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I am looking at changing the permalink/title of a published blog, but I am unsure if this might break the website.
You have FANTASTIC responses here; kindly let us know if you require additional assistance.
---
You can change ALL except the URL, especially if the post is indexed.
If the URL changes to Google, it will be a new post, and any ranking will be lost.
As advised, you will need to redirect.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-creating-redirects-in-wordpress/
Hi Abie,
I am not going to mess with the permalink. It seems I can change the title without the "directs" issue.
Yes, it has been indexed long ago.
Thanks for your help
Bill
It won't "break the website".
But the first thing you need to check is whether or not the blog post has been indexed by Google.
If not, go ahead and change the permalink with no consequences.
If it is indexed, you can change the permalink but should implement a redirect from the old one to the new.
Just as an aside, you can of course change the blog title without changing the permalink.
Hi Phil,
Thank you so much for answering. At this point, I will think about other options as I am not overly technical. I am sure Kyle has a training episode somewhere. It is time for me to get some training before I take off on something and that I know a little more about it.
Thanks again for your kind instructions.
Bill
You can change the title of your blog post, but you can't change the permalink; once you have that permalink, it stays that way. Hence, it is why it's called permalink, which means for good as long as it hasn't been indexed yet. I rarely do redirects; it's not a great idea if it's already an article in the SERPs. You can do a 301 redirect.
Hi Brenda,
Thanks so much for answering. I kind of figured that but I couldn't remember about the outcome.
Now what I could do is save the article body and then cancel the whole article and add a new title/permalink,
What I don't like is my permalink, the article title gets lost in Google ranking. I am hoping that changing the title might help.
Thank you for your interest.
Bill
Alright, that sounds good. it will still need a 301 redirect. Otherwise, the whole article that you cancel will be a 404 error, so a new article will need to be redirected anyway; your SEO plugin should help with that.
My understanding is that changing a permalink can break a website. When someone clicks on a link to one of your old posts, they won’t be able to access it anymore. This is why they recommend doing a redirect, I believe.
This resource may help.
https://ahrefs.com/blog/301-vs-302-redirects/
You want 301 redirects.
See more comments
I am looking at changing the permalink/title of a published blog, but I am unsure if this might break the website.
Hey Bill,
As for changing any permalink, you can do a few things that will make it easy and Google-friendly.
1.) If you've just now posted your content and want to shorten / change your permalink, "yes" you can, and WITHOUT issue as your post has not yet been indexed by Google.
2.) If you've discovered a permalink is far too long on a post that has been on your site for awhile now and it has been indexed by Google that you want to shorten it... YOU BET YOU CAN... BUT... only if you add a redirect from the original permalink to the new shortened version.
The reason Google punishes websites for changing permalinks is that doing so creates broken links in Google's search results... and Google frowns upon sites that make THEM look outdated to their searchers.
So, if you make Google search results function properly, Google does NOT care if you shorten/change your permalink... just MAKE SURE TO CREATE a REDIRECT.
Hope the makes sense and helps you.
Hi Abie,
Thank you for being so helpful.
I only want to change the title of the post. some say I can do this ok, but others say no.
Which is right?
Bill
Hi Bill, I am not Abie...
Please do not take our word for anything... GOOGLE search for proof of what I have stated so YOU know for yourself.
Best wishes.
You have FANTASTIC responses here; kindly let us know if you require additional assistance.
---
You can change ALL except the URL, especially if the post is indexed.
If the URL changes to Google, it will be a new post, and any ranking will be lost.
As advised, you will need to redirect.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-creating-redirects-in-wordpress/
Hi Abie,
I am not going to mess with the permalink. It seems I can change the title without the "directs" issue.
Yes, it has been indexed long ago.
Thanks for your help
Bill
It won't "break the website".
But the first thing you need to check is whether or not the blog post has been indexed by Google.
If not, go ahead and change the permalink with no consequences.
If it is indexed, you can change the permalink but should implement a redirect from the old one to the new.
Just as an aside, you can of course change the blog title without changing the permalink.
Hi Phil,
Thank you so much for answering. At this point, I will think about other options as I am not overly technical. I am sure Kyle has a training episode somewhere. It is time for me to get some training before I take off on something and that I know a little more about it.
Thanks again for your kind instructions.
Bill
You can change the title of your blog post, but you can't change the permalink; once you have that permalink, it stays that way. Hence, it is why it's called permalink, which means for good as long as it hasn't been indexed yet. I rarely do redirects; it's not a great idea if it's already an article in the SERPs. You can do a 301 redirect.
Hi Brenda,
Thanks so much for answering. I kind of figured that but I couldn't remember about the outcome.
Now what I could do is save the article body and then cancel the whole article and add a new title/permalink,
What I don't like is my permalink, the article title gets lost in Google ranking. I am hoping that changing the title might help.
Thank you for your interest.
Bill
Alright, that sounds good. it will still need a 301 redirect. Otherwise, the whole article that you cancel will be a 404 error, so a new article will need to be redirected anyway; your SEO plugin should help with that.
My understanding is that changing a permalink can break a website. When someone clicks on a link to one of your old posts, they won’t be able to access it anymore. This is why they recommend doing a redirect, I believe.
