The Ultimate WordPress SEO Checklist for 2024

Search engine optimization remains crucial for WordPress success in 2024. This comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to rank higher and drive organic traffic.

Technical SEO Fundamentals

SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

Your site must use HTTPS. Google has used it as a ranking signal since 2014, and browsers now warn visitors about non-secure sites.

How to check: Look for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

How to fix: Most hosts offer free SSL via Let's Encrypt. Contact your host or use a plugin like Really Simple SSL.

XML Sitemap

A sitemap helps search engines discover and index your content.

Recommended plugins:

Yoast SEO (includes sitemap)

Rank Math (includes sitemap)

XML Sitemap & Google News

Submit to: Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools

Robots.txt Configuration

Your robots.txt file tells crawlers which pages to index.

User-agent: *
Allow: /
Disallow: /wp-admin/
Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml

Permalink Structure

Use descriptive, keyword-rich URLs:

Good: /wordpress-seo-guide/ Bad: /?p=123

Set this in Settings → Permalinks → Post name

On-Page SEO

Title Tags

Include target keyword near the beginning

Keep under 60 characters

Make each page title unique

Include your brand name for homepage

Meta Descriptions

Summarize page content in 155-160 characters

Include a call-to-action

Use target keyword naturally

Make it compelling to click

Header Structure

Use headers hierarchically:

H1: One per page, include main keyword

H2: Major sections

H3-H6: Subsections

Image Optimization

Use descriptive file names (not IMG_001.jpg)

Add alt text describing the image

Compress images (use ShortPixel or Imagify)

Use WebP format when possible

Implement lazy loading

Core Web Vitals

Google's page experience signals are now ranking factors.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Target: Under 2.5 seconds

Improvements:

Optimize server response time

Use a CDN

Preload critical resources

Optimize images

First Input Delay (FID)

Target: Under 100 milliseconds

Improvements:

Minimize JavaScript

Use browser caching

Remove unused plugins

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Target: Under 0.1

Improvements:

Set image dimensions

Reserve space for ads

Avoid inserting content above existing content

Content Optimization

Keyword Research

Tools to use:

Google Keyword Planner (free)

Ubersuggest

Ahrefs

SEMrush

Focus on:

Search volume

Keyword difficulty

Search intent

Content Quality

Write comprehensive content (1,500+ words for competitive topics)

Answer the searcher's question

Use related keywords naturally

Include original insights or data

Update content regularly

Internal Linking

Link to related content on your site

Use descriptive anchor text

Create topic clusters

Fix broken internal links

Local SEO (If Applicable)

Google Business Profile

Claim and verify your listing

Add accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone)

Choose correct categories

Add photos and posts regularly

Respond to reviews

Local Schema Markup

Add LocalBusiness schema to your site for better local search visibility.

Mobile Optimization

Use responsive design

Ensure text is readable without zooming

Space tap targets appropriately

Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test

Monitoring and Maintenance

Essential Tools

Google Search Console: Monitor indexing and performance

Google Analytics: Track traffic and behavior

PageSpeed Insights: Check Core Web Vitals

Screaming Frog: Audit technical issues

Regular Tasks

Check Search Console for errors weekly

Update outdated content monthly

Run technical audits quarterly

Review and refresh keyword strategy annually

Quick Wins Checklist

[ ] Install an SEO plugin (Yoast or Rank Math)

[ ] Submit sitemap to Search Console

[ ] Enable HTTPS

[ ] Optimize images on key pages

[ ] Add meta descriptions to top 10 pages

[ ] Fix broken links

[ ] Improve Core Web Vitals scores

[ ] Add internal links to orphan pages

Need Help?

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