SEO is the backbone of any successful website and when it comes to WordPress it’s a powerful tool in your arsenal.
But even with all the amazing plugins and features available there are some common SEO mistakes that WordPress users tend to make.
These mistakes can really hurt your rankings and keep you from getting the traffic you deserve. Say Hello To The New MyPressable Dashboard Experience
Let’s Dive Into The Most Common WordPress SEO Mistakes
1. Ignoring Permalinks
It’s all about making your URLs user-friendly and easy for search engines to understand. WordPress Uptime Monitoring: Ensuring Maximum Website Availability
Think of permalinks as your website’s address – the clearer and more informative they are the easier it is for Google to figure out what your content is about.
WordPress comes with default permalinks that are clunky and not optimized so you’ve gotta take the time to change them.
For example instead of having a URL like example.com/?p=123 you can have something like example.com/blog/how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-website. See the difference? The second one is much more descriptive and tells Google exactly what the page is about.
I recommend you spend some time playing around with different permalink structures in the Settings > Permalinks section of your WordPress dashboard. Are You Making These Common WordPress Mistakes?
You’ll find the perfect setup for your site.
2. Skipping Image Optimization
Images are a big deal for SEO and they can also help make your website look fantastic. Maximize Your Agency’s Potential With Automattic and Pressable
It’s not just about adding a pretty picture though. Shared vs. Cloud Hosting: Making the Right Choice for Your Business
You need to optimize those images so they load quickly and help your website rank higher. A Quick Guide to WordPress Multisite Hosting
The first step is to use descriptive alt text for your images. Why WordPress is the Best for Podcast Websites
This text helps search engines understand what the image is about and it’s also important for accessibility especially for visually impaired users. Maximizing Recurring Revenue for WordPress Web Design Agencies
When writing alt text think about what a person who can’t see the image would need to know.
For example instead of just writing “image” you might write “a woman smiling while holding a cup of coffee.” Implementing a Headless WooCommerce Site
Next you’ll want to compress your images.
Large images can slow down your website which can impact user experience and your SEO ranking. 6 Benefits of Hosting Your WordPress Website on the Cloud
There are a ton of great image compression plugins available and I’ve personally found to be a great option.
3. Leaving Broken Links Unchecked
Broken links are like dead ends on your website. Why Pressable Doesn’t Offer Phone Support (and Why That’s a Good Thing)
They lead users to a 404 page which is super frustrating and can make your website look unprofessional. Why WordPress is the Best for Podcast Websites
These broken links also confuse Google causing it to crawl your site less efficiently. Advanced WooCommerce Security Strategies
Think of it as a broken street sign: Google can’t find its way around your site properly!
Luckily fixing broken links is relatively simple. SEO with WordPress: Why It Matters
You can use a plugin like Broken Link Checker which automatically scans your entire website for broken links.
It’ll tell you exactly which links are broken and even help you fix them or remove them.
4. Neglecting Internal and External Linking
Think of links as the highways connecting different parts of your website and linking you to other useful resources. Setting up WordPress on Laravel Homestead
Internal linking is crucial for SEO as it helps Google understand the structure of your site and the relationships between your pages.
When adding internal links make sure they’re relevant to the content you’re linking to.
If you’re writing a blog post about how to start a WordPress website you might link to your resources page for helpful tools or to a blog post about choosing a WordPress hosting provider. Developers, Be a Bada$$ with WP-CLI
External links are just as important. Shared vs. WordPress Hosting: Making the Right Choice
They help establish credibility and show Google that your content is reliable. Harnessing the Power of WordPress and AI
When linking to external sites make sure they’re reputable and provide valuable information.
Remember too many external links can dilute the authority of your website so use them strategically. How Many WordPress Plugins Is Too Many
5. Not Understanding the Importance of Headings (H1 H2 H3 etc.)
Headings are your website’s roadmap.
They guide users through your content and help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your pages.
Use the H1 heading for the main topic of your page and use H2 H3 and so on for subheadings. The Best Slack Channels for Designers
This structure makes your content easier to read and helps Google understand the different sections of your page. How Much Traffic Can WooCommerce Handle?
I also recommend using your primary keywords in your H1 and subheadings but don’t go overboard – keep it natural.
6. Ignoring XML Sitemaps
Imagine your XML sitemap as a detailed map of your entire website. Choosing Between PHP and JavaScript: All You Need to Know
It helps search engines understand the structure of your site and easily find all your important pages. What is WordPress and Why It’s the Best Choice for Building Your Business Website
Think of it as showing Google the way around your website so it can properly explore and index all your content. What to Do When Your Server is Down: Essential Troubleshooting Tips
This is one of the simplest SEO tasks you can do. Ultimate WooCommerce SSL Setup Guide
7. Skipping Schema Markup
Schema markup is like adding a special set of instructions to your website helping search engines understand the content on your pages.
