Search Engine Optimization Series: The Top SEO Plugins For WordPress
In our WordPress Website Blog Series, we’ve covered many aspects of planning and developing a WordPress website. In this expert article, we’re covering The Top SEO Plugins for WordPress websites.
When you’re planning a WordPress website, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is to choose an SEO plugin that will be attached to your website. The information below will help business and non-profit owners and managers make an informed decision on which of the industry standard SEO plugins is best for their needs.
What Is An SEO Plugin?
A WordPress SEO plugin is a software widget that attaches to your website, which allows a Search Engine Optimization tool to integrate directly with your WordPress dashboard on the back end of your website. WordPress SEO plugins allow you to add search engine optimization to pages without needing to know how to code. Once an SEO plugin is attached to your WordPress website, there will be a series of specific fields associated with a blog or content page on your website where you can insert the following information specific to each page:
- The targeted keyword phrase for that specific page
- An optimized Search Engine Results Page headline that has the targeted keyword phrase in it
- An optimized meta descriptor that has the targeted keyword phrase inserted, and which also is used to describe the content on that specific page.
The SERP (Search Engine Results Page) information is what will show up when an internet user has plugged in a specific search phrase.
How Do WordPress SEO Plugins Work?
There are 4 main functions that a WordPress SEO Plugin provides:
1) On-page Search Engine Optimization: These SEO plugin tools help users optimize the website page by providing tools to edit the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) headline and Meta descriptor.
2) Technical SEO Functions: Most WordPress SEO plugins automatically generate XML sitemaps, which help search engines (such as Google) find and index the page content more efficiently.
3) Friendly User Interface: SEO plugins are user friendly and designed for even novices to be able to insert the targeted keyword phrase, and then write the SERP headline and SERP Meta descriptor for a specific website page.
4) Automatic SEO Assessments: Once a user has inserted the page content, and the SEO information, the SEO plugin tool will analyze the content & tell the user whether the density of the targeted keyword in the on-page content is too much, too little, or just right. The tool also will let the user know if they’re inserted the targeted keyword phrase in the right places in the on-page content.
Why Does A WordPress Website Need An SEO Plugin?
There are 3 main reasons why WordPress websites need an SEO plugin tool installed.
1) Improved Search Visibility: These SEO tools simplify and automate the process of writing SERP headlines & META (page content) descriptors. When users have set a targeted keyword phrase for the page, and write optimized SERP headers and descriptors that contain the targeted keyword phrase, it can help websites appear higher on Search Engine Results Pages.
2) Simplified SEO Management: An SEO plugin also provides specific guidelines that help users implement search engine optimization correctly. These tools will tell a user if the headline or meta descriptor is the correct length (or too long, or too short). These tools also provide guidelines on keyword phrase density on the page, and more.
3) Increased Organic Traffic: SEO plugins help ensure that the search engine optimization for a website page has been done correctly and to industry standards. When SEO is done correctly, it can increase the amount of organic traffic.
What Are The Top SEO Plugins For WordPress?
There are many SEO plugins on the market so it’s important to know which ones are the best rated, or the most universal.
Some of the top SEO plugins for WordPress include:
Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a well-established, easy-to-use SEO plugin that’s been in use for years. Yoast offers a free LITE version, and a pro version. For the premium version of Yoast SEO, there are some functions that you must pay for separately in addition to the premium subscription.
Features:
• A great, easy-to-use interface for inserting the targeted keyword phrase, the SERP headline, and the SERP Meta descriptor, an SEO assessment tool that analyzes and shows users where they can improve their SEO for the page, an XML sitemap, and more.
Cost: A single license for Yoast SEO starts at $89 per year.
All In One SEO (AIOSEO): All In One SEO has more than 3 million active installations. It comes with a free LITE version, as well as Pro versions.
Features:
• Search statistics, keyword rank tracker, sitemap generator, SEO assessment tool & more.
Cost: The Pro Plan starts at $49.50 per year.
RankMath: RankMath is the new kid on the block when it comes to SEO Plugins for WordPress websites. RankMath has a free LITE version, and it also offers premium plans.
Features:
• SEO Fields that let users add the SERP Title, the SERP descriptor and keyword phrase; an SEO analysis tool; and more. Of note, RankMath has an interface that is not as user friendly as Yoast SEO. It’s not as easy to find the location to add the SERP information. But it is a worthy SEO plugin tool.
Cost: Price for a single license starts at $59 per year.
The bottom line is that users MUST add an SEO plugin to their WordPress websites to be able to quickly and easily apply search engine optimization to the pages on the site. Consult with your marketing team or website developer to talk through the best SEO plugin tool for the needs of specific businesses or non-profits.
Need help with optimizing your website? Contact DeWinter Marketing & PR USA to help with Search Engine Optimization services.
