How Page Titles and URLs Define a Webpage
Page titles and URLs are often the first interaction a user has with a webpage, before they ever click. They appear in browser tabs, search results, bookmarks, screen readers and AI-generated summaries. Clear, consistent titles and URLs help users quickly understand what a page is about and help search engines accurately surface Citadel content.
These standards apply to all Citadel webpages.
Page Title
Your page title appears at the top of your webpage and in Google search results. It should tell people and search engines exactly what the page is about in a clear, concise way. The goal is to help users immediately understand the topic at a glance.
Why It Matters: A clear, keyword-focused title helps visitors quickly understand the page topic and helps Google show your page in search results.
Page Title Standards
Do:
- Keep titles clear, concise, and descriptive
- Use normal title capitalization (avoid ALL CAPS)
- Focus on the primary topic or purpose of the page
- Write titles that make sense when read on their own
Avoid:
- Overly long or sentence-style titles
- Filler words or unnecessary phrases
- Special characters or excessive punctuation
- Repeating the same word multiple times
Page Title Examples
| Good Example | Poor Example |
|---|---|
| Project Management, M.S. Program Requirements | All of the Program Requirements for The Citadel’s Master of Science in Project Management Graduate Program |
Page URLs (Slugs)
The URL slug is the portion of the web address that appears after the domain name. It identifies the page location and topic.
Example: https://www.citadel.edu/psychology/graduate-programs/clinical-counseling
Why It Matters: : Short, descriptive URLs are easier to share, easier to read and rank better in Google search.
URL (Slug) Standards
Do:
- Use lowercase letters only
- Use hyphens to separate words (not underscores)
- Keep URLs short, logical and readable
- Remove unnecessary words such as and, of or the
- Match the slug to the page topic or primary keyword
Important:
- Page slugs should not be edited once a page is published
- Be aware that page URLs may include parent page slugs
- Always check the full URL path before publishing a new page
URL Examples
| Good Example | Poor Example |
|---|---|
| https://www.citadel.edu/psychology/graduate-programs/clinical-counseling | https://www.citadel.edu/psychology/graduate-programs/m-a-in-psychology-clinical-counseling-graduate-program |