Which is Best for SEO-Friendly Article URLs (Permalinks): Japanese, English, or Post ID? We’ll clearly explain the recommended structures for different purposes.
When running a blog or website, the URL (permalink) structure of your articles is surprisingly crucial. With SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in mind, many wonder which format is the most effective.
In this article, we’ll delve into the three main options: “Japanese URLs,” “English URLs,” and “Post ID URLs.” We’ll compare their advantages and disadvantages in detail, then clearly outline the recommended permalink structures based on your goals.
We’ll explore which URL format search engines prefer for SEO, its impact on social media sharing and click-through rates, and ease of management from multiple perspectives. This information will be valuable for anyone launching a new blog or looking to review their existing site’s URL structure.
✅ Conclusion (Recommendations by Purpose)
| Purpose | Article URL (Permalink) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Focused | /%postname%/ |
Including relevant keywords in the article content strengthens SEO. |
| Update Frequency & Organization Focused | /%category%/%postname%/ |
Aligns with categories for a clear structure. |
| News Sites & Date-Sensitive Updates | /%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%/ |
Easier to organize older articles and convenient for archiving. |
| Internal Processing & Management Priority (No SEO Concern) | /?p=123 or /%post_id%/ |
URLs don’t change, but they are weak for SEO. |
🔎 Comparison of URL Structures
| Permalink Setting | Example | SEO Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
/%postname%/ |
example.com/how-to-start-blog/ |
◎ | Most recommended. Keywords are reflected in the URL. |
/%category%/%postname%/ |
example.com/seo/title-structure/ |
◎ | Requires category organization. Be careful, changing category names alters URLs. |
/%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%/ |
example.com/2025/06/seo-title-url/ |
◯ | Dates can make articles appear “old.” |
/%post_id%/ |
example.com/123/ |
× | Avoid numerical-only URLs as they lack SEO meaning. |
/%year%/%postname%/ |
example.com/2025/seo-basics/ |
△ | Effective for news sites. Can potentially appear old. |
📝 Naming Rules for Slugs (%postname%)
- English is Standard: Google tends to prefer English URLs.
- Avoid Japanese URLs: They can become messy when encoded for social media (e.g., %E3%81%82%E3%81%84…).
- Keep them Short and Meaningful: For instance, how-to-use-wordpress.
🔐 Permalink Settings (Caution When Changing)
- Do not change the URL of an already published article in principle (redirection is mandatory).
- You’ll need to set up redirects from old URLs to new URLs, often using a plugin like Redirection.
✅ Summary: Recommended Structure for Practical Use
https://example.com/postname/
（Example: https://example.com/how-to-start-wordpress/）- Post Title: Include SEO keywords and an attractive phrase (within 32 characters).
- URL Slug: Use lowercase English letters, hyphen-separated, short, and clear.