How to Change URL Slug on a WordPress Portfolio

Changing the URL slug for a portfolio item in WordPress is a straightforward process that can significantly impact your website's SEO. Here’s how you can do it in a step-by-step manner, along with additional tips and considerations.

Steps to Change the URL Slug

Changing the URL slug is a vital step for optimizing your portfolio items. Here’s how you can do it:

Log in to WordPress Admin: Go to the WordPress admin dashboard. Navigate to Portfolio Items: Click on Portfolio in the left sidebar. This might vary depending on the theme or plugin you are using. Edit the Portfolio Item: Find the portfolio item you want to change and click on Edit. Change the Slug: In the edit screen, look for the Permalink section, usually located just below the title field. Click the Edit button next to the URL slug. Enter your desired slug, which is the part of the URL that identifies the portfolio item. Update the Portfolio Item: Once you've changed the slug, click the Update button to save your changes.

Additional Tips and SEO Considerations

SEO Considerations: Make sure the new slug is SEO-friendly and includes relevant keywords that match the content of the portfolio item.

Redirects: If the portfolio item has already been indexed or linked to, consider setting up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one to avoid broken links.

Theme/Plugin Settings: If you're using a specific theme or portfolio plugin, ensure that it supports custom slugs as some may have different methods for handling URLs.

Alternative Methods for Changing URL Slugs

There are also a couple of alternative methods you can use to change the URL slug on a WordPress portfolio:

Method 1: Directly in the Edit Page

Go to the edit page and find the Permalink section. Click on the Edit button. Modify the slug as needed. Click Update to save your changes.

Method 2: Using Yoast SEO Plugin

If you have the Yoast SEO Plugin installed, you can change the slug directly in the write screen:

Directly modify the slug under the Title, Slug, and Description fields. Click Update to save your changes.

Custom Post Types and Database Access

If your portfolio is a custom post type, the process involves more technical steps:

Ensure you have database access to modify your wp_posts table. Locate your custom post type slugs in your database using a tool like Sequel Pro or a similar database management tool. Update the slugs to match your new custom post type. Change your post type slugs in the backend to make sure all posts are visible after the updates.

Important Considerations: Always take backups of your database before making any changes. Test changes on a development environment first before updating the live site. Be cautious with SQL replacements to avoid unintended changes elsewhere in your database.