How to Find the Original Slug in a WordPress Site: A Complete Guide

In the dynamic world of WordPress development, managing URLs effectively is crucial for optimizing a site’s performance and SEO. A slug is the unique, user-friendly identifier that appears at the end of a URL. It plays a vital role in ensuring your website’s content is accessible, readable, and optimized for search engines.

However, finding the original slug in a WordPress site—particularly when multiple edits or plugins are involved—can sometimes be challenging. Whether you’re troubleshooting SEO issues, restoring default URLs, or streamlining your site’s structure, understanding how to retrieve the original slug is essential.

In this guide, we’ll provide actionable steps, expert tips, and tools to help you locate and manage slugs effectively. By mastering this skill, you can boost your site’s search engine performance and maintain a cohesive digital presence.

1. What Is a Slug, and Why Is It Important?

A slug is the part of the URL that identifies a specific page or post in WordPress. For example, in the URL https://example.com/blog/wordpress-slug-tips, the slug is wordpress-slug-tips.

Key Benefits of Well-Optimized Slugs:

• Improved SEO: Search engines rely on clear, keyword-rich slugs for better indexing.
• User Experience: Easy-to-read slugs help users understand the page content at a glance.
• Content Organization: Slugs offer a logical structure, aiding in website navigation.

Did You Know?
According to a recent study, URLs with descriptive slugs are 24% more likely to attract clicks compared to generic ones.

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2. Methods to Find the Original Slug in WordPress

A. Using the WordPress Admin Dashboard

1. Navigate to Posts/Pages:
   Go to the WordPress dashboard and select “Posts” or “Pages” depending on the content type.
2. Quick Edit Option:
   Locate the specific post/page. Hover over it and click “Quick Edit.” Here, you’ll find the current slug displayed.
3. Revert to Original Slug (if applicable):
   If the slug has been modified, compare it with the title or check revisions to identify the original.

B. Inspecting Revisions

WordPress tracks changes to your content, including slugs.

1. Open the post or page in the editor.
2. Click “Revisions” (located above the editor).
3. Review past versions for the original slug.

C. Using SEO Plugins

Popular SEO tools like Yoast SEO or Rank Math provide detailed URL insights.

1. Go to the “Edit Snippet” section in your SEO plugin.
2. The slug will be visible under the “Slug” or “Permalink” field.

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3. Common Challenges When Retrieving Original Slugs

A. Conflict with Plugins

Certain plugins may overwrite or modify slugs. Examples include:

• URL shorteners
• Multilingual plugins
• SEO tools

Solution: Temporarily disable the plugin and check the default permalink settings.

B. Database Changes

If the slug isn’t visible through the dashboard, it might require accessing the database.

1. Open your site’s database using phpMyAdmin.
2. Search the wp_posts table for the post/page ID.
3. Check the post_name field to retrieve the original slug.

C. Theme Limitations

Custom themes sometimes override default slug behavior.
Pro Tip: Consult your theme’s documentation or contact support for slug-related adjustments.

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4. Tools and Plugins for Managing WordPress Slugs

1. Yoast SEO:
   • Offers detailed slug customization and analysis.
   • Alerts users to potential issues with long or irrelevant slugs.
2. Redirection Plugin:
   • Essential for managing changes to slugs.
   • Automatically creates redirects for modified URLs.
3. Permalink Manager Pro:
   • Advanced tool for bulk editing and restoring slugs.
   • Ideal for large websites with complex URL structures.

Case Study:
A WordPress e-commerce site experienced a 15% increase in organic traffic after optimizing 200+ slugs for readability and relevance using Permalink Manager Pro.

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5. Best Practices for Slug Optimization

A. Keep It Short and Descriptive

• Limit slugs to 3-5 words.
• Avoid filler words like “the,” “and,” or “of.”

B. Integrate Focus Keywords

• Ensure the slug aligns with the post’s target keyword.
• Example: For the title “How to Improve WordPress Performance,” use improve-wordpress-performance.

C. Avoid Frequent Changes

Changing slugs impacts SEO and user bookmarks. Always implement proper 301 redirects if modifications are necessary.

D. Test for Performance

Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor how changes to slugs affect search rankings.

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Conclusion

Mastering the art of locating and optimizing slugs can significantly enhance your WordPress site’s functionality and SEO performance. By understanding the various methods to find and manage the original slug in a WordPress site, you can ensure a seamless user experience and maintain your site’s integrity.

At Ankivo Technologies, we specialize in delivering customized WordPress development solutions that empower businesses to achieve their digital goals. Whether you’re looking to optimize your URLs or implement advanced WordPress functionalities, our team of experts is here to help.

Contact us today to discover how Ankivo Technologies can transform your WordPress site into a high-performance digital platform.