How Would You Improve The SEO Of A WordPress Website, Both In Terms Of Content And Technical Setup?

If you're asking "how would you improve the SEO of a WordPress website, both in terms of content and technical setup?" — the answer spans far beyond keywords and backlinks. This guide distills actionable strategies into a structured, readable format that covers:

• Critical technical SEO enhancements like sitemaps, speed, mobile usability, and structured data

• Proven content optimization methods focused on authority, engagement, and topical relevance

• The often-overlooked integration between WordPress-specific plugins, core web vitals, and site structure

• Tools, best practices, and configuration guidance on caching, indexability, and performance tuning

• Practical tips for combining your brand's offerings with a future-proof content framework

Whether you're working with a freshly installed theme or managing a mature content hub, this article will help you rethink SEO as a blend of content intelligence and technical precision.

The Foundations of SEO on WordPress: It Starts with Structure

The first place to start with SEO isn’t content—it’s how your WordPress site thinks.

Crawlability, Indexability & Site Health

A search engine won’t rank what it can’t read. Improving crawlability means ensuring search engine bots can access and understand your site. Begin with a well-configured robots.txt file to prevent unwanted pages from being indexed, while allowing free flow to important content.

Next, generate an XML Sitemap and submit it via Google Search Console. WordPress plugins like RankMath or Yoast SEO make this easy. A valid sitemap is crucial for indexability, especially for sites publishing new pages or products frequently.

While managing crawl paths, use canonical tags for duplicate content variants (e.g., tracking URLs or print versions). This signals the authoritative version of a page and prevents ranking cannibalization.

“If you haven’t audited your site in six months, there’s a high chance broken links and 404 errors are silently eroding your SEO.”

Run a full SEO audit using a crawler like Screaming Frog to identify:

• Broken internal links

• 404 errors

• Orphan pages (pages not linked from anywhere)

• Redirect loops or outdated 301 chains

Correcting these issues not only boosts site authority, but helps streamline the user's path to conversion.

Performance Optimization: Beyond Just Speed

While fast-loading websites have long been known to rank better, Google's Core Web Vitals turned site speed into a formalized metric. But improving SEO here involves more than just installing a plugin.

Key Performance Improvements

1. Caching & Minification
   Use tools like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache to enable browser caching, HTML/CSS/JS minification, and deferred loading. This reduces total page size and boosts load times.

2. Compression
   Enable GZIP or Brotli compression via your hosting control panel or .htaccess. Smaller file sizes mean quicker loads without sacrificing quality.

3. Image Optimization
   Integrate automated compression and lazy loading (native in WordPress 5.5+). Consider converting images to WebP format. A plugin like Imagify or ShortPixel can do this on the fly.

4. Content Delivery Network (CDN)
   CDNs like Cloudflare or Bunny.net serve content from edge locations, slashing response times. This is especially critical if you serve international visitors.

5. Reliable Hosting & Fast WordPress Theme
   A sluggish host negates all other optimizations. If your hosting can't handle traffic surges or PHP processing efficiently, even the best theme won’t save you. Our services help migrate and optimize hosting environments for peak SEO performance.

Mobile Optimization: Design for the Real World

“If your site isn’t responsive, your rankings already reflect it.”

With the majority of searches now happening on mobile, Google uses mobile-first indexing. That means the mobile version of your site is the primary one being indexed and ranked.

Responsive Design & Mobile Usability

Choose a responsive theme (like Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence) that adapts fluidly to various screen sizes. Then test your layout using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

Watch out for:

• Tiny font sizes

• Unclickable buttons

• Elements wider than the screen

• Render-blocking resources on mobile

For highly competitive niches, implementing AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) can be a game-changer, although it’s less critical now than in the past.

Also make sure your navigation (including header menus, breadcrumbs, and footer links) is intuitive on small screens. Avoid mega-menus and instead focus on clear site structure and minimal touch interactions.

URL Structure, Metadata & Rich Snippets

An overlooked win in WordPress SEO comes from structuring your content URLs and meta data to align with search behavior.

Permalinks & Descriptive URLs

Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose “Post name” as your default. Avoid long, cryptic slugs. Instead, use descriptive URLs like /how-to-speed-up-wordpress/.

