You've built your WordPress site. Now what? If you're wondering how do I SEO my WordPress site, you're asking the right question. Without proper SEO, your site is basically invisible to the people searching for exactly what you offer.
Here's the thing: SEO isn't some mysterious dark art reserved for tech wizards. It's a series of practical steps that anyone can follow.
What Is SEO and Why Should You Care?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is how you help search engines like Google understand and rank your content. When someone searches for topics you write about, SEO determines whether they find your site on page one or page ten.
Most people never scroll past the first page of search results. If you're not there, you're missing out on traffic, readers, and potential customers.
What This Checklist Will Help You Achieve
This guide walks you through 30 specific steps to optimize your WordPress site from scratch. You'll learn how to set up the technical foundation, connect essential tools, and optimize your content for search engines.
Expect to spend 3-5 hours working through these steps if you're starting fresh. But once you've done it, you'll have a solid SEO foundation that keeps working for you.
How to Use This Checklist Effectively
Follow these steps in order. The early phases set up your technical foundation, which everything else builds on. Skipping ahead might mean you'll need to backtrack later.
Keep a simple spreadsheet or document to track your progress. Check off each step as you complete it. Some steps take five minutes, others might take an hour.
Phase 1: Essential WordPress SEO Foundation
Before you write a single blog post, you need to configure WordPress correctly. These settings affect how search engines see and index your entire site.
Step 1: Check Your WordPress Visibility Settings
WordPress has a setting that can accidentally block search engines from seeing your site. Go to Settings > Reading and scroll down to "Search Engine Visibility."
Make sure the box next to "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" is unchecked. If it's checked, Google can't index your content no matter what else you do.
Step 2: Choose and Install an SEO Plugin
SEO plugins handle the technical stuff automatically and give you tools to optimize individual posts. The three most popular options are Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and All in One SEO.
Yoast is probably the most beginner-friendly with clear instructions. Rank Math offers more features in the free version. All in One SEO sits somewhere in between.
Pick one and install it from Plugins > Add New. Search for the plugin name, click Install, then Activate. Don't install multiple SEO plugins; they'll conflict with each other.
Step 3: Set Up Your Permalink Structure
Permalinks are your URL structure. Go to Settings > Permalinks and select "Post name." This creates clean URLs like yoursite.com/how-to-seo-wordpress instead of yoursite.com/?p=123.
Clean URLs are easier for people to read and remember. They also help search engines understand what your page is about.
Step 4: Configure WWW vs Non-WWW Preference
Your site should be accessible at either www.yoursite.com or yoursite.com, but not both. Having both versions active creates duplicate content issues.
Go to Settings > General and check your WordPress Address and Site Address. They should match and use your preferred format. Most hosting providers handle the redirect automatically, but verify this in your SEO plugin settings.
Step 5: Create and Optimize Your Robots.txt File
The robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your site to crawl. Your SEO plugin typically creates this automatically. In Yoast, go to SEO > Tools > File Editor to view it.
For most beginners, the default settings work fine. Just verify the file exists by visiting yoursite.com/robots.txt in your browser.
Phase 2: Connect Your Site to Essential SEO Tools
Free tools from Google and Microsoft help you monitor how search engines see your site and track your traffic. Setting these up takes maybe 30 minutes total.
Step 6: Set Up Google Search Console
Google Search Console shows you which keywords bring traffic to your site, how you rank, and any technical issues Google finds.
Create an account, add your site, and verify ownership. Most SEO plugins offer a verification method. In Yoast, go to SEO > General > Webmaster Tools and paste your verification code.
After verification, submit your sitemap (we'll cover this in Step 8). This helps Google discover all your pages faster.
Step 7: Install Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics tracks who visits your site, what they read, and how they found you. Create an account, set up a property for your site, and get your tracking code.
You can add the code manually to your theme's header, but plugins like Site Kit by Google make it easier. Install the plugin and connect your Google account.
Step 8: Generate and Submit Your XML Sitemap
Your SEO plugin automatically creates an XML sitemap listing all your pages. In Yoast, it's at yoursite.com/sitemap_index.xml. In Rank Math, check the plugin settings for the exact URL.
Copy this URL and submit it in Google Search Console under Sitemaps. This tells Google about all your content in one shot.
Step 9: Set Up Bing Webmaster Tools
Bing Webmaster Tools works like Google Search Console but for Bing and Yahoo searches. It takes five minutes to set up and can import your data from Google Search Console.
