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WordPress SEO Guide 2025: The Complete Guide to Ranking High on Google

Introduction to SEO in WordPress

WordPress has an SEO-friendly infrastructure. However, in order to rank high on Google, technical settings, correct plugin selection and quality content production are required.
👉 Official source: Google Search Essentials

Basic SEO Settings

Permalinks

  • In the WordPress dashboard, go to Settings → Permalinks and use the "Post name" option.

  • Example of an SEO friendly URL: https://siteadresi.com/wordpress-seo-rehberi/

Robots.txt

Add a robots.txt like the one below to the root directory of the site:

 
User-agent: * Disallow: /wp-admin/ Allow: /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Sitemap: https://siteadresi.com/sitemap_index.xml

👉 More information: Google robots.txt guide

Sitemap

  • It is created automatically after WordPress 5.5, but you can create a more comprehensive map with Yoast SEO or Rank Math.

SEO Plugins: Which One to Choose?

Yoast SEO

Rank Math

  • Advanced schema (structured data) support

  • 404 monitoring and routing management

  • WooCommerce integration
    👉 Rank Math download

All in One SEO

  • Ideal for those who want simple operation

  • Enough for startup projects

Content SEO Strategy

Keyword Usage

  • The title (H1), subheadings (H2/H3) and first paragraph should contain keywords.

  • Pay attention to the natural flow.

Long and In-Depth Content

Internal Linking

  • Link from old content to new and between categories.

  • Distribute authority between pages.

Visual SEO

  • Upload images in WebP format.

  • Use descriptive words in the alt tags.
    👉 Ex: <img src="seo.png" alt="WordPress SEO rehberi görseli">

Technical SEO

Speed Optimization

  • Choose a light theme (GeneratePress, Astra).

  • Install a cache plugin (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache).

  • Compress images (Smush, Imagify).
    👉 For speed testing: Google PageSpeed Insights

HTTPS

  • SSL is mandatory.

  • Move all pages to HTTPS with a 301 redirect.

Mobile Compatibility

Structured Data (Schema)

  • Auto-add schema using Rank Math or Yoast.

  • In the articles Article schema, FAQ sections FAQPage use schema.
    👉 Rich Results Test and check it with

Backlink Strategy

  • Write guest posts on industry-related blogs.

  • Interact naturally in niche forums.

  • Drive traffic by sharing your content on social media.

Common Mistakes

  • Leave the "Prevent search engines from indexing this site" option on.

  • Using the same keyword over and over again.

  • Slowing down site speed with heavy theme and too many plugins.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which plugin is best for WordPress SEO?
Yoast SEO is ideal for beginners, while Rank Math is more suitable for those who want advanced features.

How long does it take to see SEO results?
Usually within 3-6 months, the increase in traffic starts to be noticed.

Are free SEO plugins enough?
Free versions are sufficient for small sites. However, premium versions are recommended for professional projects.

Why does my site speed affect SEO?
Because Google uses Core Web Vitals metrics as a ranking factor. Slow sites fall further behind.

👉 Detailed information: Core Web Vitals guide