How to Remove ‘WordPress’ from Your Site URL: A Complete Guide

WordPress is an incredibly powerful content management system that powers over 40% of all websites. However, many users want to create a more professional online presence, leading them to consider removing "WordPress" from their site URLs. This can enhance your brand image and improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In this article, we'll guide you through a step-by-step process to remove "WordPress" from your URL, explain the benefits, and offer practical tips to ensure a smooth transition.

Why You Might Want to Remove WordPress from Your URL

When you set up a WordPress site, the default URL structure often includes "/wordpress/" in it. Here’s why you might want to change this:

• Professionalism: A cleaner URL appears more credible to your visitors.
• SEO Benefits: Simplifying your URL can aid in better search rankings.
• User Experience: Shorter URLs are easier to remember and share.

Understanding the importance of URL structure sets the stage for effectively implementing these changes.

Step 1: Backup Your Site

Before making any significant changes to your website, backing it up is crucial. This ensures that you can restore your site if something goes wrong during the process. Here’s how to do it:

• Use a Backup Plugin: Plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy make creating backups simple.
• Manual Backup: Download all files via FTP and export your database through phpMyAdmin.
• Verify Backup: Ensure the backup is complete by checking the files and database data.

Step 2: Change the Site URL Settings

After ensuring your site is backed up, it’s time to change the URL in the WordPress settings:

1. Access Your WordPress Admin: Log in to your dashboard.
2. Go to Settings: Navigate to Settings > General.
3. Update the URLs: Change both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to remove "/wordpress/".
4. Save Changes: Click Save Changes.

Here’s an example of how your URL changes can look:

Before: www.yoursite.com/wordpress/

After: www.yoursite.com/

Example Case Study

Consider an online store, Stylish Shoes, that initially had the URL www.stylishshoes.com/wordpress/. After changing the URL to www.stylishshoes.com/, they noticed a 20% increase in organic traffic within a month, attributing the change to the professional image their new URL portrayed.

Step 3: Update the .htaccess File

Updating the .htaccess file can help in redirecting old URLs to the new structure, ensuring that users don’t encounter 404 errors:

• Access Your Server: Use FTP or your hosting control panel.
• Edit .htaccess: Look for the file in your root directory and add the following:

RedirectMatch 301 /wordpress/(.*) /$1

This code snippet tells the server to permanently redirect all traffic from the old URL to the new one.

Example Implementation

After the change, if a user types www.stylishshoes.com/wordpress/product, they are automatically redirected to www.stylishshoes.com/product without affecting user experience.

Step 4: Update Internal Links

Once you've changed the URL structure, it's time to update your internal links. This step ensures that all pages and posts are correctly linked:

• Manual Editing: Review posts and update any internal links manually.
• Use a Search and Replace Plugin: Tools like Better Search Replace can automate the updating process.
• Check for Broken Links: Use tools like Broken Link Checker to ensure a seamless user experience.

Step 5: Update External Links and Backlinks

Although you can't directly control external links, you can take certain proactive measures:

• Contact Websites Linking to You: Request that they update their links to your new URL structure.
• Utilize Social Media: Share your new URL on your social media platforms to inform existing followers.
• Use Redirects: If you can't update all external links, use 301 redirects created earlier to ensure no links get broken.

Step 6: Test Your Changes

After implementing the changes, it's vital to test everything to ensure a smooth transition:

• Browse Your Site: Check various pages to confirm they are accessible.
• Use Online Tools: Tools like Google Search Console can identify any crawling errors.
• Monitor Traffic: Keep an eye on your site’s analytics to notice any sudden changes post-update.

Removing "WordPress" from your site’s URL can significantly enhance your website's professionalism and SEO. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily make these changes while maintaining your site's integrity and traffic. Remember to backup before making changes, update your internal and external links, and consistently test your site afterward. Take this opportunity to refine your online presence and engage users better by securing a more streamlined URL structure.

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