It can help you show up with rich snippets in search results which can make your website stand out and attract more clicks. Shared vs. WordPress Hosting: Making the Right Choice
For example if you have a product page schema markup can help you display the product’s price ratings availability and other important information directly in the search results. Five emails to send that will grow your WooCommerce revenue
8. Letting Your Content Go Stale
Content is king and it’s essential to keep your content fresh and relevant. 7 Places to Include SEO Keywords on Your Website
Google loves fresh content so if you’re not updating your posts regularly you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to improve your SEO. A Guide to Understanding WordPress Architecture
Take the time to revisit your older blog posts update them with new information and add fresh insights.
This shows Google that your website is active and reliable and it helps you stay ahead of the competition.
9. Not Updating Your Themes and Plugins
Keeping your WordPress themes and plugins updated is crucial for security and performance.
Outdated themes and plugins are vulnerable to security threats and can slow down your website. Best Practices for Implementing a Scalable WordPress Site
It’s a good practice to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as possible.
10. Forgetting About Website Backups
Website backups are like your insurance policy.
If your website gets hacked or crashes a backup can help you restore your website to its previous state minimizing data loss. How to Set Up a WordPress Test Site
There are a ton of great backup plugins available like which can help you schedule regular backups and keep your website safe.
11. Not Optimizing Page Speed
Website speed is a crucial ranking factor and users are impatient. How to Accurately Measure Network Performance
A slow-loading website can make visitors abandon your site impacting your SEO and user experience. How to Enable Twitter Website Cards for More Social Traffic
There are plenty of things you can do to improve your site speed like optimizing images using a caching plugin and choosing a lightweight theme. Why WordPress is the Best for Podcast Websites
12. Overusing Plugins
WordPress is known for its amazing plugin library but too many plugins can weigh down your website making it slow and prone to errors. How to A/B Test Feature Images in WordPress
If you have a ton of plugins installed go through them and see if you really need all of them.
If you can achieve the same functionality with fewer plugins do it! A Review from The WP Minute: Why Choose Pressable for Managed WordPress Hosting
13. Ignoring Mobile-Friendliness
Mobile devices are the primary way people access the internet so it’s more important than ever to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Google penalizes websites that are not mobile-friendly and it can hurt your search rankings. Our 5 Favorite WordPress Theme Builders
Make sure your website looks great and works flawlessly on all devices from smartphones to tablets and desktops. How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting
14. Wasting Your Crawl Budget
Every website has a crawl budget which is the number of pages Google can crawl and index within a specific time frame.
If your website has a lot of low-quality content like pages with minimal text or duplicate content you’re wasting your crawl budget. How to Create a Staging Site for WordPress
Focus on creating high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. 5 Emerging Web Design Trends for WordPress Websites
15. Not Understanding Tag and Category Pages
WordPress allows you to categorize your blog posts with tags and categories which can help organize your content and make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
However they can also lead to SEO problems if they’re not managed correctly. The Extra ‘E’ in E-E-A-T
Too many tags and categories can create thin content pages which can slow down Google’s crawl and impact your search rankings. A Guide to Custom Gutenberg Blocks
Be selective with your tags and categories and make sure they’re relevant to your content. PHP Versions and Why They Matter
16. Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing is a big no-no in SEO.
While keywords are important cramming too many keywords into your content can make it look spammy and hurt your rankings. How to Update DNS Settings When You Switch WordPress Hosting Providers
Instead of focusing on keyword density write high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience and naturally incorporates your keywords. WordPress Database Optimization: Guide to Enhancing Site Speed
17. Ignoring Search Intent
Search intent is what people are trying to achieve when they search for a particular term.
For example someone searching for “best WordPress hosting” is probably looking for a recommendation while someone searching for “WordPress login” is trying to access their website. 10 SEO Plugins and Tools for WordPress
Understanding search intent is crucial for creating content that ranks well. What the Best WooCommerce Themes Have In Common
18. Reliance on SEO Plugin Scores
SEO plugins like Yoast can be helpful but don’t rely too heavily on their scores and recommendations.
Remember SEO is a complex process that involves many factors and those scores are just one part of the equation.
19. Not Addressing Duplicate Content
Duplicate content can confuse Google and hurt your rankings. Are You Making These Common WordPress Mistakes?
Make sure you’re not publishing the same content on multiple pages of your website or across different platforms.
20. Failing to Optimize for Social Sharing
Social media is a great way to promote your content and drive traffic to your website. WordPress Database Optimization: Guide to Enhancing Site Speed
Make sure your content is easy to share and looks good on social media platforms. Introducing MainWP’s New Extension for Pressable
Optimize your social media meta descriptions and images for maximum visibility. Grow your Web Design Business with New Services in 2024
Final Thoughts
SEO is an ongoing process and it takes time and effort to get your WordPress website ranking well in Google. 7 Popular eCommerce Plugins for WordPress
Don’t be discouraged if you’re not seeing results right away. Starting Out as a WordPress Freelancer in 2024
By avoiding these common SEO mistakes you can set yourself up for success and start getting more traffic to your website. How to Backup WordPress Files and Databases
Just remember the key to SEO is to always prioritize creating valuable content that is relevant to your target audience. The Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Best WooCommerce Hosting for Your Online Store