Are you having trouble getting your WordPress website to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs)? Have you tried everything but still can't seem to obtain the traffic you want?
If this is the case, you are not alone. Many WordPress website owners struggle to optimize their sites for search engines. But don't worry, you can take your WordPress SEO to the next level with the correct SEO checklist.
Here are ten SEO checklists that we believe will help you streamline your WordPress SEO.
To streamline WordPress SEO & achieve most out of your website we recommend you to use the Rank Math SEO plugin. You may want to read our detailed guide on integrating Rank Math SEO on WordPress.
SEO Checklist 2023
Keyword Optimization
Keywords are words or phrases that potential readers will search on search engines like Google and Bing. So, we as website owners might want to integrate those keywords strategically on our blog posts/ pages.
Conduct keyword research to identify the best keywords for your website and blog posts. Make sure to use them strategically in your content, including titles, headings, body text, URL slugs and meta descriptions. You can read our detailed guide on adding keywords on WordPress using Rank Math SEO.
Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are the summarization of a blog post or a page. It should not be longer than 160 characters. They appear below the title on Search Engine Result Pages (SERP) Write compelling and relevant meta descriptions that accurately describe the content of each page. Use keywords where possible, and ensure that each meta description is unique. You may want to read our detailed guide on adding meta descriptions in WordPress.
Sitemaps
Sitemaps are the detailed paths to your website’s post and pages that the search engines crawlers use to crawl your content. Submit a sitemap of your website to search engines, such as Google, to ensure that all pages are indexed and crawled properly. You can check our detailed guide on creating and adding sitemap to Google Search Console.
Internal Linking
Use internal linking to connect your website's related posts and pages, allowing search engines to crawl and index them more easily. Ensure that your anchor text is descriptive and relevant to the linked page.
Image Optimization
Optimize your images by compressing them, using descriptive filenames, and using alt tags that include relevant keywords. You may also want to add related and descriptive alt text for your images you upload.
Title Tags
Create unique and descriptive title tags for each page, using relevant keywords where appropriate.
URL Structure
Ensure that your website's posts URL structure is user-friendly and contains relevant keywords. Don’t try to make your permalink long, instead make it short and keyword rich. Below is an example of a good permalink for your pages and posts.
https://wptracer.com/2023/10/25/p-125 (Bad)
https://wptracer.com/what-is-a-wordpress-explained-easily (Good)
https://wptracer.com/what-is-wordpress (Better)
Breadcrumbs
Use breadcrumbs on your website to help users navigate and understand the structure of your content. Breadcrumbs are also useful for search engines, as they can help to establish the hierarchy of your website and improve your site's crawlability. You can learn more on adding breadcrumbs using SEO tools in WordPress.
Content Quality
Create high-quality, original content that provides value to your audience. Use relevant keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. We suggest you to go through our detailed guide on SEO Copywriting for WordPress.
Social Media Integration
Integrate social media into your website by including social media sharing buttons and links. This can help increase your website's visibility and drive traffic. You can do this by using JetPack for WordPress. You may want to read our detailed guide on configuring JetPack for WordPress.
Mobile-Friendliness
Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, as mobile devices account for a significant amount of web traffic. Use responsive design and optimize your site's loading speed. We highly suggest you to use the GeneratePress theme for getting a fast and responsive website.
Google Analytics
Set up Google Analytics to track your website's traffic and performance. This tool provides valuable insights into your website's audience, traffic sources, and user behavior, allowing you to optimize your content and improve your SEO strategy. You can add Google Analytics to your website using an official plugin from Google called Google Site Kit.
Google Search Console
Set up Google Search Console and other webmaster platforms to monitor and improve your website's search engine performance. This tool provides important data on your website's search rankings, click-through rates, and indexing status, allowing you to identify and fix any issues that may be affecting your SEO. You can add Google Search Console to your website using an official plugin from Google called Google Site Kit.
By following these SEO checklists, you can take your WordPress SEO to the next level and start seeing the results you want. Remember to keep your focus on your audience and create valuable, high-quality content that provides real value. With a little patience and persistence, you'll soon see your website climbing the search engine rankings.