What Should I Do If I Don’t Have the Page for the Final URL?
Short Answer: If you don’t have the specific page created for the final URL, you can link to any existing page instead. Then, simply click on the URL displayed on the right side and replace its permalink with your preferred keyword, such as ‘garage door opener near me’.
Full Explanation
In some situations when managing URLs for SEO purposes, you might find that there is no existing page that matches the final URL you intend to use. Instead of leaving this unaddressed or creating an empty or irrelevant destination, you have the option to direct users to any available page on your website. This approach allows you to keep your SEO workflow moving while maintaining relevance through keyword-rich permalinks.
By clicking on the URL on the right side of your interface (usually within your SEO or page editor tool), you can manually change the permalink. Replacing the original URL with a targeted keyword permalink helps ensure that your link appears optimized and aligned with what users might search for, even if the destination page itself isn’t specialized for that keyword.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Identify that you do not have a dedicated page for the final URL you want to set.
- Choose an existing page on your site that is relevant or acceptable to use temporarily or permanently.
- In your editing tool, locate the URL section typically positioned on the right side.
- Click on the URL to edit or replace the current permalink.
- Enter the desired keyword or phrase as the new permalink, such as ‘garage door opener near me’.
- Save or update the settings to apply the new permalink to the selected page.
Real Examples
Suppose you want a final URL that targets the keyword ‘garage door opener near me’, but this specific page doesn’t exist yet. Instead of waiting to create this page, you can select your homepage or a relevant category page and change its permalink on the right side to ‘/garage-door-opener-near-me’. This way, your link uses the targeted keyword in the URL structure, which may support your SEO goals while you prepare the actual content.
Common Mistakes
- Not updating the permalink after choosing a different page, which results in a mismatch between the keyword in the URL and the content on the page.
- Pointing the URL to unrelated pages that might confuse users or reduce SEO effectiveness.
- Leaving the URL as the default or untargeted permalink, which misses an opportunity to optimize with relevant keywords.
FAQs
Q: Can I use any page as the final URL if I don’t have the correct one?
Yes, you can use any existing page but it’s best to pick one that is somewhat related to the keyword to maintain relevance.
Q: How do I change the permalink on the right side?
You typically click on the displayed URL in your editing interface to open the permalink editor where you can input your desired keyword.
Q: Will this affect my SEO negatively?
Using a relevant page with a properly optimized keyword permalink can help maintain SEO integrity, but ideally, you should create content specifically matching your targeted keywords when possible.
Key Takeaways
- If the final URL page doesn’t exist, any relevant page can be used as a substitute.
- Manually update the permalink to match your desired keyword for SEO benefits.
- Ensure the page you choose aligns reasonably with the keyword to avoid user confusion.
- Changing the permalink is done by clicking on the URL on the right side within your SEO or page editor interface.