In the online space, even if you have a unique idea for a business, it can fall flat without the right SEO optimization for WordPress.
No one will buy your products or send inquiries about your services if they can't find you at the top of Google.
Over 2.7 billion people shopped online in 2024. And 5.5 billion have access to the internet.
Of all those users, about 5 billion have used Google at least once. Of these, over 54% only visit the top three results on the search engine.
The competition for the top positions is high, so it's not enough just to have a fast and reliable website. It's necessary, but it's not everything.
That's why in this article on Grow Easy, we'll give you some actionable expert tips that we implement every day to get our clients to the top spot.
Read all the way through so you can get ahead of the competition and reach that coveted hot traffic!
Why do you need SEO Optimization for WordPress Sites?
Before you even install WordPress and log into the admin dashboard for the first time, you already have a clear concept for your website. Whether you're creating an online store, a personal blog or a company website, the key to success is reaching the right audience and attracting quality traffic.
This is where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. This is a process through which you improve the content of your website in order to rank higher in Google's search engine.
How do you start SEO Optimization for WordPress?
Yes, Search Engine Optimization is a process. Depending on how much time you have, you can improve your WordPress site on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis.
Let's start with the basics of WordPress SEO. Namely, the theme you're going to choose.
About 43% of all websites in the world are built with WordPress. This leads to saturation of the market with different themes and extensions (plugins).
But regardless of a theme's diverse features, the most important thing is that it be lightweight, fast and well-coded. This makes it easier for Google to index your website. Accordingly, you will reach the top positions much faster.
Another major advantage of WordPress is that it is an extremely flexible platform. WordPress SEO is made easier thanks to the many plugins and tools available in the admin panel.
Popular plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math and All in One SEO help you with automatic XML sitemap generation and keyword analysis. They monitor and alert you to SEO errors that you can fix before they grow into bigger problems.
Google tools such as Analytics 4, Search Console and My Business enable you to monitor your site's progress. Keep track of where each page ranks, which products are top sellers, and which keywords your site is ranking for.
Keywords for WordPress SEO optimization
Keywords are the foundation of SEO Optimization for WordPress. Through them, users will find your website on Google. Choosing the right keywords ensures that your content will match the actual searches of your audience.
Here are some workable ideas for finding the right keywords:
- Use external tools. Platforms like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush and Ubersuggest will help you find keywords with high search volume. They'll give you information on search difficulty, as well as similar keywords your audience is searching for.
- Competition Research. Another plus of these tools is that they show you which keywords your competitors are ranking for. Research them and you'll find niches where you can outrank them and grab the bulk of the traffic.
- Choose long keywords and phrases. The competition for short and precise words is huge. Every business wants to rank first there. But if you use specific phrases, you'll reach higher quality traffic because you're matching the exact intent of the user. For example, if you type "SEO" into Google, you'll come across a Wikipedia article, courses, and general information about SEO. But that's not helpful if you're looking for a WordPress SEO plugin.
Creating content and optimizing a page with the keyword "Best WordPress SEO Plugin" will bring you higher quality traffic that truly meets the user's needs.
How to use keywords for SEO optimization for WordPress?
You've already chosen the right keywords and phrases. You're ready to meet your users' needs. But how do you implement them?
The right page structure is crucial. It needs to be clear and distinct. If it is quickly understood and read by a human, the same goes for Google.
The keyword should be contained in the meta title, meta description and subheadings. This helps search engines understand the structure of your content. Most WordPress SEO plugins will remind you of this step.
Follow a clear structure - a single H1 title followed by H2 and H3 containing the keyword.
Use the keyword in the first sentence of the page - whether it's a service or a blog post.
Place the keyword as alt text on images. This way, the images will show up in Google Images or even in the main Google Search results.
Your goal is to create quality, useful content that meets the needs of your users while improving your site's ranking.
Internal and external links
You can't achieve good SEO Optimization for WordPress without internal and external links.
Link building is one of the most important factors for good rankings. Not only does it help users navigate your site, it also helps search engines find new pages and allocate authority.
Internal links for SEO optimization for WordPress
Internal links connect different pages on your website. For example, if you offer online marketing, you can put a link to your Google Ads advertising page in an article you write.
This helps Google understand the structure of your site and navigate it more easily. Easy navigation leads to higher rankings. High ranking leads to more visitors.
In addition, internal links direct readers to the products and services you offer.
Last but not least, they help new pages to rise faster. If you have a page in the first position, link to an article in the tenth position to help it rank higher.
Why are external links important for SEO
External links are outbound links to other websites. They play an important role in SEO Optimization for WordPress because Google ranks sites that cite authoritative sources as more credible and useful to users.
Conversely, if you've got a backlink from an authoritative website, you'll rank higher.
But how do you get external links to your site? If you're an expert in your niche, create quality content that others will want to cite.
Connect with other sites and become a guest blogger. Post an article with them, including a link to your site.
Publish posts on social media - users who share them will contribute to your WordPress site's SEO.
When you use internal and external links, you improve user and Google navigation. This leads to higher engagement from visitors and better search engine rankings.
Conclusion - How to reach first position with SEO optimization for WordPress
We alluded to it earlier, but it should be emphasized that WordPress SEO is an ongoing process. Plan the improvements you need to make and monitor the results.
From choosing the right theme and SEO plugins, to integrating keywords and links effectively, to speed optimization - every detail matters for your site to rank better.
By creating quality content and incorporating external and internal links, you'll make your site more accessible to visitors and Google.
The results won't be long in coming. Keep an eye on your stats and new trends so you're always aware of what's going on.
Follow these steps and you'll soon get to first position!
Learn more from the world of SEO on our blog!