Use hyphens instead of underscores, and keep slugs concise and aligned with your focus keyword. For example:

plaintext

GOOD: /optimize-wordpress-speed BAD: /blog?id=1289&utm=ref

Meta Tags, Schema & Rich Snippets

Tools like Yoast and RankMath allow you to set meta titles, descriptions, and Open Graph tags for each post/page. These directly affect click-through rates from SERPs.

To enhance your content with rich snippets, use schema markup. Whether you’re marking up products, reviews, or how-to guides, structured data helps search engines understand your page, not just crawl it.

Use Schema.org types like:

• Product

• FAQPage

• HowTo

• Article

You only need one plugin or method—avoid duplication, which can lead to indexing issues.

Content That Ranks: SEO Beyond Keywords

Once your technical foundations are stable, it’s time to tackle what most people think SEO is — content. But not just any content. You need people-first content designed to build trust, satisfy search intent, and signal topical authority to Google.

The Shift to People-First SEO

Search engines have evolved to prioritize helpful, original content that provides value from the first click. That means checking off technical boxes like keyword density or word count won't get you far anymore.

“If your content isn’t solving problems or answering questions better than competitors, it doesn’t matter how fast your site is.”

What does people-first content look like?

• Written with clarity, not filler

• Organized for skimming with proper heading tags (H1–H3)

• Updated regularly for content freshness

• Incorporates internal linking to relevant supporting content

• Avoids thin pages or bloated paragraphs that hurt engagement metrics

To evaluate what needs improving, run a free content audit. It’ll help identify which posts have high bounce rates, low time on page, or zero visibility in organic search.

Keyword Research, Mapping & Clustering

The next critical component in your SEO upgrade is strategic targeting — but modern keyword research is about so much more than finding search volume.

Mapping Keywords to Intent

Rather than chase broad, competitive terms, use keyword mapping to align search queries with stages of the buyer’s journey. Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or even Google’s own autocomplete can help here.

For instance, a product like yours could rank for:

• Informational: “How to build an ecommerce funnel”

• Consideration: “Best ecommerce marketing plugin for WordPress”

• Transactional: “Buy WordPress email automation tool”

Now apply those terms to the content clusters on your site. Choose a pillar page for each core topic (like “WordPress SEO”) and surround it with tightly themed articles that interlink — this helps build topical authority.

Tags, Categories & Site Structure

WordPress gives you tags and categories to organize content. Use categories for broad themes and tags for microtopics or features.

Example:

• Category: SEO for WordPress

• Tags: Schema Markup, Permalinks, Site Speed

Maintain a clean taxonomy — bloated tag clouds or overlapping categories confuse both users and search engines. As you expand your blog, keep the site structure shallow and intuitive. Every post should be accessible within 3 clicks from the homepage.

Optimizing On-Page Elements for Discoverability

Great content deserves to be found — and that starts with optimizing on-page SEO elements.

Crafting Clickable Meta Tags

Each page and post should have a unique title tag and meta description. These act like mini ads in the search results. Focus on clarity, relevance, and emotional value.

• Title Tag: Should contain the focus keyword naturally and ideally under 60 characters

• Meta Description: Summarizes the value or takeaway in under 155 characters

Example:

plaintext

Title: “Improve WordPress SEO with These 12 Technical and Content Tweaks” Meta: “Boost your WordPress rankings by fixing crawl issues, speeding up load times, and writing content that actually converts.”

Image SEO: Often Missed, Always Valuable

Every image you upload should be optimized:

• Use descriptive filenames (wordpress-seo-guide.jpg, not IMG_3812.jpg)

• Add alt text that’s concise and contextual

• Resize and compress to reduce load time

• Avoid decorative images where possible (or leave alt text blank)

For ecommerce products, alt text can be a conversion tool too. A product page image with accurate alt text is more likely to show up in Google Images — adding another traffic source to your store.

Internal Linking Strategy That Builds Authority

Many WordPress users create solid content but fail to link it together. That’s like writing chapters of a book without a table of contents.

