blog url keywords: should you include them in your permalink?

Let’s be honest: when you’re setting up a blog post, the last thing you want to obsess over is the URL. You’ve already spent hours crafting the perfect headline, wrangling with your AI agent (hello from us at bloggingmachine.io), and maybe even resisting the urge to eat lunch at your desk — again. But here’s the kicker: your blog post’s URL (or “permalink,” for those who like to sound fancy at meetings) can make a real difference in your SEO game.

So, should you include keywords in your blog post URL? Spoiler: Yes. But let’s dig into why, how, and what you should actually do — without making it feel like another soul-crushing task on your to-do list.

Why Blog URL Keywords Matter (And Why Google Cares)

Permalinks are more than just digital addresses — they’re signals to both search engines and humans about what your content is all about. According to SEO experts and, yes, even Google’s own documentation, including relevant keywords in your URL helps search engines understand your page’s topic. This can directly impact your rankings and, let’s be real, your bragging rights at the next team meeting.

Expert Insight: “Every single piece of content that you publish should have the primary target keyword in its URL,” says Matthew Woodward, Founder of SearchLogistics. That’s not just a hot take — it’s a widely accepted best practice in the SEO world.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

Short, keyword-rich URLs consistently outperform long, cryptic ones in search rankings (Backlinko study).
Google’s own SEO Starter Guide recommends using words that are relevant to your content and avoiding long, unnecessary URL parameters (Google SEO Starter Guide).
A Semrush analysis found that descriptive URLs can increase click-through rates from search results.

How to Use Blog URL Keywords Like a Pro (Without Losing Your Mind)

Let’s break down the practical steps — because nobody has time for guesswork.

1. Use Your Primary Keyword — But Don’t Overdo It

Identify the main keyword for your post (the one you’d be proud to see on a billboard, or at least in a Google search result). Pop it into your URL, but just once. Keyword stuffing is so 2010 — and it can actually hurt your SEO.

Example: If your post is about “ideal client profile,” your URL should look like: /ideal-client-profile Not: /ideal-client-profile-best-ideal-client-profile-tips

2. Keep It Short and Sweet

Long URLs are like those never-ending meetings — nobody wants them. Aim for brevity. /seo-tips > /the-best-seo-tips-for-2025-and-beyond

Short URLs are easier to share, remember, and type. Plus, they look way better in your analytics dashboard.

3. Use Hyphens, Not Underscores

Google treats hyphens as word separators. Underscores? Not so much. /seo-best-practices > /seo_best_practices or /seobestpractices

4. Make It Descriptive

Your URL should give readers a clue about what they’re clicking on. If it reads like a secret code, you’re doing it wrong.

Pro Tip: Descriptive URLs can boost your click-through rates, according to Moz.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Because We’ve All Been There)

Keyword Stuffing: One keyword is enough. More than that, and you risk looking spammy (and not the fun kind of spammy).
Default Permalinks: URLs like /?p=123 are a missed opportunity. They tell search engines nothing and users even less.
Frequent Changes: Changing your permalinks after publishing can break links and confuse both users and search engines. If you must change, set up proper redirects.

Tools to Make Blog URL Keywords a Breeze

We get it — manually optimizing every URL isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. That’s why there are tools (and, ahem, AI platforms like ours) to help:

Yoast SEO: Guides you to create SEO-friendly permalinks in WordPress.
Rank Math: Offers advanced customization for your URLs.
Pretty Links: Makes managing and tracking links simple.
Ahrefs & SEMrush: Analyze your URLs for broken links and optimization opportunities (Ahrefs guide).

Of course, if you’re using bloggingmachine.io, our AI agent handles all this for you — so you can focus on more important things, like finally taking that lunch break.

What Google Actually Says About Blog URL Keywords

Google’s official stance is refreshingly straightforward: “Use words in URLs that are relevant to your site’s content.” They also recommend keeping URLs simple and avoiding unnecessary parameters. In other words, don’t overthink it — just make it clear and relevant (Google Search Central).

Real-World Results: Do Blog URL Keywords Really Work?

Let’s look at the numbers. A Backlinko study analyzing 1 million Google search results found that short, keyword-rich URLs correlated with higher rankings. Meanwhile, long or generic URLs lagged behind.

Bottom Line: Including your main keyword in the URL isn’t a magic bullet, but it’s a proven way to give your content a leg up — especially when combined with other SEO best practices.

Why Consistency (and Automation) Wins

If you’re running a content-driven business, consistency is key. Optimizing every URL manually is possible, but let’s be honest: it’s tedious. That’s where automation comes in. With bloggingmachine.io, our AI agent generates SEO-optimized articles — URLs included — so you can scale your content without sacrificing quality (or your sanity).

Key Value for You:

Save time and reduce human error
Ensure every post follows SEO best practices
Focus on your business, not on URL minutiae

FAQ: Blog URL Keywords

Q: Should every blog post URL include a keyword? A: Yes, ideally your primary keyword should be in every blog post URL. It helps search engines and users understand your content.

Q: Can I use multiple keywords in my URL? A: Stick to your main keyword. Multiple keywords can make the URL look spammy and confusing.

Q: What if I need to change a URL after publishing? A: Set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one to avoid broken links and lost SEO value.

Q: Do hyphens or underscores matter in URLs? A: Yes! Use hyphens. Google treats them as word separators. Underscores are not recommended.

Q: Does bloggingmachine.io handle URL optimization? A: Absolutely. Our AI agent automatically creates SEO-friendly URLs for every article, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

Final Thoughts

Including blog URL keywords in your permalinks is one of those small, easy wins that can make a big difference over time. It’s not about gaming the system — it’s about making your content clearer, more accessible, and easier to find (for both people and search engines). And if you’d rather not think about it at all, well, you know where to find us: bloggingmachine.io.

Further Reading: