Definition of URL
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It's the web address that points readers to your content. In newsletters, URLs connect readers to your articles, landing pages, or resources. A well-crafted URL is readable, memorable, and helps both humans and search engines understand what your content is about.
Why you should care
URLs are like street signs for the internet. When readers see a clean, descriptive URL in your newsletter, they're way more likely to click it.
Why? Because they can actually tell where the heck they're going.
Plus, search engines love URLs with relevant keywords baked into the slug, that's the part after your domain name, so your content ranks better too.
Most ESPs now create pretty slugs automatically, but length is still a massive headache. Ever seen those monster URLs that stretch across three lines in your email? Yeah, nobody's clicking those.
The sweet spot is short enough to display fully in most email clients, but descriptive enough that readers instantly get what they'll find.
Some resources we rely on
Ask Claude for help with URL
Copy and paste this prompt into Claude or the AI of your choice. Be sure to tweak the context for your situation.
<goal>
Help me create an effective URL structure system for my newsletter content that benefits both readers and SEO.
</goal>
<context>
* I publish a [FREQUENCY] newsletter with archived posts on my website
* Current URLs are either auto-generated or inconsistently formatted
* Need to establish a system that works across all content types
* Want to improve both user experience and search visibility
* My ESP [PLATFORM NAME] hosts my website
</context>
<output>
Please provide:
* A URL structure template for different content types (issues, articles, resources)
* Guidelines for creating effective slugs within my URLs
* Process for updating historical URLs without breaking links
* How to measure the impact of improved URL structure
</output>
<example>
URL structure samples:
- Newsletter issue: example.com/newsletter/issue-42
- Long-form article: example.com/articles/email-deliverability-guide
- Resource: example.com/resources/newsletter-templates
</example>
<guardrails>
* Keep URLs under 60 characters total when possible
* Focus on human readability first, SEO second
* Avoid special characters, spaces, or unnecessary parameters
* Ensure system works with my current platform limitations
</guardrails>