WordPress SEO – Tips

WordPress SEO | Friendly Permalink URL Structure

After identifying the relevant keywords and create a title.  The URL should also contain your title.  Google gives the first 3-5 words more importance in factoring what page is about, so place keywords near the beginning of page titles.

• Title and URL should contain relevant search engine keywords
• To Change permalink structure of your WordPress – Go To… Dashboard… “Settings” …“Permalinks”
• The default permalink structure of a post is  –  www.website.com/postid  – WordPress uses the database ID in the permalink
• Use the “post name” or “day and name” or “month and name” options for better search engine optimization (does not apply to wordpress.com)

WordPress SEO | Pictures and Video increase SEO

The overall look and navigation of your website is important to the visitor.  Your website should include text, colors, graphics, and video.  People will stay on your website longer when relevant engaging photos and video are present. Low bounce rates and increased page view times improve SEO.

• Pictures will transform a bland wordy blog post into a dynamic and interesting one
• Graphics too large in size can reduce your webpage’s load speed
• Place photos strategically throughout your page
• Use a CDN to improve page load times
• Graphic elements reduce bounce and increase page view time
• Embed videos on your website and increase visitor’s average time web page

WordPress SEO | Relevant Outbound Links are Good for WordPress SEO

Links that point to a site other than your current site are called outbound links.  There are good, bad, and downright ugly side effects of outbound links.  Good news first.  If you create an external link to a reputable website they may reciprocate and link back to you or mention you in social media. The bad and out-right ugly news is, if you connect to a site that practices bad SEO technique (spammy SEO tactics, many broken links, or sites that are penalized by search engines) this could hurt your SEO rankings. When creating the outbound link use anchor text that describes destination without spamming or abusing keywords.

• Citing references and providing links to other relevant sites give you credibility
• Relevancy –  Outbound should point to similar or related content
• Check open link in a “new window/tab” when linking out to increase average page visit duration
• Avoid clumping all links in one area of pages.  Sprinkle links naturally in your post or page
• External Link Ideas –
  • Infographics
  • Technical terms
  • News and Updates
  • Partnerships
  • References
  • Press Releases
  • Blog Feeds
  • Providing other points of view
  • Resource Lists

WordPress SEO | Keyword in the first 100 words improves SEO

• Capture the reader’s interest by asking questions
• Follow up by giving a reason to why the post should be read
• Use the H1-H6 tags for the title of your page
• Add as statement like: “Click on one of the social share buttons below when you finish reading”

WordPress SEO | Build WordPress Content Tips

Create content for your blog using these content tips right now.  The goal is to create content your viewers will love and keep them coming back for more.  Create content that they need.  Brainstorm with your marketing staff or even business associates and customers to come up with article ideas. Get a recorder, set up, interview, transcribe video, and audio for better SEO. Interviews are easy to document and produce.  Here are some blog content ideas:

• How your product and service works
• Pros and cons – product
• Product comparisons
• Make an “open the box” video
• Create user experiences
• Step by step guides
• Call to action
• Industry / Niche Trends
• Respond to controversial topics in industry
• Create article on industry statistics

WordPress SEO | Spy on Your Competitors Traffic and use SEO Information

Is your competitor successful? Keep tabs on what the competition is doing. Uncover their keywords, inbound links, and other on page SEO tactics.

• Keywordtool.io – and SemRush
• Identify your keywords and log the top 25 URLs that are ranking (long tail keywords that include things like location are more precise)
• Create a Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How page on the topics

WordPress SEO | Create Engaging Content

Become the subject matter expert and provide your website readers with information, tips, how to’s, new, etc.   WordPress “on page optimization” includes identifying possible keywords and developing content for your readers. Ask yourself the following questions.

• How can you become the information resource that they want to visit?
• What subjects do your listeners want to know about?
• What useful topics can you deliver to your target market?

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