Slugs

Choosing a Slug Name

A slug should be related to the page title, but it does not need to be exactly the same. Slugs should be simple and descriptive.

Example:   https://illinoisstate.edu/athletics/

The title of this page is Redbird Athletics. The slug "/athletics" is not an exact match, but still communicates what the webpage is about.

If someone were to look at a URL in an email, in print, or elsewhere outside of a website, they should have a clear idea of what the webpage is about.

Think About Keywords

Slugs play a role in search engine optimization. When choosing a slug name, consider using keywords that your audience might use in a search engine to find the webpage.

Example:  search terms "campus recreation Illinois State class schedule"

Search result:  https://campusrecreation.illinoisstate.edu/fitness/classes/

Use Lowercase

Most systems we use at Illinois State require lowercase slugs.

Example:  IllinoisState.edu/visit/virtual

Separate Words with Dashes (Kabob Case)

If a slug has more than one word, separate the words using dashes. Do not use empty space, underscores, or combine words. This helps search engines read your slug as separate words.

Example:  IllinoisState.edu/student-life

Consider Other Words in the URL

It's unnecessary to repeat words that are already part of the URL.

Example:  https://alumni.illinoisstate.edu/association/awards/distinguished/

The last slug in this example is "/distinguished/". You can tell by looking at the URL this is a distinguished award because the preceding slug is "/awards/."

Since "/awards/" is already in the URL, we do not need to say "/distinguished-award/."

Remove Common Words

You can often remove short, common words from the slug. This includes articles, conjunctions, and prepositions such as:

• the
• and
• or
• of

Sometimes common words are necessary for the slug to make sense.

Example:  IllinoisState.edu/points-of-pride

In this case, "of" is part of the whole brand. If the slug were /points-pride, it loses the brand name, becomes less readable, and doesn't make much sense.

Avoid Uncommon Abbreviations

Most people are not familiar with abbreviations outside your unit and the University. In most cases, slugs should contain all the words you might abbreviate.

Example:  https://illinoisstate.edu/academics/physical-education-teacher-k-12/

Around the Kinesiology and Recreation department and among students, the Physical Education Teacher Education major is known as PETE. The general public and search engines may not know what PETE means. Spelling out the abbreviation in the slug is more helpful for people outside the department.

If an abbreviation is widely known, accepted, and used in public, an abbreviation can be used in the slug. If you know it as the letters, then refer to it as the abbreviation.

Example:  It is widely known what the NFL is. They can get away with using an abbreviation of their formal name (National Football League) in their URLs.