Renaming PDFs

PDF file renaming best practices.


NOTE: This is for all Hibu Websites moving forward. If updates are requested on an older site ensure any updates requested are using the new rules.

Benefits to Renaming PDFs

  • Search engines can index PDF content and even recognize links in PDF documents, too. For less competitive searches the PDF document, if named correctly, could reach the top of Google results.
  • Naming PDFs in a consistent, logical and predictable way means they can be located, identified and retrieved by yourself, Hibu colleagues, or the client, as quickly and easily as possible. 
  • As such, Hibu will rename PDF files following manner:
  • [document-content-title]-[name-of-business].pdf
  • Note, don't reference the HTML page content title but rather, the file content, ie form, faqs, price list, etc.)
  • All the characters should be lower case and in-place-of-a-space-we’ll-use-a-dash-rather-than-an-underscore.
  • Hibu will convert Word, Excel, image, PPT, etc. files into PDF documents.  All converted files should follow our best-practices naming conventions.
  • Hibu will rename client-provided files not converted into a PDF following our best-practices naming conventions.
File Type / Purpose Format Example
General form subject-form-name-of-business service-request-form-harrison-ford-auto contact-form-scarlett-johansson-design
Medical intake form intake-form-type-name-of-business new-patient-intake-form-dr-john-cale medical-history-form-dr-moe-tucker insurance-information-form-dr-sterling-morrison consent-to-treat-form-dr-doug-yule
Catalog (overview) catalog-name-of-business auto-parts-catalog-petes-parts flooring-products-catalog-precision-tile
Catalog (category-specific) category-catalog-name-of-business brake-parts-catalog-petes-parts car-battery-catalog-petes-parts tile-patterns-catalog-precision-tile
Menu (single menu) menu-name-of-business menu-windsor-diner
Menu (multiple menus) menu-type-name-of-business breakfast-menu-ronnies-deli lunch-menu-ronnies-deli dinner-menu-ronnies-deli
Sales flyer / promotion promotion-name-name-of-business winter-sale-flyer-madison-hardware seasonal-discount-flyer-karls-garden-nursery
Price list price-list-name-of-business price-list-madison-hardware service-price-list-nuddys-arco
Agreement / legal document agreement-type-name-of-business rental-agreement-world-of-bounce-houses service-agreement-mikes-automotive
FAQ document faq-topic-name-of-business hardwood-floor-faq-juniors-flooring warranty-faq-precision-builders