WordPress SEO: How to Optimize Your WordPress Site for Google (Step by Step)

WordPress runs a huge share of the web, and it can rank very well on Google. But a fresh WordPress install isn't optimized out of the box. SEO optimization on WordPress means checking a few built-in settings, adding an SEO plugin, and avoiding the mistakes that quietly hold sites back.

Step 1: Make sure search engines aren't blocked

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings, then Reading. Find the option called "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" and make sure it's unticked. It's often switched on while a site is being built and forgotten at launch, which hides the whole site from Google.

Step 2: Choose readable permalinks

Go to Settings, then Permalinks, and choose Post name. Your addresses become yoursite.com/how-to-store-sourdough instead of yoursite.com/?p=123. Our guide to SEO-friendly URLs explains why this matters.

If your site is already live, changing this setting changes every address on your site. Set up redirects first, or ask your developer for help.

Step 3: Install one SEO plugin

WordPress doesn't let you set page titles and descriptions on its own. An SEO plugin adds those fields to every page and post. Popular choices include Rank Math and Yoast SEO. Both do the essentials well:

• A title and meta description box on every page and post
• An XML sitemap that updates automatically
• Redirect tools (in some versions or add-ons)
• Structured data (schema) for your business

Use one SEO plugin, not two. Running several at once can create duplicate tags and conflicts.

Step 4: Write a title and description for every page

With your plugin installed, open each important page and post and fill in:

• SEO title: what the page is about, under about 60 characters
• Meta description: a clear summary that earns the click, under about 160 characters

Don't rely on the defaults. Duplicate and auto-generated titles are among the most common problems on WordPress sites.

Step 5: Add alt text to images

When you upload an image to the Media Library, fill in its "Alternative Text" field with a short description of what it shows. It helps Google understand your images and helps visitors who use screen readers.

Step 6: Keep WordPress fast

Every plugin and heavy theme can slow your site down. To keep it fast:

• Remove plugins you don't use
• Compress images before uploading, or use an image optimization plugin
• Use a caching plugin, or a host that includes caching
• Choose a lightweight theme

Our guide on how to check if your website is slow shows how to measure the difference.

Step 7: Keep everything updated

Update WordPress, your theme and your plugins regularly. Updates fix security problems, and a hacked site can be flagged or dropped by Google.

Common WordPress SEO mistakes

• "Discourage search engines" left on after launch
• Plain permalinks like ?p=123
• Two SEO plugins running at once
• Too many plugins slowing the site down
• Outdated plugins leaving the site open to hacks

Once the basics are set, it's worth checking how your site scores overall. Our guide to what a good SEO score is explains what the numbers mean.

Frequently asked questions

Is WordPress good for SEO?
Yes. With the right settings and one SEO plugin, WordPress gives you full control over titles, descriptions, URLs and structured data.

Do I need an SEO plugin for WordPress?
For most sites, yes. WordPress doesn't have built-in fields for page titles and meta descriptions, and an SEO plugin adds them.

Which is better, Rank Math or Yoast?
Both handle the essentials well. Pick one, set it up properly and stick with it. The setup matters more than the brand.

Why isn't my WordPress site showing up on Google?
Check the "Discourage search engines" setting first. If that's off, make sure your sitemap is submitted in Google Search Console and that your pages aren't set to noindex in your SEO plugin.