WordPress is an incredible platform. It started with simple blog platform and expanded at a frantic pace. Right now, it has a market share of 31% of all the websites on the internet. Not only that, but it also dominates the CMS space by capturing 59.9% of the CMS market. The next closest rival is Joomla at 3.1% and 6.1% respectively.
So, what’s the reason for its popularity? Well, there are many reasons behind it including its SEO compatibility.
“Is WordPress a good choice for SEO?”
However, before we start, we need to expel one big myth about WordPress SEO.WordPress is not SEO optimized Out of the Box.
Even though you might have heard how WordPress is SEO optimized out of the box, it is not. It is best described as “SEO-Ready.” In reality, there is no SEO optimized CMS. They all are SEO friendly or SEO-ready, and you still need to do a lot of work before it becomes SEO optimized.
The only reason you keep hearing that WordPress is SEO optimized out of the box is that of marketing drives. So, before you start, be clear in your mind, that gives you a platform to set up your SEO and not the other way around. This is important to learn for everyone who uses WordPress or is looking to build a blog.
Is WordPress a Good Choice for SEO?
Yes, it is. It is one of the best choices for SEO. But, what makes it so good? Let’s find out.
Quick Setup and Configuration
WordPress CMS
Even though WordPress is not entirely SEO optimized out of the box, it can be quickly configured to get started. Installing WordPress is a breeze. It only takes five minutes to set it up correctly. Once done, you get the basic framework for a website that can do hundreds of things without any manual coding.
If you are lucky, you can get started with a one-click installation that more web hosting platforms have come up with. Overall, a great way to get started in your journey of SEO dominance.
Basic SEO Out-of-the-Box
Once installed, you will get basic SEO out-of-the-box. This means that your on-page SEO will be on point. That’s a huge boost considering that you don’t have to do anything complex to get the basic features.
Permalinks
Permalinks are part of the WordPress and can be activated through the WordPress settings. And, why not? Google loves content that has permalinks associated with it. You can also take advantage of permalinks by adding the targeted keyword in the URL.
For beginners, the best option is to choose “post name” as it gives them good visibility in Google’s SEO. Once done, your SEO URL will be optimized and ready to use.
Open Source
WordPress Open Source
WordPress is an open-source platform. This opens up a lot of customization aspects for WordPress. It doesn’t matter what WordPress has to offer upfront; you can always customize it according to your requirement. For example, you can try to select website builders for customizing your site. If it doesn’t work for some reason, you also have the option to hire a developer and customize it to its core.
If you want something ready-made, you can always try out hundreds of free and paid SEO-optimized themes and plugins available in the marketplace. Furthermore, its open source nature ensures that new updates and features are regularly released, keeping it updated to new changes in the market.
Title Tags & Headings
The basic content editor lets you set title tags and headings. This means that you can add H1 or H2 tag right from the editor. The title will mostly H1 tag. Your content, on the other hand, should be structured in such a way that it utilizes different headings properly including H3 and H2.
WordPress SEO Plugins
WordPress is the home of the best SEO plugins out there. These plugins are feature-rich and let you be in control. It opens up new ways you can optimize your website further and ensure that it meets the current Google SEO standard. SEO is significant, and it is not possible for an owner to manually add all the required features.
Some of best SEO plugins that we suggest is the Yoast SEO and All-in-One SEO plugins. You can also check out other SEO plugins in the marketplace as well. These plugins can amplify the essential SEO features provided out-of-the-box. For example, it will let you snippet preview, ability to add multiple keywords, create XML sitemaps automatically, Google Preview, Canonical URLs, automate meta tags, and much more!
If you are starting out, we would recommend getting Yoast SEO free version. It offers more than enough features for the beginners. Later on, you can always buy the PRO version of the plugin which you more control and features.
Optimized Content
WordPress Optimized Content
WordPress lets you optimize content with ease. For example, you can bold or underline important keywords. Moreover, you can do internal and external links right from the editor. Uploading images is also a breeze. Also, you can add alt-tags to make images optimized for the SEO. Overall, the most basic SEO elements are baked into WordPress installation, and ready to use right away.
Site Speed
Site speed is a crucial factor when it comes to SEO optimization. A site rapidly starts to lose viewers and SEO ratings if it loads more than 3 seconds. WordPress basic installation is extremely light-weight. You can also install a fast-loading theme and some plugins to make it work within the required site speed. Overall, a primary website with plugins and themes will be fast enough for you to stay competitive.
Google loves faster websites because it reflects upon user experience (UX). This means you need to balance everything to make it work. Don’t expect to load it faster if you use a lousy hosting or install a lot of plugins that prolong the website’s loading time.
To Sum up
WordPress is undoubtedly a great CMS for creating SEO optimized website. It starts minimal and still gives you the ability to add more features and functionality when it comes to SEO. Overall, it is the best choice for starters or even established a business. So, do you agree that WordPress is an excellent choice when it comes to SEO?
Wish you Stupendous WordPressing 🙂
