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If you’re running a WordPress site, you’re already halfway there – WordPress is SEO-friendly by design. But to really push your SEO game to the next level, here are a few things I suggest:
- Use an SEO Plugin: First things first – install a good SEO plugin. Yoast SEO or Rank Math are two of the best in the game. They guide you through optimizing each page with things like meta tags, title tags, and sitemaps. They’re simple to use and essential for on-page SEO.
- Focus on Page Speed: Google loves fast sites, and WordPress can sometimes be slow due to heavy themes or plugins. Use tools like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache to speed up your site. Also, optimize images (using plugins like Smush or Imagify) and enable lazy loading to ensure content loads quickly.
- Mobile Optimization: Make sure your WordPress theme is mobile-responsive. With mobile-first indexing now the norm, a mobile-friendly site isn’t optional. Most modern themes are responsive, but double-check with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
- Optimize Permalinks: WordPress allows you to customize your URLs. For better SEO, make sure your URLs are clean and descriptive. A good format is “yourdomain.com/post-name” instead of something like “yourdomain.com/?p=123.”
- Use Schema Markup: This is a bit advanced, but it’s so worth it. Schema helps search engines understand your content better. Plugins like Schema Pro or Yoast (premium version) make adding structured data to your pages easy.
- Content is King: Don’t just rely on plugins—create valuable, keyword-rich content. Make sure each page has enough text (no thin content) and answers the user’s search intent. Use headings (H1, H2) properly to organize your content.
- Internal Linking: WordPress makes it super easy to link to other pages on your site. Make sure to add internal links to keep users engaged and help search engines crawl your site better. Tools like Link Whisper can help automate this.
- Optimize for Featured Snippets: Aim to get your content featured in the "Position 0" snippet by answering questions clearly with bullet points, lists, or tables. This can significantly boost traffic.
- XML Sitemap & Robots.txt: WordPress automatically generates an XML sitemap if you're using an SEO plugin, but you should still check and submit it to Google Search Console. Make sure your robots.txt file isn’t blocking important pages from being crawled.
- Track with Google Search Console: Always keep an eye on how your site is performing in Google Search Console. Check for any crawl errors, security issues, or penalties. It’s your go-to source for fixing SEO problems.
