A good page URL should be clear, simple, and easy to understand.
It should help both users and search engines quickly understand what a page is about before they even click on it.
For organisers using ShowOff, you do not need to write any code or HTML to create page URLs. The platform handles the technical setup for you. Your role is to make sure the page URL is logical, readable, and relevant to the page content.
What is a Page URL?
A page URL is the web address used to access a page.
For example:
www.example.com/visit/opening-times
In this example:
www.example.comis the main domain/visit/is part of the page pathopening-timesis the page slug
Together, these make up the full page URL.
What Makes a Good Page URL?
Clear
A good URL should make it obvious what the page is about.
For example:
/visitor-information
is much clearer than:
/page123
Short
Shorter URLs are usually easier to read, share, and manage.
A URL does not need to include every detail. It just needs to describe the page clearly.
Relevant
The URL should match the content of the page.
If the page is about exhibitor information, the URL should reflect that, rather than using something vague or unrelated.
Easy to read
A user should be able to look at the URL and understand where it will take them.
This is helpful when URLs are shared in emails, search results, or on social media.
Consistent
URLs should follow a sensible pattern across the site.
For example, if your site uses:
/visit/opening-times/visit/travel-information/visit/faqs
that creates a cleaner and more organised structure than using completely different styles on each page.
Best Practice for Page URLs
A good page URL should usually be:
short
descriptive
written in plain language
relevant to the page topic
easy to read
consistent with the rest of the site
It is also best to use:
lowercase letters
hyphens between words
simple wording
For example:
/exhibitor-manual
is better than:
/Exhibitor_Manual_Final
Examples of Good Page URLs
Good examples:
/visitor-information/exhibitor-manual/how-to-register/venue-travel-information
These are clear, readable, and descriptive.
Examples of Poor Page URLs
Poor examples:
/page1/newpage-final-v2/info/12345/opening_times!!!
These are either too vague, too messy, or not descriptive enough.
Why Good Page URLs Matter
User experience
A clear URL helps users understand where they are going and makes links easier to trust.
SEO
Search engines use page URLs as one of many signals to understand page content. A descriptive URL can help reinforce the topic of the page.
Site structure
Well-structured URLs make your website easier to manage and keep organised over time.
What to Avoid
Try to avoid page URLs that are:
Too long
Very long URLs can be harder to read and usually include unnecessary words.
Vague
Words like page, info, or new do not explain the page properly.
Full of special characters
URLs should stay clean and simple. Avoid symbols, punctuation, and unnecessary formatting.
Inconsistent
Try not to use different naming styles across similar pages.
Changed too often
Once a page has been live, changing its URL can cause issues if the old address has already been indexed or shared.
Page URLs in ShowOff
In ShowOff, organisers do not need to manually code page URLs. The CMS manages the technical setup for you.
If you need to edit a page URL in ShowOff, you can do this by:
Opening the page in the CMS
Going to Page Options
Finding the Page URL field
Clicking the padlock icon to unlock the field
Editing the URL as required
Saving the page
This allows you to update the page URL directly within the platform.
Important Note About Changing Live URLs
If you change the URL of a page that has already been live, the old URL may no longer work.
This can cause problems if:
the page has already been indexed by Google
other pages link to it
users have bookmarked it
the URL has been shared externally
If a live page URL is changed, you should consider applying a redirect so visitors and search engines are sent to the correct new page instead of landing on a broken link or 404 page.
A Simple Rule to Follow
A good page URL should answer this question:
“If someone saw this URL on its own, would they understand what the page is about?”
If the answer is yes, the URL is probably in good shape.
Key Takeaways
A good page URL should be clear, short, descriptive, and easy to read.
It should reflect the content of the page and follow a consistent structure.
Good URLs help with usability, 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 URL, you may need a redirect to avoid broken links.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.