1.5Essential settings & permalinks
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Settings → General: title, tagline and timezone — information displayed and read by search engines.
- Settings → Reading: static homepage (showcase) or latest posts (blog).
- Settings → Permalinks: choose "Post name" (readable URLs) and do not change it afterwards, or you risk breaking links.
Running mini-case — the site's foundations
Before filling the site, Samir sets the settings that shape everything: the title and tagline of Atelier Bahja, the Casablanca timezone, a static homepage and readable URLs. A former provider suggests changing the permalink structure "for SEO". Samir knows this is the kind of setting you do not change lightly.
Sequel to case 1.4 — the content is organised, now we set the foundations.
1. Basic settings
In Settings → General, you define the site title (the name displayed and used by search engines) and the tagline (a short description). You also check the timezone and date formats, because posts are dated. This information seems trivial, but it appears in search results and social shares.
In Settings → Reading, you choose what appears on the homepage: the latest posts for a blog, or a static page for a showcase site. You can also designate a separate "Blog" page. Samir opts for a static homepage and a Blog page dedicated to tips.
2. Permalinks and slugs
Permalinks are the permanent URLs of content. In Settings → Permalinks, you choose the global structure; the SEO standard is "Post name", which produces readable addresses like atelierbahja.ma/stoneware-care-tips. Numeric URLs such as /?p=42 are to be avoided.
The slug is the editable part of a content item's URL: keep it short, keyword-based, with no unnecessary words. A golden rule: you do not change the permalink structure after going live, because it breaks indexed and shared links. If a change is essential, plan 301 redirects.
🔎 Concrete example — Laying the foundations (Samir's case)
Title: Atelier Bahja — Artisan ceramics
Tagline: Unique pieces thrown in Casablanca
Timezone: Casablanca
Homepage: static "Home" page + "Blog" page
Permalinks: Post name
→ URL: atelierbahja.ma/atlas-collectionsResult: an identifiable site and clean URLs.
Lesson: these settings are made before publishing, not after.
Section vocabulary
- Permalink
- The permanent URL of a content item; its structure is set globally.
Simple example: atelierbahja.ma/stoneware-care-tips.
What it is not: keeping URLs such as /?p=42.
Reflex: readable URL = chosen permalink.
- Post name structure
- A URL format that uses the content title, recommended for SEO.
Simple example: Settings → Permalinks → Post name.
What it is not: choosing a structure with a numeric ID.
Reflex: the SEO standard from the start.
- Slug
- The editable part of a content item's URL, to keep short and descriptive.
Simple example: atlas-collections rather than page-2-copy.
What it is not: leaving a generated slug with filler words.
Reflex: short, clear, with the keyword.
- Static homepage
- A setting that displays a designed page as the homepage rather than the list of posts.
Simple example: the workshop's homepage presents the collections.
What it is not: leaving the list of posts as the homepage of a showcase site.
Reflex: showcase = static page.
- Title & tagline
- The site name and short description, displayed and used by search engines and social networks.
Simple example: Atelier Bahja — Artisan ceramics.
What it is not: leaving "My site" as the title.
Reflex: identity is set in General.
In practice — Setting the SEO foundations
- Settings → General: clear title, tagline, correct timezone.
- Settings → Permalinks: choose "Post name" and save.
- Settings → Reading: static homepage or latest posts, then the posts page if needed.
- On a post, shorten the slug and check the resulting URL.
Ready-to-say script — explaining URLs (20s)
"Your page addresses will be readable: atelierbahja.ma/collections rather than a string of numbers. It is better for Google and for your clients. We choose this structure now and do not touch it afterwards."
Emphasise the durability of the choice.
Copy-paste template — site settings
SITE TITLE: _______________
TAGLINE: _______________
TIMEZONE: _______________
HOMEPAGE: static / latest posts
POSTS PAGE: _______________
PERMALINK STRUCTURE: Post nameShowcase site
Static homepage + separate Blog page if a stream is planned.
Pure blog
Homepage = latest posts, readable permalink structure.
Existing site
Do not touch permalinks without 301 redirects.
Multilingual
Plan localised permalinks from the start (section 4.2).
✓ Best practices
- Set the settings before publishing the first content.
- Choose "Post name" for permalinks.
- Keep slugs short and descriptive.
✗ Common pitfalls
- Changing the permalink structure after indexing.
- Leaving "My site" as the title.
- Forgetting the timezone and distorting the dates.
Key takeaways
- Title, tagline and timezone are set in General.
- The homepage is chosen in Reading.
- Permalinks "Post name": the SEO standard.
- The structure is not changed after going live.
48h Challenge — apply tomorrow
Configure title, tagline, timezone, homepage and permalinks on your local site. Check the URL of a post and shorten its slug. 15 minutes.
- I configure the site's basic settings.
- I choose a homepage suited to the project.
- I understand why permalinks are not changed afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Why not change permalinks afterwards?
Because each content item already has an indexed and shared URL: changing the structure breaks those links (404 errors) and loses the SEO already acquired. If it is essential, set up 301 redirects.
Can I have a blog and a designed homepage?
Yes, that is the most common case: Settings → Reading → static homepage, then designate another page as the "posts page". The site has a showcase and a blog stream.
Is the tagline important for SEO?
It helps describe the site and can appear in results or shares. It does not replace a real content strategy, but a clear and specific tagline is better than a "Welcome to my site".
The site has just gone live with readable URLs. A provider suggests changing the permalink structure. What does Samir answer?