How to optimize the SEO of your WordPress blog?
The WordPress content management system (CMS) is among the most popular tools to create and manage online blogs. But for a website to be visible in the search results of the popular search engines such as Google, you need to focus on its natural SEO. To do this, a few simple techniques can be applied when creating a blog.
What is SEO?
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) refers to the different techniques used to make the content of a website or blog more visible in the search results of search engines. A majority of Internet users use search engines to find information. The search engine offers content that matches the keywords entered.
- For your WordPress blog to be listed high in the search results, its content and its structure must be able to provide specific answers to the search engines.
Optimize the structure of the WordPress blog
Submit a sitemap to search engines
- Create a sitemap, which allows search engines to more easily navigate through the blog.
- Use the XML Sitemap extension to index articles.
- Download the extension from the Extensions section > Add to the dashboard.
- Configure it for the blog.
Defining categories
- Give a readable and clear structure to the blog by setting categories.
- Published articles in the appropriate categories.
- Choose the appropriate terms and keywords.
Linking Articles
- Enriched your published contents, by inserting links to other related articles.
- Some extensions can automatically add links to a reference articles (based on predefined keywords).
- Please do not make an abusive use this techniques in your articles. Too much links will decrease the readability of your articles.
===Permalinks==
- Permalinks, that is to say the URL of the article, are of particular importance. They contain key information about the content of the article.
- Avoid overloading the URL with keywords.
Optimizing your content for SEO
<h1> and <h2> tags
The <h1>, <h2>, <h3> etc can be used to prioritize information for search engines. The <h1> that is by default used for the title of the article on a WordPress blog.
- You can configure this settings in : Appearance > Editor> Select template
- The <h2> to <h6> must be used in the body (text) of your article.
For example:
- <h1> Article Title </ h1>
- <h2> Title Part 1 </ h2>
- <h3> Subtitle Part 1 </ h3>
Optimize your image files for SEO
- Images added to a blog post also contain useful information for search engines.
- Rename photos using keywords relating to the article.
Add extensions to blog
Some extensions can be used to optimized the SEO of your published content on WordPress. Once properly configured these extensions can analyse and provide suggestion on how to optimize the structure of your blog and the articles published.
- These extensions can be installed via Extensions > Add.
- Recommended Addons : SEO by Yoast , All in One SEO pack …
Avoid duplicate content
- Offer content that is specific and unique to blog, even if it implies the complete or partial rewriting of an old article.
- Avoid duplication of pages, repeating keywords…etc
Update the existing content
- By updating existing content on your WordPress blog you also indicate to the search engines that the proposed content is current and still relevant.
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