1. Why Slugs & Permalinks Matter

A contributor who ignores slugs and permalinks creates messy, confusing URLs that hurt SEO and user trust.

A contributor who understands slugs and permalinks creates URLs that are:

• Clean
• Predictable
• Keyword‑aligned
• Easy for Google to crawl
• Easy for users to understand
• Perfect for internal linking
• Optimized for long‑term ranking

Slugs and permalinks are not technical details — they are core SEO signals.

2. What Slugs & Permalinks Are

Slug

The part of the URL that comes after the domain.

Example:

totalapex.com/elden-ring-best-builds  

Slug = elden-ring-best-builds

Permalink

The full URL of the page.

Example:

https://totalapex.com/elden-ring-best-builds

Slugs = the label

Permalinks = the full address

Both must be clean, short, and keyword‑focused.

3. The Anatomy of a Perfect Slug

A strong slug is:

• Short
• Lowercase
• Hyphenated
• Keyword‑focused
• Free of stop words
• Free of dates
• Free of numbers
• Free of filler words

Correct

• elden-ring-best-builds
• nba-standings-today
• ps5-overheating-fix
• episode-7-ending-explained

Incorrect

• Elden_Ring_Best_Builds_2026
• nba-standings-for-today-are-here
• ps5overheatingfix123
• entertainment/article/episode-7-ending-explained?ref=homepage

Clean slugs = clean SEO.

4. How to Write Slugs (Contributor‑Safe)

A. Use the Primary Keyword

The slug must contain the main keyword.

B. Remove Stop Words

Remove:

• a
• an
• the
• of
• for
• to
• and

C. Use Hyphens, Not Underscores

Hyphens separate words.

Underscores merge them.

D. Keep It Short

3–5 words is ideal.

E. Avoid Dates

Dates make content look outdated.

F. Avoid Numbers

Unless the number is part of the topic (e.g., Episode 7).

5. How to Edit Slugs in WordPress

Step 1: Write your article title

WordPress auto‑generates a slug.

Step 2: Click the slug field under the title

It appears after saving the draft.

Step 3: Rewrite the slug manually

Use lowercase + hyphens + primary keyword.

Step 4: Save

Never change the slug after publishing unless absolutely necessary.

6. Permalink Best Practices

A. Keep Permalinks Short

Short URLs rank better and get more clicks.

B. Use Only the Slug After the Domain

Avoid category folders in the URL unless required by site architecture.

C. Avoid Query Parameters

Never use:

• ?ref=
• ?id=
• ?sort=

D. Avoid Changing Permalinks After Publishing

Changing URLs breaks:

• Rankings
• Backlinks
• Social shares
• Internal links

If a permalink must change, editors handle redirects — contributors should not.

7. Slug & Permalink Strategy Across Total Apex Verticals

News

• cleveland-storm-update
• mayor-press-conference

Sports

• nba-standings-today
• browns-vs-steelers-recap

Gaming

• elden-ring-best-builds
• fortnite-update-today

Entertainment

• episode-7-recap
• dune-part-two-review

Lifestyle

• morning-routine-tips
• best-productivity-apps

Each vertical has predictable slug patterns — contributors must learn them.

8. How Slugs Support SEO

A. Keyword Relevance

Google uses slugs to understand page intent.

B. Crawlability

Clean slugs help Google crawl faster.

C. User Trust

Users click URLs that look clean and professional.

D. Internal Linking

Short slugs make linking easier and clearer.

E. Topical Authority

Consistent slugs strengthen vertical silos.

9. Common Slug & Permalink Mistakes (and Fixes)

A. Slugs that are too long

❌ the-best-elden-ring-builds-for-beginners-in-2026-guide  

✔️ elden-ring-best-builds

B. Using uppercase letters

❌ NBA-Standings-Today  

✔️ nba-standings-today

C. Using underscores

❌ elden_ring_builds  

✔️ elden-ring-builds

D. Including dates

❌ episode-7-recap-2024  

✔️ episode-7-recap

E. Using vague slugs

❌ update-news  

✔️ fortnite-update-today

F. Changing slugs after publishing

❌ Breaking URLs

✔️ Leave published slugs alone

Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

Slugs and permalinks are the foundation of clean site architecture — and one of the simplest, highest‑impact SEO wins.

Total Apex Slugs & Permalinks Essentials

• Use lowercase
• Use hyphens
• Keep slugs short
• Include the primary keyword
• Remove stop words
• Avoid dates and parameters
• Never change URLs after publishing
• Follow vertical‑specific patterns

Mastering slugs and permalinks ensures every Total Apex article — across news, gaming, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle — is clean, crawlable, and built to rank.