How to Use SEO to Optimize a Wordpress Blog

Search engine optimization is one of the most important things that a blogger can do in order to improve the visibility of their blog. Without SEO, their blog will most likely get lost in the rankings.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check to make sure that your chosen Wordpress theme is W3C compliant. If you are designing your own theme, then be mindful of current web standards during the creation phase. A theme that can pass W3C validation will only help your SEO efforts.

2. Install the Google Sitemaps plugin. After activating the plugin, it will create an XML sitemap. This XML formatted sitemap is compatible with most major search engines, so the spiders will have an easier time finding all of the content on your blog.

3. Add a related posts section to your site. To better benefit your SEO efforts, this would ideally be located under each post or in the sidebar. There are many related posts plugins, so search online for the one that best suits your needs.

4. Adding regular updates to your blog is beneficial for search engine optimization and visitor retention. Posting regularly will entice both spiders and visitors to return to your site often.