify an Already-Published Post or Page

To modify an already-existing page or post’s URL:

• Navigate to Pages > All Pages or Posts > All Posts.
• Locate the post or page you wish to update, then choose it.
• Click the “Edit” button next to the permalink, underneath the title box.
• Put in the slug of your preferred vanity URL.
• After selecting OK, Update the post or page.

5. Redirect Previously Used URLs (Optional)

You may choose to set up a redirect if you are changing the URL of an already-existing page or post so that users who visit the old URL are instantly forwarded to the new vanity URL.

• Install and enable a redirection plugin, such as Simple 301 Redirects or Redirection.
• Navigate to the plugin’s options, which are typically located in the Tools or Settings menu.
• Give the old URL and the new vanity URL when adding a new redirect.
• Make sure to save the modifications.

6. Check the Vanity URL

Check that the vanity URL functions properly after generating or modifying your page/post and configuring any required redirects:

• Check that the newly created vanity URL takes you to the right website by using your browser to visit it.
• Verify that any outdated URLs, if any, point to the new vanity URL by testing them.

Example of Creating a Vanity URL in WordPress

Suppose you would like to make a vanity URL for a “How to Bake a Cake” blog post.

1. Navigate to Posts > Add New.
2. Type “How to Bake a Cake” as the post title, then compose the content.
3. Next to the permalink field (just below the title), click the “Edit” button.
4. To update the URL slug, type “bake-a-cake” and select OK.
5. Publish the article.

https://yourwebsite.com/bake-a-cake will be your new vanity URL.

These instructions will help you make short and unambiguous vanity URLs in WordPress, which will improve both the user experience and the general look of the links on your website.

Frequently Occurring Problems When Creating Vanity URLs in WordPress

WordPress vanity URL creation can greatly enhance the look and feel of your website. Still, there are a few typical problems that can come up in this process:

1. Conflicts with Permalink Structure

• Problem: When generating a vanity URL in WordPress, incorrect permalink structures may cause issues.
• Solution: Go to Settings > Permalinks and change the structure of your permalinks to something understandable, such as “Post name.”

2. Slugs That Are Already in Use

• Problem: Another post, page, or category may already be using the slug (the portion of the URL that comes after the domain).
• Solution: Make sure the slug is distinct. Should it be taken, select an alternative or alter the current one.

3. Incorrect Redirects

• Problem: Broken links or endless cycles may result from improperly configured redirects.
• Solution: To effectively handle redirection, use a dependable plugin like Yoast SEO or Redirection. Make sure they function as intended by giving them a thorough test.

4. Problems with Cache

• Problem: Caching may cause changes to not show up right away.
• Solution: Delete any cache-related plugins from your WordPress website, such as W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache, as well as the cache in your browser.

5. Plugin Conflicts

• Problem: When you create a vanity URL in WordPress, there is a chance that plugins will clash with one another.
• Solution: One way to find conflicts is to deactivate and then reactivate each plugin individually. Make sure all of the plugins are current.

6. Theme Compatibility

• Problem: Certain permalink configurations and custom URL setups might not be supported by all themes.
• Solution: One possible solution is to use the Twenty Twenty-Four WordPress theme as the default theme to test the vanity URL. If it functions, your present theme is probably the problem.

7. Problems with .htaccess Files

• Problem: Incorrect URL rewriting may be caused by issues with the .htaccess file.
• Solution: Make sure the appropriate rewriting rules are in your .htaccess file. Normally, WordPress takes care of this automatically, but if something goes wrong, you might have to manually update the file.

You may successfully build a vanity URL in WordPress and improve the functioning and user experience of your website by taking care of these typical problems.

Conclusion on How to Create a Vanity URL in WordPress

The professional look and user experience of your website can be substantially improved by using WordPress to create a vanity URL.

By following the instructions provided in this guide on how to create a vanity URL in WordPress, you can make sure your URLs are both user-friendly and SEO-optimized.

Don’t forget to select distinct slugs, define legible permalink structures, and appropriately handle redirects.

Always clear your cache to view updates right away, and be aware of possible conflicts with your .htaccess file, plugins, and themes.

You may successfully build vanity URLs that represent your business and enhance the navigation of your website by following these best practices. I hope you like personalizing!

FAQs About How to Create a Vanity URL in WordPress