While Bing has less traffic than Google, it's still worth capturing that audience. Plus, Bing's tools sometimes catch issues Google misses.
Phase 3: Optimize Your WordPress Site Structure
How you organize your site affects both user experience and SEO. A clear structure helps visitors find content and helps search engines understand your site's hierarchy.
Step 10: Create SEO-Friendly Site Navigation
Your main menu should include your most important pages and categories. Keep it simple with 5-7 top-level items. Go to Appearance > Menus to build your navigation.
Use descriptive labels that tell visitors what they'll find. "Services" is better than "What We Do." "Blog" is clearer than "Insights."
Step 11: Optimize Your Homepage for SEO
Your homepage is often your most visited page. Use your SEO plugin to set a compelling title tag (what shows in search results) and meta description.
The title should include your main keyword and clearly state what your site offers. Keep it under 60 characters so it doesn't get cut off in search results.
Step 12: Configure Category and Tag Settings
Categories organize your content into broad topics. Tags are more specific keywords. Use categories sparingly (5-10 max) and be strategic with tags.
In your SEO plugin settings, you can choose whether to index category and tag pages. For most blogs, indexing categories makes sense, but you might want to noindex tags to avoid thin content issues.
Step 13: Set Up Essential Pages
Every site needs an About page, Contact page, and Privacy Policy. These pages build trust with visitors and search engines.
Your About page should explain who you are and why you're qualified to write about your topic. The Contact page makes it easy for people to reach you. Privacy Policy is legally required in many places and shows you're legitimate.
Step 14: Choose an SEO-Friendly WordPress Theme
Your theme affects site speed, mobile responsiveness, and code quality. All three matter for SEO. Look for themes that are lightweight, regularly updated, and have good reviews.
Popular options like Astra, GeneratePress, and Kadence are built with performance in mind. Avoid themes packed with features you don't need; they slow down your site.
Phase 4: Master On-Page SEO for Your Content
On-page SEO is how you optimize individual posts and pages. This is where your SEO plugin really shines, giving you tools to improve each piece of content.
Step 15: Conduct Basic Keyword Research
Before writing, figure out what people are actually searching for. Free tools like Answer The Public and Google's autocomplete show you real questions people ask.
Type your topic into Google and look at the "People also ask" section. These are related questions you can answer in your content.
Step 16: Optimize Your Post Titles and Headlines
Your title tag (what shows in search results) can differ from your H1 heading. Use your SEO plugin to set both. Include your main keyword near the beginning of the title.
Make titles specific and compelling. "How to Fix WordPress Login Errors" beats "WordPress Problems" every time.
Step 17: Write Effective Meta Descriptions
The meta description is the snippet that appears under your title in search results. It doesn't directly affect rankings, but it influences whether people click.
Write 150-160 characters that summarize what readers will learn. Include your keyword naturally and make it sound appealing.
Step 18: Use Header Tags Correctly
Use one H1 tag per page (usually your title). Break up content with H2 subheadings for main sections and H3 tags for subsections.
This hierarchy helps readers scan your content and helps search engines understand your page structure. Include keywords in some headings, but keep them natural.
Step 19: Optimize Images for SEO
Before uploading images, rename files with descriptive names. "wordpress-seo-checklist.jpg" is better than "IMG_1234.jpg."
Add alt text to every image describing what it shows. This helps visually impaired users and gives search engines context. Compress images using plugins like ShortPixel to keep file sizes small.
Step 20: Implement Internal Linking Strategy
Link to other relevant posts on your site. This keeps readers engaged longer and helps search engines discover your content.
When you publish a new post, go back to older related posts and add links to the new one. Use descriptive anchor text that tells readers what they'll find.
Step 21: Add Schema Markup
Schema markup helps search engines display rich snippets like star ratings, recipe cards, or FAQ sections in search results.
Your SEO plugin probably includes schema options. In Rank Math, you can add FAQ schema directly in the editor. This can increase your click-through rate from search results.
Phase 5: Technical SEO Essentials
Technical SEO ensures search engines can crawl and index your site efficiently. These factors also affect user experience, which indirectly impacts rankings.
Step 22: Improve Your Site Speed
Slow sites frustrate visitors and rank lower. Install a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache to serve static versions of your pages.
Test your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights. It'll show specific issues to fix. Common improvements include optimizing images, minimizing CSS and JavaScript, and using a content delivery network.
