Custom URLs also show users more quickly what a page is about. This can be especially useful when it comes to internal links. If a user hovers over anchor text and the URL that appears tells them where they’ll be redirected, they’re more likely to click it. Keep in mind that if you change URLs, you’ll have to go back and change internal links, too. Inbound links may also break, so create good URLs from the start.
Another benefit of a custom URL? You can use the keywords you’re trying to rank for. Just make sure the URL with your keywords is SEO-friendly, meaning it’s short and simple.
Use tools and plugins to simplify your work
Content management system (CMS) plugins will make your blog’s SEO efforts easier. If you’ve chosen WordPress as your CMS, for example, you can use Akismet to monitor comments and spam, or Workflow Enhancement, which lets you easily change font sizes, create tables, and more. If you use Ghost (which is popular among bloggers), you can integrate plugins from Google Analytics, YouTube, Twitter, and Zapier, to name a few.
Plugins can save you valuable time when it comes to on-page SEO. Take Yoast, for example, a WordPress SEO plugin. It is a tool that covers many aspects of optimization. After installing it, you have a module in the editor of each page, which shows you how your page performs based on key SEO criteria. It analyzes everything from content length to inbound links, meta title, and main keyword placement. Any issues that need more attention are flagged so you can fix them quickly.
