{"id":12673,"date":"2021-10-13T07:00:04","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/?p=12673"},"modified":"2022-09-05T19:25:10","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:25:10","slug":"basic-seo-practices-for-wordpress-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/basic-seo-practices-for-wordpress-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic SEO Practices For WordPress Sites. Learn more."},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_3-1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"454\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1653573361-e1634034528173.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing - SEO Practices\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1653573361-e1634034528173.jpg 680w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1653573361-e1634034528173-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>One of the motivations for you choosing WordPress as your website\u2019s CMS may be as you have read that it is SEO-friendly straight out of the box. In actual fact, you only have to check out WordPress&#8217; own list of compelling features on their homepage to see that they are very proud that the platform is SEO-friendly.<\/p>\n<p>However, this doesn\u2019t mean that just launching a WordPress website is sufficient to rank at the very top of the SERPs. You still need to know what the correct SEO tactics for a WordPress are that you need to utilise as well as how to implement these. The very good news is that WordPress makes this simple to do and easier for beginners to increase their traffic from <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/how-to-set-up-google-analytics-goals\/\">Google<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The WordPress platform has many features which adhere to SEO best practices to make your life easier. This means that you can focus your efforts on the tasks which make a real difference to your rankings and organic visibility.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>SEO For WordPress<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Adopting WordPress SEO best practices is very important for attracting more traffic to your website. Unfortunately, most SEO for WordPress guides are far too technical for new users to get started. If you are serious about upping your website traffic, then you need to pay close attention to the WordPress SEO best practices.<\/p>\n<p>You may have heard the experts saying that WordPress is SEO friendly. This is actually why a lot of individuals choose WordPress to start up a blog or a website. While WordPress ensures that the code which it generates follows the SEO best practices, there is a lot more you need to do if you want to maximise your SEO efforts.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How To Do SEO On WordPress Website<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Prior to you making any changes to your <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/how-can-website-analytics-drive-business-growth\/\">website<\/a>, it is good idea to see where you are at the moment. There\u2019s a lot to profit from getting it right: you need to run your site on a server with up-to-date software at a web hosting company that provides excellent performance.<\/p>\n<p>So ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On what hardware and software are your websites running?<\/li>\n<li>What is your hosting plan?<\/li>\n<li>Are you utilising a budget shared hosting provider?<\/li>\n<li>Have you made an investment in a dedicated hosting plan at a well-known web host that fine-tuned its servers for use with WordPress?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Vimeo video player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/285084741?autoplay=0&loop=0&autopause=0&color=00adef&portrait=0&byline=1&title=1&controls=1&muted=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h3><strong>Check you\u2019re using suitable hosting<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The suggested hosting plan to run WordPress should include a modern version of PHP, MySQL or MariaDB as well as HTTPS support. It is quite possible to work with older server software however that is not advised. If you check up your site health, you are able to see the technical details of your installation. As well, if you open the dashboard of your hosting provider, you should be able to see what kind of plan you are on.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that paying for good WordPress hosting pays dividends when you\u2019re doing SEO for your WordPress site. Upgrading your web hosting plan is one of the simplest improvements that you can make.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Upgrade To PHP 7.0 Or Higher<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Many of the WordPress sites out there still run on outdated versions of PHP. One look at the WordPress stats shows that around 15% of the websites still run on a PHP edition in the five series, while PHP 7.0 and up have been accessible for years.<\/p>\n<p>Backward compatibility is holding back WordPress as a technology and site owners from getting the most out of their websites. These older PHP versions don\u2019t receive any more security fixes and are therefore gradually more vulnerable to attacks.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Which SEO Plugin Is Best For WordPress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The best WordPress SEO plugins is definitely Yoast. Yoast SEO for WordPress is a popular SEO plugin which allows you to optimise your WordPress website for search engines. It allows you the opportunity to easily add SEO titles as well as descriptions to all posts and pages on your website. Also, you can utilise it to add Open Graph metadata as well as social media images to your articles.<\/p>\n<p>Yoast SEO for WordPress automatically generates an XML sitemap for all your website content which makes it straightforward for search engines to crawl your website. In addition, it helps you easily import your SEO data if you have been using another SEO plugin.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/contact-us\/\">Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>If you are keen to find out more about SEO then you need to do our SEO and Web Analytics Course. Follow this <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/seo-and-web-analytics-course\/\">link<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/seo-and-web-analytics-course\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11381 size-shop_single\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics-600x96.jpg\" alt=\"DSM digital School of Marketing- SEO and Web Analytics\" width=\"600\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics-600x96.jpg 600w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics-300x48.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics-1024x164.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics-768x123.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEO-and-Web-Analytics.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_justify\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"#enquiry\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Enquire Today<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Blog Categories<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/blog\/content-marketing\/\">Content Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/\">Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/cyber-security-blog\/\">Cyber Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/graphic-design-blog\/\">Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/blog\/public-relations\/\">Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/blog\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/social-media-marketing\/\">Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/web-design-blog\/\">Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">You might also like<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"w-html\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/social-media-marketing-blog\/zero-moment-of-truth-benefit-social-media-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Use the Zero Moment of Truth to Benefit your Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/your-complete-guide-to-ppc-marketing-basic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Your Complete Guide to PPC Marketing Basics. Find out more.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/you-can-convey-a-lot-of-meaning-with-just-one-graphic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">You Can Convey a Lot Of Meaning With Just One Graphic<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/would-you-make-a-great-marketing-manager\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Would you make a great marketing manager?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/in-the-press\/win-with-bona-magazine-and-the-digital-school-of-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Win with Bona Magazine and the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/in-the-press\/win-a-digital-marketing-course-valued-at-r12-000\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Win a Digital Marketing Course Valued at  R12 000<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Top Selling COurses<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/courses\/digital-marketing-course\/\">Intermediate Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/courses\/advanced-digital-marketing-course\/\">Advanced Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/courses\/social-media-marketing-course\/\">Intermediate Social media marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/courses\/digital-brand-management-course\/\">Brand Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/courses\/graphic-design-course\/\">Basic Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-6\"><a href=\"\/courses\/advanced-graphic-design-course\/\">Advanced Graphic design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-7\"><a href=\"\/courses\/national-certificate-of-advertising\/\">National Certificate of Advertising<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-8\"><a href=\"\/courses\/national-diploma-of-copywriting-course\/\">National Diploma of Copyrighting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Youtube video player\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cImP9WWJVh4?autoplay=0&controls=1&origin=https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za&loop=0&mute=0\" allowfullscreen=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":950,"featured_media":12674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,264],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-seo-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/950"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}