Step 23: Ensure Mobile Responsiveness
More than half of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at your mobile site for ranking.
Test your site on actual phones and tablets. Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to catch issues. Most modern WordPress themes are responsive by default, but always verify.
Step 24: Install an SSL Certificate
SSL certificates encrypt data between your site and visitors, changing your URL from http:// to https://. Google considers HTTPS a ranking signal.
Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt. Check your hosting control panel or contact support to enable it. After installation, update your WordPress and Site Address in Settings > General to use https://.
Step 25: Fix Broken Links and 404 Errors
Broken links create a poor user experience and waste search engine crawl budget. Install a plugin like Broken Link Checker to find and fix dead links.
Check Google Search Console for 404 errors. If you've deleted pages, set up 301 redirects to send visitors to relevant content instead.
Step 26: Optimize Your Database
WordPress stores everything in a database that can get cluttered with post revisions, spam comments, and transient data. Use a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean it up.
Run database optimization monthly to keep your site running smoothly. Always back up your database before optimizing, just in case.
Phase 6: Pre-Launch SEO Checklist
Before you announce your site to the world, run through these final checks to catch any issues you might have missed.
Step 27: Run a Complete SEO Audit
Use free tools like Seobility or your SEO plugin's built-in audit feature to scan your entire site. These tools check for common issues like missing alt text, duplicate content, or slow pages.
Don't panic if you see a long list of issues. Focus on fixing critical problems first, then work through medium and low-priority items.
Step 28: Test Your Site on Multiple Devices
Open your site on different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and devices (phone, tablet, desktop). Make sure everything displays correctly and all links work.
Ask friends or family to test it too. Fresh eyes often catch things you've overlooked.
Step 29: Verify All SEO Plugin Settings
Go through your SEO plugin's settings one more time. Confirm your sitemap is generating correctly, social media tags are set up, and you haven't accidentally noindexed important pages.
Check that your homepage, about page, and key content pages all have optimized titles and descriptions.
Step 30: Create a Content Publishing Schedule
SEO isn't a one-time task. Plan to publish new content regularly. Even one quality post per week is better than nothing.
Create a simple editorial calendar with topics, keywords, and target publish dates. Consistency matters more than volume.
Final Pre-Launch Checklist
- Search engine visibility is enabled in WordPress settings
- SEO plugin is installed and configured
- Permalink structure is set to Post name
- Google Search Console and Analytics are connected
- XML sitemap is submitted to search engines
- SSL certificate is installed and working
- Site loads quickly on mobile and desktop
- All essential pages are created and optimized
- Images have descriptive filenames and alt text
- Internal links connect related content
Maintaining Your WordPress SEO After Launch
Launching your site is just the beginning. SEO requires ongoing attention to maintain and improve your rankings.
Monitor Your Rankings and Traffic
Check Google Search Console weekly to see which keywords are bringing traffic. Look for pages that rank on page two (positions 11-20) and optimize them to push into the top 10.
Google Analytics shows which content resonates with your audience. Double down on topics that perform well.
Regular SEO Maintenance Tasks
Set up a maintenance routine to keep your SEO healthy:
- Weekly: Check Search Console for errors, publish new content, update old posts with new information
- Monthly: Review analytics, fix broken links, optimize database, update plugins and themes
- Quarterly: Run full SEO audit, review and update keyword strategy, analyze competitor sites
Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid
Watch out for these beginner mistakes that can hurt your rankings:
Keyword stuffing makes content unreadable and triggers spam filters. Use keywords naturally, not in every sentence.
Duplicate content confuses search engines. Don't copy content from other sites or republish the same post multiple times.
Ignoring mobile users is a huge mistake. Always test on phones before publishing.
Buying backlinks or using link schemes can get your site penalized. Focus on creating content people want to link to naturally.
When to Consider Advanced SEO Strategies
Once you've mastered these basics and have been publishing consistently for 6-12 months, you might be ready for more advanced tactics.
Signs you're ready to level up include ranking on page one for several keywords, getting steady organic traffic, and having a solid content library of 50+ posts.
Advanced strategies include building high-quality backlinks, creating content clusters around pillar pages, implementing advanced schema markup, and optimizing for featured snippets.
But honestly? Most beginners see the best results by focusing on the fundamentals in this checklist and publishing great content consistently. Master the basics before chasing advanced tactics. For more in-depth resources and advanced strategies, explore our AI WordPress SEO category.
