Search engine optimisation sounds technical, but most of the wins come from getting the basics right. Here are ten things every WordPress website should have in place.

1. An SEO plugin

Rank Math or Yoast SEO make it easy to set page titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps and schema without code.

2. Clear, unique page titles

Each page should have a title that says exactly what it is about, ideally with the main keyword near the start.

3. Helpful meta descriptions

These short summaries appear in search results. Write them for people — they decide whether someone clicks.

4. Clean URLs

Use simple permalinks like /wordpress-maintenance/ rather than /?p=123.

5. One H1 per page and logical headings

Headings help readers scan and help Google understand the structure of your content.

6. Fast loading speed

Speed is a ranking factor and a big part of user experience. Optimise images, use caching and choose good hosting.

7. Mobile-friendly design

Google looks at the mobile version of your site first. It must work perfectly on phones.

8. An XML sitemap in Search Console

Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console so new pages are found quickly, and check for errors regularly.

9. Internal links

Link related pages and posts together. It helps visitors explore and spreads ranking strength across your site.

10. Image alt text

Describe images in a few words. It helps accessibility and image search.

What comes next

Once the basics are in place, focus on publishing genuinely useful content that answers your customers’ questions. That is what builds rankings over time.

Want a technical SEO check-up? Our Speed & SEO service covers all of the above and more.

Further reading

• Google SEO Starter Guide
• Google Search Console