How to Configure WordPress SEO Settings? RankMath, Yoast, and Other Tools

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) worldwide. Thanks to its ease of use, flexibility, and wide range of plugins, it is an ideal platform for all types of websites. However, having a great website is not enough; you also need to be visible in search engines. This is where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes into play. In this article, we will examine in detail the basic settings you need to make to improve the SEO performance of your WordPress site and the popular tools you can use (RankMath, Yoast, etc.).

Basic Principles of WordPress SEO

SEO is the entirety of optimization efforts made to ensure that your website ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). The basic principles of WordPress SEO are:

Keyword Research: Identifying the keywords your target audience uses.
Content Optimization: Using keywords naturally in your content and providing valuable information to readers.
Technical SEO: Ensuring that your website can be easily crawled and indexed by search engines.
Site Speed Optimization: Ensuring that your website loads quickly, improving user experience, and increasing SEO performance.
Mobile Compatibility: Ensuring that your website is displayed seamlessly on mobile devices.
Link Building: Getting links (backlinks) to your site from other reliable websites.

WordPress SEO Plugins: RankMath and Yoast SEO

There are many plugins to facilitate WordPress SEO. Two of the most popular and effective are RankMath and Yoast SEO. Although both plugins have similar features, there are some differences.

RankMath SEO

RankMath is an SEO plugin that stands out with its powerful features and user-friendly interface. Even the free version offers many advanced features. The main features of RankMath are:

Easy Installation and Configuration: RankMath can be easily configured with a step-by-step setup wizard.
Keyword Optimization: You can target multiple keywords for each page and post.
SEO Analysis: RankMath analyzes the SEO performance of your content in real-time and provides improvement suggestions.
Rich Snippet Support: You can create rich snippets for different content types such as products, recipes, and events.
404 Monitoring and Redirection: You can detect broken links and automatically create redirection rules.
XML Sitemap Generation: Creates an XML sitemap that can be submitted to search engines.
Google Search Console Integration: You can view your Google Search Console data directly from your WordPress panel.

To start using RankMath, first install and activate the plugin from your WordPress panel. Then, configure the basic settings by following the setup wizard. For each page and post, you can edit the title, description, keywords, and other SEO settings using the RankMath meta box.

Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO has been a leader among WordPress SEO plugins for many years. It is easy to use and has comprehensive features. The main features of Yoast SEO are:

Content Analysis: Yoast SEO analyzes the readability and SEO performance of your content and provides improvement suggestions.
Keyword Optimization: You can target one keyword for each page and post.
Meta Description and Title Optimization: You can customize the title and descriptions that will be displayed in search results.
XML Sitemap Generation: Creates an XML sitemap that can be submitted to search engines.
Readability Analysis: Provides suggestions to improve the readability of your content.
Breadcrumbs Support: You can enable breadcrumbs that help users and search engines navigate your site easily.

To start using Yoast SEO, install and activate the plugin from your WordPress panel. Then, configure the general settings. For each page and post, you can edit the title, description, keywords, and other SEO settings using the Yoast SEO meta box.

RankMath vs. Yoast SEO Comparison

Although both plugins have powerful features, there are some differences. RankMath offers more features in its free version, while Yoast SEO's premium version offers more comprehensive features. When deciding which plugin is more suitable for you, it is important to consider your needs and budget.

Basic WordPress SEO Settings

It is important to make the following basic settings to improve the SEO performance of your WordPress site:

1. Setting Permalinks

Permalinks are the URL structures of pages and posts on your website. An SEO-friendly URL structure helps search engines better understand your content. To set your permalinks in WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks and select the "Post Name" option. This option ensures that your URLs include your post title.

For example, the URL for a post titled "WordPress SEO Settings" would be: https://www.example.com/wordpress-seo-settings/

2. Optimizing Site Title and Description

Your site title and description are the most important elements representing your site in search results. It is important that your title and description are optimized to attract your target audience and provide accurate information about your content. To set your site title and description in WordPress, go to Settings > General and edit the "Site Title" and "Tagline" fields.

3. Creating and Submitting an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file containing a list of all the pages and posts on your website. Search engines can use your sitemap to crawl and index your site more easily. You can automatically create an XML sitemap using a plugin like RankMath or Yoast SEO and submit it to Google Search Console.

4. Creating a Robots.txt File

The robots.txt file is a text file that tells search engine bots which pages on your site they should crawl and which they should not. By using this file, you can prevent search engines from crawling unnecessary pages and optimize your crawl budget. You can use a plugin like RankMath or Yoast SEO to create and edit the robots.txt file.

5. Installing an SSL Certificate

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate provides security by encrypting the communication between your website and your visitors. Search engines list secure websites higher in search results. Therefore, it is important to install an SSL certificate and make your site accessible via HTTPS. Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates.

6. Mobile Compatibility

Today, a large portion of internet users access the internet from mobile devices. Therefore, it is important that your website is displayed seamlessly on mobile devices. Most WordPress themes have mobile-friendly (responsive) designs. However, you can use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool to make sure your theme is mobile-friendly.

Content Optimization Tips

Having a great website is not enough; you also need to produce high-quality and optimized content. Consider the following tips for content optimization:

Do Keyword Research: Identify the keywords your target audience uses and use them naturally in your content.
Optimize Titles and Subheadings: Make sure your titles and subheadings include your keywords.
Optimize Images: Reduce the file size of your images and fill in the alt tags (alt text) with your keywords.
Create Internal Links: Link to other relevant pages and posts on your site.
Create External Links: Link to reliable and authoritative websites.
Improve Readability: Use short paragraphs, use bullet points and numbering, and follow grammar rules.

Conclusion and Summary

WordPress SEO is a continuous process and requires patience. In this article, we have examined in detail the basic settings you need to make to improve the SEO performance of your WordPress site and the popular tools you can use (RankMath, Yoast, etc.). By taking basic steps such as setting permalinks, optimizing site title and description, creating an XML sitemap, creating a robots.txt file, installing an SSL certificate, and ensuring mobile compatibility, you can make your site more visible in search engines. In addition, by following content optimization tips, you can provide valuable information to your readers and further improve your SEO performance. Remember, SEO is a continuous learning and application process. Therefore, it is important to follow current SEO trends and adapt your strategies accordingly.