Who this article is for: Plug In SEO users who want to fix issues associated with page URLs — both directly in the app and by following URL best practices. |
This Article Covers: |
How to Fix URL Issues in Plug In SEO
Plug In SEO’s SEO Scanner checks your page URLs for these issues:
URL Underscores — flags URLs that use underscores instead of hyphens
URL Keywords — flags URLs that have no keywords
URL Length — flags URLs that are too long
URL in Dictionary — checks that your URL uses real, readable words
Most of these can now be fixed directly inside the app. Here’s how. 👇
Fixing URL Underscores & URL Length
In the SEO Scanner, find the URL issue you want to fix.
Click the filter icon to see every page affected by that issue.
Click any page in that list — you’ll land in the Optimization Studio.
Find the issue and click the Fix button.
A modal window opens with URL suggestions.
Select one and click Apply — or click Generate suggestions to get fresh options. That’s it!
💡 Tip: This same Fix flow works for both URL Underscores and URL Length. |
Fixing URL Keywords (No Keywords)
The steps start the same way — find the issue in the Optimization Studio and click Fix — but the window works a little differently, because it uses your keyword research:
If you’ve already run keyword research for this page (in the Per Page section of Keyword Studio): the app uses those keywords automatically. Just click Apply — done!
If you haven’t run keyword research for this page yet: the app will offer to do it for you. You can either:
Start research & fix — the app researches keywords for that page and then applies them (this takes a couple of minutes), or
Use generic keywords & fix — apply a generic suggestion right away.
Once the keywords are in, click Apply and that’s all.
💡 Note: Keyword research uses your plan’s quota, so how much you can run depends on your plan. |
Once you've fixed your URL issue, head back to the SEO Scanner and re-check your page. All the URL-related items will now show up in green — that's how you know the fix has been applied successfully.
Best Practices for URL Slugs
What is a Slug?
A slug is the part of your URL that comes after your root domain name.
Example |
When it comes to user experience and search engine optimization (SEO), well-crafted URL slugs can be a secret weapon. These short identifiers at the end of your website addresses play a significant role in how users perceive your content and how search engines understand it. Here are some key practices to keep your URL slugs in top shape:
Clarity and Concision: Strive for clear, concise slugs that accurately reflect your content's topic. Use keywords strategically, but avoid keyword stuffing. Aim for 3-5 words that are easy to read and understand. For instance, instead of a cryptic slug like "project-x-2023-final," opt for something like "kitchen-renovation-guide."
User-friendliness: Think of your URL slug as a label. It should be human-readable and easy for users to remember. Avoid technical jargon, symbols, or uppercase letters.
Readability: Use hyphens (this-is-a-hyphen) not underscores (this_is_not) to to separate words for better readability.
SEO Optimization: While clarity is key, don't neglect SEO. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your slug. This helps search engines understand your content and potentially improve your ranking for those keywords. However, prioritize readability over keyword density.
Pro Tips
Keywords
Use keywords in your slug. The best way to do this is to match the H1 heading from the page with your URL slug. Replace spaces and punctuation with hyphens.
Example Match the URL Slug to Your H1 Header H1 Title = How to Fix Shopify SEO Problems: URLs |
URL Punctuation
It is not recommended to use underscores in the URL slug. Use hyphens instead.
Search engines like Google, Bing, and others treat hyphens as word separators within URLs. This means they can more easily understand the meaning and context of your slug, potentially benefiting your SEO. Underscores are not typically treated as word separators within URLs.
Hyphens are simply easier for humans to read when separating words in a URL. They create a clear visual distinction between terms, making the slug more understandable at a glance. Underscores, especially when underlined (a common browser behavior), can blend in with the text, causing confusion for users trying to decipher the URL.
URL Length
At the time this article is being published neither Google nor Bing provide official character limits for URL slugs. However, both search engines prioritize user experience and crawl-ability, which indirectly influence ideal slug length. Here's what we know:
Focus on Clarity: Both search engines emphasize the importance of clear and concise URLs that accurately reflect the content's topic.
Prioritize Readability: Search engines understand the user experience benefits of shorter, human-readable URLs.
While there's no magic number, here are some general guidelines:
Aim for 3-5 words: This is a good sweet spot for clarity, readability, and potentially including relevant keywords.
Keep it under 60 characters: This ensures your URL stays user-friendly and avoids potential display issues in search results or browser tabs.
The SEO Shop Scanner report will put up a warning if the URL slug is over 80 characters.