WordPress SEO needs less technical skill than people think. Ten simple actions are enough to move up on Google. You can do them yourself, without a developer or a big budget. So here is the list, in a logical order.
Actions 1 to 3: lay the foundations of WordPress SEO
First, choose clean links. In the settings, turn on permalinks that use the post title (action 1). Next, switch your site to HTTPS (action 2). Google prefers secure sites, and so do your visitors. Finally, install an SEO plugin like Yoast (action 3). It tells you what to fix on each page.
Actions 4 to 6: polish the content of each page
Next, pick one main keyword per page (action 4). Think about the phrase your customer types into Google. For example, “restaurant website Douala” works better than “digital solutions”. Then place this keyword in the title, the first sentence and one subheading (action 5). However, avoid repeating it too often, because Google spots forced text.
Finally, write an SEO title and a clear description for every page (action 6). These two texts appear in search results. They therefore make people want to click.
Actions 7 and 8: speed up your site and optimize images
Also, speed influences your ranking (action 7). Turn on caching and choose reliable hosting. Our guide on speeding up a slow website details the settings. Meanwhile, compress every image before you upload it (action 8). Add alternative text that describes the photo too. This way, Google understands the image, and so do visually impaired users.
Actions 9 and 10: help Google find you
First, link your pages together with internal links (action 9). Each new article should point to two or three existing pages. This helps Google crawl your site. Second, add your site to Search Console and send your sitemap (action 10). We wrote a step-by-step guide to submit your site to Google.
In addition, a regular blog feeds your ranking over time. Our article on the business blog shows you how. If you target local customers, also read local SEO in Douala and Yaoundé. To go further, Google’s SEO starter guide remains the official reference.
Frequently asked questions about WordPress SEO
How long until you see results?
Expect three to six months in general. In fact, Google needs time to crawl and evaluate your site. However, technical fixes pay off faster.
Do you need to pay for an SEO plugin?
No, the free version of Yoast is enough to start. Later, you can switch to a paid version if you want more options.
Does WordPress SEO work for a small site?
Yes, precisely. A small, well-targeted site can beat bigger competitors on a precise local search.
In the end, WordPress SEO relies on regular habits rather than magic tricks. For an audit of your site, contact MboaGeek.