This resource may help.
https://ahrefs.com/blog/301-vs-302-redirects/
You want 301 redirects.
See more comments
This sounds like an extremely basic question but I need some help with adding links.
You have very good advice and guidance here…let us know if you have any further questions.
-Mike
Where are you running into problems? What's happening that makes you think you aren't doing it right?
I would copy the whole link and paste it into the text interface of your block editor.
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/share/banners
Hey Bill,
If you are referring to WA links and banner links, you may find the following tutorial helpful: How to Use Your WA Affiliate Links And... whenever making tiny boo-boos to questions, posts or training posted on the WA server (even your own comments!), you can edit them. The following tutorial will help you do that: Edit Your WA Published Question, Blog or Training Hope this helps you.
Hi Tsrish,
Thanks so much. I don't know why I forgot such a simple procedure and couldn't find the answer in training.
Bill
Sorry that training offered you no assistance in how to add links.
Have you tried searching for training here? See screen print below...
Hi Trish,
My mind went totally blank re: links. Your instructions jogged the brain open again.
Thanks so much.
Bill
See more comments
How to add links and banner links?
This sounds like an extremely basic question but I need some help with adding links.
You have very good advice and guidance here…let us know if you have any further questions.
-Mike
Where are you running into problems? What's happening that makes you think you aren't doing it right?
I would copy the whole link and paste it into the text interface of your block editor.
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/share/banners
Hey Bill,
If you are referring to WA links and banner links, you may find the following tutorial helpful: How to Use Your WA Affiliate Links And... whenever making tiny boo-boos to questions, posts or training posted on the WA server (even your own comments!), you can edit them. The following tutorial will help you do that: Edit Your WA Published Question, Blog or Training Hope this helps you.
Hi Tsrish,
Thanks so much. I don't know why I forgot such a simple procedure and couldn't find the answer in training.
Bill
Sorry that training offered you no assistance in how to add links.
Have you tried searching for training here? See screen print below...
Hi Trish,
My mind went totally blank re: links. Your instructions jogged the brain open again.
Thanks so much.
Bill
See more comments
I have forgotten on how to remove unwanted/ needed Themes for the website.
Hey Bill,
The following training may provide you with the help you seek: Delete Unnecessary WP Themes Hope this helps you.
Hi Trish,
Thanks for this important tip. I will have to do One thing I have to reinstate one Theme as a backup.
Bill
Hover your mouse cursor in the middle of the theme and then your will see details pop up click that to open the theme then at the bottom right you will see delete.
Andre
Hi Andre,
Thanks so much for the info. I believe I can do that.
To be truthful, I don't think I ever have deleted a theme before. The WordPress "improvement feature says to get rid of any unused themes, which I will do.
Thanks again.
Bill
yes if you don't need it delete it unless it is one of the backup themes like twenty twenty one for example
Look at your themes, open to view, and in lower right corner you will see the delete option in red lettering. As mentioned, keep one theme for backup.
Rudy
In appearance > themes click on a them and bottom right you may click delete. However it is recommended to always keep a back up, you may do with the Twenty TwentyTwo.
See more comments
How do iremove unwanted themes?
I have forgotten on how to remove unwanted/ needed Themes for the website.
Hey Bill,
The following training may provide you with the help you seek: Delete Unnecessary WP Themes Hope this helps you.
Hi Trish,
Thanks for this important tip. I will have to do One thing I have to reinstate one Theme as a backup.
Bill
Hover your mouse cursor in the middle of the theme and then your will see details pop up click that to open the theme then at the bottom right you will see delete.
Andre
Hi Andre,
Thanks so much for the info. I believe I can do that.
To be truthful, I don't think I ever have deleted a theme before. The WordPress "improvement feature says to get rid of any unused themes, which I will do.
Thanks again.
Bill
yes if you don't need it delete it unless it is one of the backup themes like twenty twenty one for example
Look at your themes, open to view, and in lower right corner you will see the delete option in red lettering. As mentioned, keep one theme for backup.
Rudy
In appearance > themes click on a them and bottom right you may click delete. However it is recommended to always keep a back up, you may do with the Twenty TwentyTwo.
See more comments
Hey Bill,
As for changing any permalink, you can do a few things that will make it easy and Google-friendly.
1.) If you've just now posted your content and want to shorten / change your permalink, "yes" you can, and WITHOUT issue as your post has not yet been indexed by Google.
2.) If you've discovered a permalink is far too long on a post that has been on your site for awhile now and it has been indexed by Google that you want to shorten it... YOU BET YOU CAN... BUT... only if you add a redirect from the original permalink to the new shortened version.
The reason Google punishes websites for changing permalinks is that doing so creates broken links in Google's search results... and Google frowns upon sites that make THEM look outdated to their searchers.
So, if you make Google search results function properly, Google does NOT care if you shorten/change your permalink... just MAKE SURE TO CREATE a REDIRECT.
Hope the makes sense and helps you.
Hi Abie,
Thank you for being so helpful.
I only want to change the title of the post. some say I can do this ok, but others say no.
Which is right?
Bill
Hi Bill, I am not Abie...
Please do not take our word for anything... GOOGLE search for proof of what I have stated so YOU know for yourself.
Best wishes.