The Best SEO Practices for WordPress Users

If you have a website on WordPress, using good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices is important. SEO helps your website show up higher on Google and other search engines. This means more people can find you online. Here are some of the best and easiest SEO tips for WordPress users. Need some help with these suggestions? Call our Tulsa Web Design company.

1. Use an SEO Plugin
Start by installing a good SEO plugin. Two popular ones are Yoast SEO and Rank Math. These plugins help you add keywords, meta titles, and descriptions. They also give you tips on how to improve each post or page for search engines.

2. Choose a Fast, Mobile-Friendly Theme
Your website should load quickly and look good on phones and tablets. Google cares about page speed and mobile usability. Choose a theme that is lightweight and responsive. Themes like Astra or GeneratePress are great options.

3. Optimize Your Content
Always write content that helps your visitors. Use keywords naturally in your titles, headings, and text. Do not "stuff" keywords — that can hurt your SEO. Use H1 for your main title and H2 or H3 for subheadings to organize your content.

4. Use Clean URLs
Make sure your URLs are short and include your target keyword. In WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks and select “Post name” to create cleaner URLs.

5. Add Internal and External Links
Link to other helpful pages on your own website. Also link to useful external websites (but open these in a new tab). Internal linking helps Google understand your site structure and keeps visitors on your site longer.

6. Use Alt Text for Images
Every image on your site should have an “alt text” description. This helps Google understand your images and also makes your site more accessible for people using screen readers.

7. Submit Your Site to Google
Create a free Google Search Console account. Then, submit your sitemap, which your SEO plugin can generate. This helps Google index your pages faster.

8. Keep Everything Updated
Always update your WordPress plugins, themes, and core files. This keeps your site secure and running smoothly — which also helps with SEO.