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September 5, 2010 at 12:57 pm #969753Up::0
Hi All,
Just thought i’d share something that may help people regarding SEO for WordPress.
WordPress is a system that can be one of the best systems out there for SEO purposes, but out of the box it isn’t really that good.
To make sure your WordPress based website or blog has the best chance of ranking well, I recommend the following steps in order to get the basics of on-page optimisation right. It’s not the full picture of what’s required SEO wise for good rankings (the other main element is link building), but getting this right should be your starting point.
1) Make sure your privacy settings are correct and search engines are not being blocked.
2) Set your permalink settings correctly.
3) Install “All-in-one SEO Pack for WordPress” (or an alternative SEO plugin) and set it up correctly.
4) Be sure to create an excerpt for each post to be used as the description.
I’ve also created a detailed blog post on exactly how to achieve steps 1-4 including screenshots. Hopefully it may help some people here as I know a lot of you will be using WordPress for your websites and blogs: WordPress SEO BasicsMatt
September 5, 2010 at 11:33 pm #1040648AnonymousGuest- Total posts: 11,464
September 5, 2010 at 11:45 pm #1040649Up::0That’s pretty much a perfect guide, what I tend to do after sending a site live is install the google xml sitemap plugin, run it and generate the sitemap, then add the site to google webmaster tools and submit the sitemap there.
Maybe I’m being a hypochondriac but I seem to think that changes to my google listings happen faster then when the site isn’t listed on google webmaster tools.
September 6, 2010 at 12:36 am #1040650Up::0FS Concierge, post: 49143 wrote:And nice photo, by the way
JayneThanks Jayne, thought it was about time I put one up!
Samot, post: 49146 wrote:That’s pretty much a perfect guide, what I tend to do after sending a site live is install the google xml sitemap plugin, run it and generate the sitemap, then add the site to google webmaster tools and submit the sitemap there.Maybe I’m being a hypochondriac but I seem to think that changes to my google listings happen faster then when the site isn’t listed on google webmaster tools.
Hi Samot,
Thanks for the reply, I definately agree using XML sitemaps plugin it important, as is Webmaster tools. I’ve also found the same thing you have, that it seems to help get indexed quicker. Thanks for mentioning this.
One thing to note though, if we are talking WordPress specifically, i’d always make sure you set your Permalinks up properly (ie change from the horrible default to a better setting as i’ve outlined in my blog post) before you add your sitemap/sitemap generator. Reason being the permalinks will change the default address where your content address is located. Of course the whole point of sitemaps is to show search engines where your content is and the canatonical URL’s setting will help sort it out eventually, but overall I think it’s better to get the permalinks right first.
Matt
September 6, 2010 at 2:46 am #1040651Up::0Happy to see I’ve done everything except #4… I’ll fix that in all future posts and very slowly will fix the archives.
Great article and info Matt, THANK YOU!
September 6, 2010 at 2:58 am #1040652Up::0Melinda B, post: 49168 wrote:Happy to see I’ve done everything except #4… I’ll fix that in all future posts and very slowly will fix the archives.Great article and info Matt, THANK YOU!
Hi Melinda,
Just to clarify, if you have created custom descriptions on all the articles using the “Description” field of the All-in-one SEO Pack for each individual post, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have an exceprt. However if you don’t have either then well worth sorting out. Good to hear you have most of it right already though!
Matt
September 6, 2010 at 3:14 am #1040653Up::0marketingweb, post: 49170 wrote:Hi Melinda,Just to clarify, if you have created custom descriptions on all the articles using the “Description” field of the All-in-one SEO Pack for each individual post, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have an exceprt. However if you don’t have either then well worth sorting out. Good to hear you have most of it right already though!
Matt
No, I’ve been totally missing the descriptions of posts! I have the rest of All-In-One-SEO setup, just haven’t been updating and tweaking it for each post.September 17, 2010 at 1:24 pm #1040654Up::0Great advice guys, will certainly read through your blog post and ensure I am doing what you suggest. I certainly use each of the plugins but my interaction with Google webmaster is probably lacking a bit.
September 20, 2011 at 2:14 pm #1040655Up::0Hi Matt,
Please forgive me for the heresy I’m about to espouse on your excellent thread.What you say is quite correct. All those WordPress recommendations will help SE rankings.
However, what I find is that people don’t appreciate the significance of all the other SE ranking factors that have absolutely nothing to do with any content management system or its plugins.
All I wanted to say is that the supposed factors of importance that are discussed around a CMS or shopping cart program and the SEO plug-ins for it, have so much less impact on search engine rankings and referrals than a site’s design, structure and content.
No one wants to hear that because they don’t understand what it means.
No one wants to believe that there is not some magical formula for SE ranking and no one wants to accept the fact that they can’t cut corners with SEO.
I’ve just come off the phone from a designer who wants to implements what might seem to be some very simple and minor Home page changes on an SEO client’s site. However, in my estimation, these extremely simple changes will reduce the client’s SE referrals by at least 50%.
Matt, I know you understand the point I’m making. The problem is that most of the FS readers have not got a clue what we are talking about.
Regs,
JohnWSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:20 am #1040656Up::0Since we’re digging up threads from last year, I might as well chip in with some more details on Blogging for Beginners, a post I wrote last year, which should add to a basic setup knowhow for new WordPress users.
And I agree with JohnW – design, structure, content, and navigation all play a large role in your site’s ranking.
September 24, 2011 at 1:38 pm #1040657Up::0I also agree that Yoasts SEO plugin is better than All in One – it also has great indicators for non-SEO users to help them understand their on page SEO better.
SEO Smart Links plugin is also good for generic internal link building. Most small business owners can set this up once and forget about it and it will help improve internal links.
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