Since programming is not needed and it’s SEO-friendly, WordPress is the best option to create a website. In fact, WordPress is coded and structured in a way that search engines like Google can easily crawl and index. You can also create custom and keyword-rich URLs for your pages and posts to make them inviting for both search engines and users. Plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math provide advanced SEO features. If you are a Blogger user then read this SEO for Blogger article.
SEO for WordPress: 22 Tips and Best Practices
From the absolute beginner to the advanced user, this tutorial will walk you through making the most out of your WordPress SEO.
Choose an SEO-Friendly Theme
The first step in improving the SEO performance of your website is to use the right WordPress theme. A responsive and optimized theme is a must for fast loading speed with correct HTML markup, which are the most important search engine ranking factors (especially for Google).
How to Do It:
- Go to Appearance > Themes and choose a lightweight theme like Astra or GeneratePress.
- Check theme speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
Install an SEO Plugin (SEO For WordPress)
SEO plugins simplify on-page optimization tasks.
How to Do It:
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New and install plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
- Configure the plugin settings under their respective menu items.
Optimize Permalink Structure
A clean permalink structure improves URL readability and ranking potential.
How to Do It:
- Go to Settings, and then Permalinks. After that choose “Post Name.”
Conduct Keyword Research
Find suitable, and related keywords your visitors is looking for. Read: How to insert keywords in a blog.
How to Do It:
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs.
- Include primary and secondary keywords naturally in your content.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A CDN improves site speed by serving content from servers closer to your audience.
How to Do It:
- Use CDN service like CloudFlare for better result.
- Integrate it through your hosting provider or manually using a plugin.
Create XML Sitemaps
Sitemaps help search engines like Google, Bing to crawl, and index your blog.
How to Do It:
- Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO to generate a sitemap.
- Submit the sitemap to Google Search Console under the “Sitemaps” section.
Optimize Images (SEO For WordPress)
Large images slow down your site, affecting rankings.
How to Do It:
- Compress images using plugins like Smush or TinyPNG.
- Use descriptive alt text for each image.
Enable HTTPS
Many search engines are now giving priorites to the secure website. This is why using https is must.
How to Do It:
- You can use SSL certificate provided by your hosting provider. There are also many WordPress plugin like Really Simple SSL, and more. Read the plugin review. After that choose the best one.
- Ensure your site URL starts with “https://.”
Improve Site Speed (SEO For WordPress)
Page speed is essential to rank higher in the search engines. Also, it helps in user experience too.
How to Do It:
- Use caching plugins like SpeedyCache or W3 Total Cache.
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML using tools like Autoptimize.
Use Internal Linking
Internal links help in engaging your blog visitor. It can be useful to increase the blog views as well as in decresing the bounce rate.
How to Do It:
- Add 2–3 internal links to related blog posts or pages within your content.
Leverage Schema Markup
It enhances search results with rich snippets.
How to Do It:
- Use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Schema Pro for better result.
- Add schema for articles, FAQs, reviews, and more.
Optimize for Mobile (SEO For WordPress)
Google uses mobile-first indexing, so ensure your site is mobile-friendly.
How to Do It:
- Test your site on smartphone. If it doesn’t look better then you need to fix it.
- Use responsive themes and plugins.
Create High-Quality Content
Content is king in SEO. Write valuable and engaging posts. Your blog post should cover all the details. Not only that, you must make a habit of playing with the keywords.
How to Do It:
- Focus on solving your visitors problem.
- Yoast SEO will help you in fixing all the SEO, and Readability score of your blog post.
- Focus on E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
Enable Lazy Loading (SEO For WordPress)
Lazy loading defers the image, and video of your website. This is important to improve the speed of your website.
How to Do It:
- Use plugins like SpeedyCache or WP Rocket.
- Monitor SEO Performance
- Track your site’s performance regularly.
Optimize Meta Titles and Descriptions
Well-written meta titles and descriptions improve click-through rates. Read: How to add meta description in a blog.
How to Do It:
- Use SEO plugins to edit meta titles and descriptions for each post/page.
- Keep the title under 60 characters and the description under 160.
Utilize Social Sharing Buttons
Social signals can indirectly boost your SEO efforts.
How to Do It:
- Install plugins like Social Snap or Sassy Social Share.
Avoid Duplicate Content
Duplicate content confuses search engines and hurts rankings.
How to Do It:
- Use canonical tags.
- Regularly check for duplicate content.
Use Focused Categories and Tags
Organizing your content helps both users and search engines.
How to Do It:
- Go to Posts > Categories or Tags to create meaningful categories and tags.
Regularly Update Content
Fresh content keeps your site relevant and improves rankings. Read: How often should your blog for better SEO.
How to Do It:
- Update your blog frequently.
- Add current statistics, links, or visuals.
Add Breadcrumb Navigation
Breadcrumb improves user experience, and help search engines like Google to understand your site structure.
How to Do It:
- Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Breadcrumb NavXT.
- Add breadcrumbs to your theme using shortcodes or widget areas.
Monitor Backlinks
Backlinks are crucial for SEO but must be high-quality and relevant.
How to Do It:
- Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor backlinks.
- Disallow harmful backlinks through Google Search Console.
Final Thoughts On SEO For WordPress
In conclusion, you can improve your WordPress SEO by following the above steps. Unlike how you do in Blogger, WordPress has very vast features in it. That’s all for today. If you need any help, then do not hesitate to contact me. I will try my best to reply back as soon as possible. Till then, have a good day. Happy blogging!