WordPress blogs are search engine friendly. However, adding and changing elements can render the site very search engine unfriendly. Here are tips on how to press for top rank, not just avoid being ranked low. By far the simplest method of implementing many SEO best practices for a WordPress blog is by using plugins, and plugins of note are referenced herein. If you do not have a WordPress blog this is a good time to start one, or transfer an existing one. Transferring is simple. The fastest way to transfer a website from one server to another is via secure shell. Making good use of tips and tools, like link popularity and SSH web hosting, WordPress is at the forefront when it comes to SEO.
Duplicate content
The default setup leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to search engine optimization. Content from pages is labeled duplicate by search engines because that content displays in the RSS feed. The same content is also present in three other pages, category, monthly archive and posts unique. Choose the “Summary” option under Options, Reading, Syndication Feeds to eliminate duplicate content in the RSS feed.
One can also use robots.txt, disallowing search engine spiders access to the RSS feed and trackback, avoiding duplicate content. Changing the robots.txt file can result in unexpected behavior for some. Backing up the file prior to altering its contents is a good safety measure. The file can be used to stop spiders from crawling the RSS feed, category and archive pages.
Have a static sitemap
A sitemap indexes important pages, and there are plenty of online sitemap generators that make building a static sitemap ridiculously easy. Two of the more noted sitemap generators are the Sitemap Generator Plugin for WordPress, and the Google XML Sitemaps plugin.
Unique content matters
Visitors do not search for duplicate content at your site; they want new ideas. Regular updates of fresh, interesting information or entertainment is what keeps users coming back. It also urges them to alert friends who enjoy that type of content, whatever it may be. Fresh articles or posts keep a site “alive.” Search engine spider algorithms detect regurgitated content and those infractions impact ranking negatively.
Separate title tags and post titles
In a word, the free WordPress plugin SEO Title Tag does the heavy lifting. The plugin is free under the GPL, by the SEO specialists at Covario. SEO Title Tag allows for greater control over meta tags, and effectively stops the interchangeability of title tags and post titles for every title tag on the site. It is important for search engines to crawl as much of the site as possible. Proper navigation among links aids this end.
Linking effectively
Higher ranking sites linking to yours is the kind of linking that matters most. Great content is a big factor in generating a positive online reputation. WordPress takes care of the rest by using trackbacks, pingbacks, and blogrolling tactics to help build an online reputation.
The WordPress Plugin Directory contains 13,806 plugins at the time of this writing. They can be sorted by newest, recently updated, and most popular. Downloaded over 7 million times, the “All in One SEO Pack” is a favorite. It generates meta tags without fuss, and sports a built-in API for extended usefulness. Beginners can use this plugin easily. Advanced users can tweak each and every setting to their hearts’ desire.
In summary, being noticed by search engines is a must for thriving in cyberspace. WordPress makes this task easier with the Plugin Directory, which contains thousands of tools. Reputable sites linking to yours effectively boosts rank, and displaying fresh, interesting content with regularity generates buzz. Watch out for duplicate content mishaps via RSS, and trim code where you can. See you at the top of the search engine results.