Why Internal Linking Matters

Internal links help Google:

• Discover and crawl new content quickly

• Understand your content hierarchy

• Distribute link equity to key pages

They help users:

• Stay on your site longer

• Navigate topics more deeply

• Find high-value offers or product pages

A good rule of thumb: Link out from every blog post at least three times, and aim to receive three links to every post from elsewhere on your site. Tools like LinkWhisper or internal SEO services can automate some of this at scale.

Use Descriptive Anchor Text

Avoid vague links like “click here” or “read more.” Use anchor text that describes the destination clearly.

Instead of:

markdown

[Click here to learn more](https://easyecommercemarketing.com/)

Use:

markdown

[Explore our WordPress SEO services](https://easyecommercemarketing.com/)

This helps both readers and Google understand the content’s context and relevance.

Fixing the Forgotten SEO Traps

Sometimes it's not what you do — but what you’ve forgotten to undo.

Avoid These Common Pitfalls

• Duplicate Content: Use canonical tags and prevent indexing of archives or search result pages.

• Thin Pages: Combine or remove posts under 300 words that have little SEO value.

• Noindex Important Pages: Check that staging sites or critical posts aren't blocked by a noindex tag.

• Unoptimized Pagination: Large category archives should implement pagination SEO properly (rel=next/prev).

• Forgotten Redirects: Ensure deleted pages are routed via 301 redirects to relevant content.

• URL Parameters: Tag filters, search queries, and UTM links can confuse bots — manage them in Search Console.

• Multilingual SEO: If you serve content in multiple languages, implement hreflang tags to prevent duplication.

Automating and Maintaining SEO Over Time

So you've optimized your WordPress site, cleaned up technical issues, improved your content strategy, and implemented internal links — now what? SEO isn't a set-it-and-forget-it game. Sustained performance depends on ongoing analysis, maintenance, and smart automation.

Monthly SEO Workflows That Keep You Competitive

Staying ahead in search means being proactive. Here’s a simple monthly checklist you can follow:

SEO Health & Technical Checks

• Run a site audit with tools like Sitebulb or Screaming Frog

• Recheck Google Search Console for new crawl errors or indexing issues

• Monitor Core Web Vitals performance via PageSpeed Insights

• Scan for broken links and expired redirects

• Confirm all new content is included in the XML sitemap

Content Performance & Optimization

• Review top-performing pages for content freshness opportunities

• Identify declining pages using Google Analytics traffic trends

• Add internal links from high-traffic posts to underperforming ones

• Update meta descriptions and title tags to improve CTR

• Validate schema markup and ensure rich snippets are showing properly

Keyword & Visibility Tracking

• Re-map keywords for new content ideas

• Evaluate competition for your focus keywords

• Use keyword tools to discover questions or long-tail opportunities you’ve missed

• Check keyword cannibalization: Are multiple pages competing for the same query?

Smart Plugin Stack (But Don’t Overdo It)

While plugins make WordPress incredibly flexible, too many can hurt site speed, introduce security vulnerabilities, or cause compatibility issues. Here's a lean stack that covers most SEO needs:

• Yoast SEO / RankMath / All-in-One SEO (choose only one)

• WP Rocket for caching, compression, and minification

• Imagify / ShortPixel for image optimization

• Schema Pro for structured data

• Redirection to manage 301s and fix orphaned links

• Broken Link Checker (only enable during audits — it’s heavy on resources)

If you're unsure about what you need, our tailored SEO services help streamline your plugin setup for maximum performance with minimum bloat.

Turning SEO Into Ecommerce Revenue

It’s easy to obsess over rankings, but remember: traffic means nothing if it doesn’t convert. For ecommerce, SEO’s role isn’t just discovery — it’s qualified discovery.

Here’s how to align SEO with sales:

1. Optimize Product Pages

Ensure every product page contains:

• A clear, keyword-optimized title tag

• Descriptive meta description with a unique selling point

• High-quality product images with alt text

• Trust-building elements: reviews, FAQs, schema markup

• Contextual internal links from blog posts or comparison guides

2. Use Blog Content to Solve Pre-Purchase Questions

Rather than create blog content for the sake of it, design articles around the questions customers ask before buying.

