What is a URL Slug?

A URL slug is the part of a page URL that comes after the main domain and page path. It helps identify the specific page.

For example:

www.example.com/news/what-is-a-url-slug

In this example, the slug is:

what-is-a-url-slug

What Does a URL Slug Do?

A URL slug helps:

• identify what the page is about

• make the URL easier to read

• improve usability for visitors

• give search engines a clearer signal about page content

A good slug should be short, descriptive, and relevant to the page topic.

Why URL Slugs Matter

User experience

Clear slugs make URLs easier to understand when shared, clicked, or viewed in a browser.

SEO

Search engines use URLs as one of many signals to understand page content. A descriptive slug can help reinforce the topic of the page.

Site organisation

Consistent slugs help keep your website structure tidy and easier to manage.

Good URL Slug Examples

• visitor-information

• exhibitor-manual

• opening-times

• how-to-register

These are clear and easy to understand.

Poor URL Slug Examples

• page123

• new-page-final

• untitled-4

• info

These are vague and do not clearly describe the content.

Best Practice for URL Slugs

A good URL slug should be:

• short

• descriptive

• relevant to the page

• written in plain language

• separated with hyphens rather than spaces

Try to avoid:

• unnecessary words

• special characters

• dates unless needed

• vague wording

Editing a Page URL in ShowOff

In ShowOff, organisers do not need to write any code or HTML to create or edit page URLs. The platform handles the technical setup for you.

If you need to edit a page URL or slug in the CMS, you can do this by:

1. Opening the page in the CMS

2. Going to Page Options

3. Finding the Page URL field

4. Clicking the padlock icon to unlock the field

5. Editing the URL as required

6. Saving the page

This allows you to update the page slug directly within ShowOff without needing any technical knowledge.

Important Note About Changing URL Slugs

If you change the slug of a page that has already been live, the page URL will change too.

This can cause problems if:

• the old URL has been indexed by Google

• other pages link to it

• users have bookmarked it

Where needed, you should consider applying a redirect so visitors and search engines are sent to the new URL instead of reaching a broken page.

URL Slugs in ShowOff

ShowOff automatically manages the technical side of page URLs, so organisers do not need to work with code or HTML.

However, it is still important to make sure each page URL is:

• accurate

• easy to read

• aligned with the page title and content

This helps keep your website organised and supports both usability and SEO.

Key Takeaways

• A URL slug is the part of the URL that identifies a specific page.

• It should be clear, short, and descriptive.

• Good slugs improve readability, organisation, and SEO.

• In ShowOff, page URLs can be edited by going to Page Options, unlocking the Page URL field, updating it, and saving the page.

• If you change a live slug, you may need a redirect to avoid broken links.