WordPress has long been the leading content management system (CMS) globally, with a market share of nearly 65%. Its popularity stems from its user-friendly setup, extensive customization options, and a large community of active supporters. While WordPress is inherently search engine optimization (SEO)-friendly, every WordPress blog has its shortcomings. To enhance SEO, increase traffic, and improve revenue per thousand impressions (RPMs), it is crucial to address specific technical issues. In this article, we will discuss the top five priorities for making your WordPress site technically sound.
1. Setting up Google Analytics 4 before the July deadline
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is set to replace Universal Analytics on July 1, a transition that has been announced for over two years. Despite this, many site owners have yet to migrate to the new system. Although Google will automatically migrate properties from Universal Analytics to GA4, it’s advisable to perform the setup yourself to ensure you are satisfied with the choices made. WordPress users can employ popular plugins like Google Site Kit and Code Snippets to add the tracking code to their site. Refer to the detailed tutorials mentioned below for step-by-step instructions on setting up GA4 with these plugins.
2. Passing Core Web Vitals on WordPress
Core Web Vitals (CWVs) and page speed significantly impact search engine rankings. To ensure that 99 out of 100 WordPress blogs pass CWVs, consider implementing the following recommendations:
Compress all images using tools like Imagify or Shortpixel, aiming for a maximum file size of 200KB.
Avoid using cheap hosting services with “Blue” or “Gator” in their names, and invest in managed WordPress hosting from providers like Big Scoots or Agathon.
Utilize a content delivery network (CDN) such as Cloudflare to store and deliver files from servers located closest to users.
Optimize your site’s performance with a quality caching plugin like WP Rocket, which can eliminate the majority of CSS and JavaScript-related PageSpeed Insights warnings.
Choose a high-quality theme for your site, such as Genesis, Feast, Kadence, or Astra, instead of using free themes that may not offer optimal performance.
Optimize fonts by using system fonts whenever possible, limiting the number of custom fonts, and loading them asynchronously.
Implement pagination for comments, showing newer comments first and limiting the number of comments per page to 20.
By focusing on these strategies, you can effectively reduce page size and optimize the delivery of on-page elements, thereby improving your site’s Core Web Vitals performance.
3. Removing internal permalink redirects
Internal permalink redirects enable the redirection of old permalinks to new ones within your website. This helps maintain SEO value by avoiding broken links and 404 errors, which can negatively impact search engine rankings. To implement internal permalink redirects, you can create redirect rules in your website’s .htaccess file or use plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO. It is essential to update all internal links within content to reflect the new URLs and remove any unnecessary server hops and HTML redirects. By minimizing the number of redirects, you can ensure a smoother flow of PageRank and authority to your site.
4. Fixing link targets
Understanding the correct behavior for link targets is crucial for providing a seamless user experience. According to WCAG 2.1 Guidelines, internal links should open in the same tab, while external links should also open in the same tab, with exceptions. Opening every hyperlink in a new tab can lead to “tab fatigue” for users, particularly when navigating a site on a mobile device. By adhering to best practices and having internal links open in the same tab, you can increase user engagement and accurately track their journey. Consider using the WP External Links plugin to mark links that open in a new tab and inform users about this behavior.
5. Fixing broken links
Broken links can frustrate users and negatively impact crawl quality, which can affect the rankings of internal pages. It is crucial to promptly fix any broken link on your WordPress site. The Broken Link Checker plugin developed by WPMU DEV is a convenient tool that can automatically detect broken links and enable you to fix them efficiently. Additionally, external SEO tools like Semrush, Sitebulb, or Screaming Frog can help identify internal and external 404 and 503 errors. Regularly running these checks will ensure your site remains free of broken links.
By addressing these top five technical SEO issues in your WordPress site, you can enhance its performance, increase organic traffic, and improve search engine rankings. Prioritizing tasks such as setting up Google Analytics 4, passing Core Web Vitals, removing internal permalink redirects,fixing link targets, and addressing broken links will contribute to a technically sound and SEO-friendly WordPress site. Implementing these recommendations will not only benefit your site’s search visibility but also provide a better user experience for your visitors. Stay proactive in monitoring and optimizing your site’s technical aspects to ensure its long-term success in the competitive online landscape.