Examples might include:

• “How to choose the right [product category] for your business”

• “What’s the difference between [Product A] vs. [Product B]?”

• “5 common mistakes when buying [product type]”

These are your awareness and consideration stage pieces — and they drive SEO traffic that converts eventually.

3. Build a Funnel Using SEO Landing Pages

Don’t send all traffic to the homepage. Create tailored landing pages targeting:

• Industry use cases

• Competitor comparisons

• Feature highlights

These pages can be SEO-optimized just like blog posts, using content clusters, internal links, and schema.

“SEO done right doesn’t just increase traffic — it reduces customer acquisition cost across your entire funnel.”

Wrapping Up: A Future-Proof Approach to WordPress SEO

To truly answer the question — “How would you improve the SEO of a WordPress website, both in terms of content and technical setup?” — you need to treat SEO as an ecosystem, not a checklist.

Here’s what that ecosystem looks like:

• Technical Foundations: Fast, crawlable, mobile-friendly, and cleanly structured

• Content Strategy: People-first, keyword-driven, organized into logical clusters

• Performance Monitoring: Monthly audits, real-time alerts, plugin hygiene

• Revenue Focus: SEO that aligns with conversions, not just impressions

And remember, the goal isn’t to win on Google. It’s to win with people — Google just happens to be watching.

If you’d like expert support implementing any of these strategies, from technical setup to full SEO management, visit our homepage or explore our services designed specifically for WordPress-based ecommerce brands.

Ready to rank higher, load faster, and sell more?

Start with your free audit today → Get My Free Audit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do I need an SEO plugin if I already understand SEO basics?

Yes, even seasoned SEO professionals benefit from using plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath. These tools automate repetitive tasks (like schema markup and sitemap generation), enforce best practices, and alert you to critical on-page issues — helping you scale SEO efforts efficiently.

2. Is it better to use tags or categories for SEO in WordPress?

Both have SEO value when used properly. Categories help organize broad sections of your content and improve site structure, while tags can highlight specific topics. Avoid over-tagging or creating duplicate tag/category structures, which can dilute SEO signals.

3. How often should I update SEO-optimized content?

There’s no hard rule, but review key pages every 3–6 months. Focus on updating stats, removing outdated advice, expanding with new insights, and refreshing meta tags. Google favors content freshness, especially in fast-changing industries.

4. Does using page builders like Elementor or Divi hurt SEO?

Not directly — but heavy page builders can introduce bloated code, which slows down your page speed and affects Core Web Vitals. To avoid this, minimize third-party widgets and optimize images and scripts through caching and minification.

5. Can I improve SEO without blogging?

Yes — but it’s harder. Blogging supports topical authority, internal linking, and keyword coverage that static pages alone cannot provide. If blogging isn’t viable, consider publishing case studies, FAQs, tutorials, or customer stories to fill the gap.

6. What’s the ideal URL length for SEO?

Keep it short, descriptive, and keyword-relevant — usually 3–5 words after the domain. Avoid dynamic parameters or unnecessary words. For example:
yoursite.com/improve-wordpress-seo is better than
yoursite.com/seo/how-to-improve-your-wordpress-website-seo-performance-now

7. Should I use noindex tags on tag and category pages?

Only if those pages provide little standalone value. If your category pages are well-structured and optimized with summaries, internal links, and custom descriptions, they can rank well and drive traffic. Otherwise, apply noindex to thin or duplicate pages.

8. How can I track if my SEO changes are working?

Use Google Analytics to monitor traffic growth, bounce rates, and conversions, and Google Search Console to track keyword rankings, CTR, and indexing issues. Document SEO changes and review impact over 30–90 days.

9. Is multilingual SEO possible with WordPress?

Yes — using plugins like WPML or Polylang, along with proper hreflang tags, you can optimize WordPress for multiple languages. Ensure each translated page has unique URLs, localized meta tags, and is included in your sitemap.

10. What is the best way to remove outdated or low-performing content?

You have three options:

• Update it with fresh, valuable information

• Redirect it (301) to a more relevant page if it's obsolete

• Delete it and return a 410 status if it serves no purpose

Avoid keeping low-value content live just for the sake of it — it can dilute your site’s authority.