Top 9 WordPress technical SEO issues to address
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, with over 40{9cb4cb5d2821f2b1413370fa30275c09bf4c340afdba846fc3517d6c4ad3deb7} of websites using it as their platform. While WordPress is known for its user-friendliness and ease of use, it can still present some technical SEO challenges that need to be addressed. In this article, we will cover the top 9 WordPress technical SEO issues to address to improve your website’s search engine rankings.
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Not Using Subheading H2 and H3
One common technical SEO issue with WordPress is not using subheading H2 and H3 tags properly. These tags help search engines understand the structure of your content and the hierarchy of the information you present. Using them correctly also improves the readability of your content, making it more engaging for your audience. To avoid this issue, make sure to use subheading tags in a logical and hierarchical manner.
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Slow Page Load Times
Page speed is a critical factor in SEO rankings, and slow page load times can negatively impact your site’s performance. Some common causes of slow page load times in WordPress include using too many plugins, using large images and videos, and using a slow web hosting service. To improve your page speed, consider optimizing your images and videos, reducing the number of plugins you use, and upgrading your web hosting plan.
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Not Optimizing Images for SEO
Images are an essential component of any website, but they can also slow down your page load times if they are not optimized properly. To avoid this issue, make sure to optimize your images by compressing them, reducing their size, and adding relevant alt tags. Alt tags help search engines understand the content of your images, making it easier for them to index your site correctly.
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Duplicate Content Issues
Duplicate content issues can arise in WordPress when you have multiple versions of the same page or content on your site. This can happen when you have different URLs for the same content, or when you use tags and categories to create multiple versions of the same post. To avoid duplicate content issues, use canonical tags to indicate the original version of your content and avoid using tags and categories excessively.
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Not Using HTTPS
HTTPS is a secure version of the HTTP protocol, and it is essential for website security and SEO. Google has indicated that HTTPS is a ranking factor in search engine rankings, so it’s essential to use HTTPS to improve your site’s visibility in search results. To use HTTPS, you need to install an SSL certificate on your site, which encrypts data between your site and your visitors’ browsers.
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No XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap is a file that helps search engines understand the structure of your website and the content you have. It’s an essential tool for SEO, as it allows search engines to index your site more efficiently and accurately. In WordPress, you can use plugins to create and submit an XML sitemap to search engines like Google.
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No Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are short descriptions of your content that appear in search engine results. They are essential for SEO, as they help search engines understand the content of your site and attract visitors to click on your link. To create meta descriptions, use plugins like Yoast SEO to optimize your content for search engines.
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Broken Links
Broken links can negatively impact your site’s SEO, as they can frustrate your visitors and make it harder for search engines to crawl your site. To avoid broken links, use plugins like Broken Link Checker to identify broken links and fix them promptly.
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Not Using Mobile Responsive Design
Mobile responsiveness is critical for SEO, as more and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet. Google has indicated that mobile responsiveness is a ranking factor in search engine rankings, so it’s essential to use a mobile responsive design to improve your site’s
