WordPress SEO Tutorial for Beginners (Search Engine Optimization Basics)
- August 24, 2022
- Ahrefs
In this tutorial, you’ll learn the basics of WordPress SEO and how to use its built-in features in combination with the Yoast SEO plugin.
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) which was commonly used as a blogging platform. But it has developed into much more than that.
It is now used by millions to create all sorts of websites from ecommerce websites to business websites and more.
WordPress SEO is no different than just regular search engine optimization. WordPress is a tool that makes traditional SEO techniques and strategies easier to implement and technically sound.
In this tutorial you’ll learn:
1. How to choose a WordPress theme without compromising technical SEO.
2. Whether you should choose HTTP or HTTPS as well as www vs. non-www versions.
3. The “optimal” permalink structure and how to set it up.
4. Basic plugin configuration for Yoast SEO.
5. The difference between posts and pages.
6. What the title and custom URL features mean from an SEO perspective.
7. On-page optimization best practices with the WYSIWYG editor
8. On-post/page Yoast SEO settings.
9. Using pages to manipulate your URL structure.
This is the first video in a two-part series. The next video will cover advanced SEO techniques using WordPress.
Additional Resources:
Best On-Page SEO Techniques ►
On-Page SEO Study ►
Timestamps:
1:15 How to select a WordPress theme and domain versions
2:55 Set up the “optimal” permalinks structure
4:43 How to create a post and formate it with the WYSIWYG editor
7:36 Set up the on-post/page Yoast SEO settings.
8:44 Use pages to manipulate your URL structure.
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thanks, ahrefs
I have a question about ( 3: 53) SEO. I have the Yoast SEO plugin but I don’t see the SEO option in the sidebar as shown in the video. where can I find the XML Site map?
Damn! So much value in 1 video! Thanks a lot! 🔥
Thanks for watching!
-Helen
I like the way you do the tutorial, your great anyway I learn a lot, thanks for the information that you share.
Thanks!
-Helen
Very simple explanation on creating pot content and the settings thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
-Helen
Thank you, Sam! I’m a newbie and you just unwrapped what seemed to me like a deep tunnel of confusion. Your directions were easy to follow and I am really grateful!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing this informative and articulate video.
You’re welcome!
HI, thank you so much for sharing this video! 👍 Just a quick question, if I’m writing a Chinese blog post, should I use Chinese words in the permalink/slug or translate into English?
@Ahrefs Thanks for the reply 😄
I’d probably use English in the slug.
– SQ
Your videos are truly the best on YouTube, not only do you make SEO easier to understand but you show concrete examples of the tool. More videos about SEO content writing please 🙂
@Ahrefs already watched it 👍😄
We published one recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdZ0dUu7VQ
– SQ
Thank you for great content. I have a training company website where our all courses and their details are in woocommerce product pages/descriptions. We have various categories under which these courses fall but no separate pages for categories or even for courses. I am confused about the difference between WordPress pages and woocommerce pages. May you please elaborate if course description on WordPress page are more SEO friendly or we can continue woocommerce product descriptions.
Thanks in advance
Isn’t WooCommerce built on/integrated with WordPress? I don’t think they’re necessarily more “SEO-unfriendly” than WP.
– SQ
Doing the right things and implementing best practices right from the very start of your website is the first and one of the best things anyone should do when planning to run a website online to achieve success
👍
Hi, i love your tutorials. should you index categories & tags in yoast seo or not ? i heard different oppinions, what is yours ? Thank you
Personally, I ignore categories and tags; they never really get meaningful rankings or traffic due to their constantly changing nature and limited content density (besides the titles and short descriptions of posts).
Categories are fine for the most part. Tags — personally, I wouldn’t.
-Sam
I watch this video on 2020, find it very useful. The visualization effect is a top-notch, and the long video description is in fact very helpful! It helps when rewatching the video on some other time and it even gave me a sense of accomplishment LoL.
Guntar, I am glad to know that people use our long video descriptions =) We try to summarize the most important aspects of the video there, so that you can go over it real quick to refresh things if you missed anything =)
– Max
Hey Sam!
Thanks for the tutorial for WordPress! I can’t wait to start using your tips for my new blog. I’ve got a question – on WordPress, I’m not using the Business or eCommerce plans. However, those versions of the plans allow for SEO plugins to be installed. Is there a workaround for this? How do I do SEO for my blog?
Not familiar with wordpress.com offers and flexibility. You may check how to perform certain changes and updates with their support team. Or just get some hosting account and install a WordPress theme there, so there will be no limitations to your SEO preferences.
– Max
Can you move your laptop to the right a little bit more
🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
Lol
Learnt so much from this in just 10 minutes. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Ivan! Glad you were able to pick up some new tips 🙂
Hi! Your work is amazing! I came here to check it after you posted the link on other website and I am impressed! I am not such an experienced video editor, but you def got a subscriber 🙂
PS. banana.
Thanks, Fernanda! Glad you’re enjoying our videos and welcome to Ahrefs TV 🙂
Hi Sam, I always set my posts with the blog as the primary category and then tick the other category box that the article belongs to. My question is should i put the article with the category it belongs to as the primary category and the blog as the secondary or does it not make any difference. Great video as usual 🙂
Unfortunately this question is an “it depends” kind of question. It really depends on whether you’re indexing your category pages, using breadcrumbs, trying to rank your category pages etc. It’s best that you contact a technical SEO on site structure/architecture for something specific to your website 🙂
This is a huge help! Thank you so much for this video!
Thanks, Melissa 🙂 Glad you found it helpful.
Concise, Accurate and Very Informative; keep up the great work SAM! Regards.
Thanks!
Really informative and well explained! Thanks for sharing! Love your tutorials ❤️
Ahrefs Ohh yeahhh, great news 👏🏻👏🏻 cant wait to learn more and more 🤓
Great to hear 🙂 Lots more on the way.