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WordPress (WP) is king of content management systems. It powers almost one-third of all websites in the digital universe and for good reasons too. Even in its rudimentary form, WP is an excellent and sturdy platform. Using it, you can craft a bespoke website without meddling with code. To take the game to the next level, though, one has to make the most of available themes and plugins.
Namely, optimizing your pages for search engines enables users to find you much easier. It is also a way to foster smooth navigation around the website, which is the key to providing great user experience (UX). So, rest assured that investing in the search for suitable plugins and themes pays dividends and empowers you to drive massive traffic.
Focusing on key features
WP themes are a vital asset to any website. They determine its visual pull, functionality, and ultimately, success. It goes without saying that your choices depend on the type of the site you are running. For instance, websites that publish a lot of content cannot go wrong with themes like MH Magazine. Then again, there are certain features that affect your ranking directly and should always be prioritized.
This is to say that although there are many attractive themes, they do not all offer more than good looks. At the same time, focusing on SEO-friendliness should not inhibit other facets of design, like style choices and features lists. You want to get professional-looking, well-optimized layouts for the website. They enable you to Spark attention and prompt visitors to stay on your site for as long as possible.
The good news is that there is no shortage of customizable, SEO-friendly options out there. Some of them, including paragons like Schema, Crane, and Hestia Pro, are multi-purpose tools capable of building any type of website with stunning results. Some of the main features they offer are unique header designs, parallax scrolling, social media buttons, detailed theme settings, various portfolio layouts, Google Fonts integration, etc.
To narrow down the hunting area, I would also advise you to look for themes that contain navigational aids. They improve website’s functionality and UX. Along the similar lines, custom menu features and versatile widget selection are much-desired functions, for they conveniently direct people to other sections of your digital real estate.
From the looks of it
Furthermore, bear in mind that some themes allow you to tailor a unique look with tools such as drag-and-drop page builders. Utilize them to build landing/inner pages from scratch. Assuming full control over the visual of the website is preferable to just going for pre-built appearance. Likewise, it is recommended to use a wide selection of modules and elements and implement them into design as soon as possible.
Just do not get ahead of yourself. Always assess your needs carefully before taking the plunge. For example, if you seek to employ various ad monetization tactics, make sure the theme you picked has enough locations for displaying adverts. It is also a plus to have a theme that can run ads within your content and on archives. On the other hand, note that there are some non-negotiables. One of them is that your website should load fast. Having users wait for a page to load is a sure way to turn them away.
Similarly, realize that mobile-friendliness now constitutes an integral part of SEO. Mobile searches have dethroned desktop counterparts, and Google has introduced Mobile-First Indexing. This means that you have to ensure your pages render seamlessly across different mobile screen sizes. This is a great way to please both your consumers and the Google. The alternative is not an option— being penalized and losing traffic.
You may already think this is a lot to handle, but do not fret. Should you struggle to overcome the SEO learning curve or make good use of themes, seek guidance, inspiration, and support from best SEO agencies. Hubs connect businesses with trusted professionals who can make short work of any hurdle. There, one can hire seasoned veterans to implement responsive design, optimize load speed, customize the layout, add social modules, etc.
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Plugging SEO holes
When it comes to plugins, one name always pops up – Yoast SEO. It represents the most popular SEO plugin for WP: an essential tool for your arsenal that turns your site into an SEO powerhouse. Some of its handiest features are page analysis, technical WP SEO, and XML Sitemaps functionality. Hence, Yoast practitioners are able to pinpoint deficiencies such as poorly optimized alt tags and meta descriptions in order to and make quick updates.
A nice alternative to Yoast SEO comes in the form of All In One SEO pack. As the name suggests, it is a well-rounded plugin for addressing most SEO challenges webmasters face. It is a breeze to use and even complete novices can easily grasp basic functionalities. Moreover, it has automatic features for finding duplicate content, doing title adjustment, and META tag generation.
Speaking of automation, if you want your sitemap to be created without any fuss, look no further than Google XML Sitemap plugin. Take advantage of it to make it easier for search engines to index your pages. Once the sitemap is in place, it carries out periodic updates and you do not have to lift a finger. Just remember to submit the sitemap URL to Google via Google Search Console.
Covering all the bases
Another invaluable tool that is undergoing a widespread adoption is Google analytics by MonsterInsights plugin. It can help you gain access to Google Dashboard metrics, track outbound and inbound links, dive into demographics, and use API for installation. Perhaps the most valuable is the ability to review Analytics data from the WP dashboard.
Beyond these versatile plugins, there is a multitude of specialized solutions worth checking out, such as Broken Link Checker. While exploring these avenues, do not forget to figure out organic keywords to rank for. There is a slew of plugins that are designed to uncover user search patterns and data according to search volume, number of results, and difficulty level. They should also aid you in choosing what keywords to bid for your advertising campaigns.
So, as you can see, the spectrum of choice is vast and there is a lot of ground to cover. In other words, it is time to do your homework and tool up. Stay up to date with ranking factors that Google uses, as well as algorithm changes. Get familiar with the do’s and don’ts of WP SEO. Cherry-pick your tools of the trade and take your online visibility and website appeal to the next level.
Reaching new ranking heights
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WP is hailed as a platform that packs impressive SEO-friendliness out of the box. Be that as it may, themes and plugins still pose invaluable instruments for enhancing online presence. We have shown you that devoted SEO tools are not in short supply, but also that they are not created equal. Therefore, take your time to cherry-pick solutions that will serve your brand the best.
Of course, you do not have to use them all. You are better off being selective and paying close attention to SEO-specific features like mobile-friendliness, fast loading times, custom settings, etc. You should be able to import these upgrades with just a few clicks and fine-tune visual staples like color, font, and layout. Go ahead, fix technical issues, gather analytics, and obtain insights. Move to the forefront of SERPs and put the best face of your brand forward.
