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WordPress SEO Quick-Start Guide: Three Key Strategies For Success
WordPress SEO Quick-Start Guide: Three Key Strategies For Success
Familiar with the terms “keywords” and “keyphrases?” They play a critical role in SEO-friendly content creation on WordPress.

On-page WordPress SEO affects the content you create for individual WordPress pages, including articles, blog posts and product pages, and how that page information is structured.

In a nutshell, on-page SEO builds specific keywords or phrases into several elements of individual website pages. Called “keyword optimization,” this WordPress SEO strategy helps search engines understand the intent of a page and, in turn, rank it high in search results for optimized keywords and related phrases.

Here’s how beginners and seasoned users alike can tackle on-page WordPress SEO:

1. Begin With SEO Keyword Research

This uncovers the keywords and phrases people use when searching online for information, products and services. Since optimizing for high-volume keywords can dramatically increase website traffic and drive new business, SEO keyword research should top any SEO checklist. Keywords Everywhere, Semrush and Ahrefs offer a range of keyword research tools.

Screenshot of Semrush Keyword Magic Tool

Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool provides a gold mine of useful data for both quick and extensive keyword research.

2. Optimize Existing WordPress Content

Applying keyword optimization as you build a new WordPress website or update existing content can improve search engine rankings from day one. Incorporating keywords and phrases into content isn’t difficult, but you don’t want to overdo it. WordPress SEO plugins Yoast and Rank Math help you find the perfect keyword balance.

3. Optimize Existing WordPress Page Elements

All WordPress page and post formats use page titles (H1), title tags (H2 and H3), image data and URL permalinks. Each of these elements can be optimized for specific keywords without WordPress SEO plugins. However, plugins such as Yoast and Rank Math make the job easier and provide SEO quality ratings and recommendations.

4. Plan and Publish New Optimized Content

Google and other search engines love new content, so use keyword research to craft new ideas for articles, blog posts, products or services that may interest target audiences. Publishing new SEO keyword-targeted content regularly helps boost overall website rankings, plus it gives you more content to push for social media marketing as well.

Screenshot of Rank Math dashboard

WordPress SEO plugins such as Rank Math, above, and Yoast provide a full slate of on-page SEO tools including page content and SEO scores, plus helpful technical and off-page SEO features, too.

5. Add Internal and External Links to Content

When optimizing existing pages and adding new content, be sure to include links to related content on your website and to relevant outside sources. Internal links build topical authority, help search engines index your new content quickly and can revive rankings for existing pages. External links to relevant information on high authority websites can boost rankings, too. Both Yoast and Rank Math include helpful link-tracking tools.