Title: Changing Permalink Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Changing Permalink * Resolved [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/) * Hello, I’d really like some advice on changing my permalink please. I keep reading advice that conflicts and am really not sure what to do to enhance SEO. I want to install a plugin w3 cache to speed my site up but it’s telling me I need to change my permalink. I’ve been looking into doing this. A few blogs recommend% postname% and various others. This may be a stupid question but does that mean literally that link or do I need to put in my details??? I’m really confused by all the information and I’m a total newbie. I know I can install a plugin so I don’t lose any links etc but I have no idea what I should change my permalink too. My website address has a few key words in that would optimize a search. I want a static site and it’s a website as appose to a blog. I don’t want to be too hasty and mess it up. Hope someone can help. Thanks so much for your time. Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2329947) * Review [Using_Permalinks](http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks). * Thread Starter [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2329984) * Hi esmi, Thanks for your quick reply. I have looked at this link before and have just re-read it and I am baffled as what to do that will be best for my site. I don’t know if I should have a pretty or almost pretty or any of the millions of suggestions. Do you have any idea which is best for a static commerical site I hope to get custom through it so would like to optimize as best I can. I also just read this; **Please note: You never, ever put your site url in the permalinks slot. You must use one of the structure tags, or a combination of tags only.** * Does this mean I can’t put my website address in my permalink? But what if I choose an almost pretty permalink like; [http://example.com/index.php/yyyy/mm/dd/post-name/](http://example.com/index.php/yyyy/mm/dd/post-name/) Surely, my website address would go in the example section?? * I’m sorry, I know I’m asking ridiculous questions but I can’t find accurate answers to them. But would really appreciate any help. THANK YOU * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2329993) * > Does this mean I can’t put my website address in my permalink? * You must not add it because WordPress does that automatically. Try using one of the presets such as month/day. * Thread Starter [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2329997) * Great. So do I literally paste the month/day preset? * Thanks * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2329998) * No. Just select it in Setting->Permalins and then click Save. * Thread Starter [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330000) * Cool, I’ll give it a go. One more thing do you recommend or know anything about the below plugin or similar. Is it neccessary? Thanks again. * _Permalink Migration plugin – “With this plugin, you can safely change your permalink structure without breaking the old links to your web site,and even doesn’t affect your search engine rankings.” It’s called 301 Redirect, also known as a permanent redirect. For alternative You can also check out this Redirection plugin with more options._ * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330121) * Have you been using the default (ugly) permalinks previously? * Thread Starter [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330165) * Yes only the default permalink. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330166) * Then you do not need any redirection plugins. WordPress will handle it internally. * Thread Starter [monkeykiddo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkeykiddo/) * (@monkeykiddo) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330168) * Brilliant. Somebody else recommended copying this code into the custom area /% category%/%postname%/. Do you know what the difference is between this and your month/day recommendation? * Last question I promise. Thanks again! * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330210) * Currently you should start any custom permalink structure with a numeric for performance reasons. Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) The topic ‘Changing Permalink’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 11 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * Last activity: [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-permalink-1/#post-2330210) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics