Whether your site appears in Google's search results can mean the difference between high traffic success and no visitors. Search Engine Optimization to get you on the first page of search results is an ongoing task. If you're starting with a new site, or your traffic is low, it can take months of persistence until you see the results you want.
Most WordPress site owners start with a free plugin like Yoast SEO to get better search results for their website. However, this is not a "set it and forget it" situation like many others. Even with the help of a plugin, SEO is an ongoing task that should be as regular as brushing teeth.
Like other SEO plugins, Yoast SEO enhances on-page SEO by adding the appropriate code and context to your web pages, improving content indexing by search engines. For the content writer, it helps guide the user to write their content so that it's more easily found. Making your content appeal to both site visitors and the Google indexing bots is a never-ending task. And because Google changes its algorithms from time to time, what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.
Using an SEO plugin is a little different from many other performance-improving plugins. You can't just "set it and forget it". If you install an SEO plugin AND follow its guidance regularly when you add content, you will eventually see results. How quickly this happens depends a lot on the kinds of content you are trying to promote. It's a competitive landscape, but some niches are less competitive than others. Unlike paid advertising, which can drive nearly instant traffic, SEO can take months.
The Yoast SEO plugin is free, but it is limited, and some users find it slows their sites. I prefer the paid Squirrly SEO WordPress plugin. The Squirrly SEO plugin offers an impressive array of features while leveraging AI technology for enhanced keyword research. Especially helpful to beginners, Squirrly SEO comes with a 14-day guided start program to take you step by step. On the downside, its comprehensive features can be a bit daunting at first.
Squirrly SEO is a truly comprehensive plugin. It can help you configure your website for better search results, research high traffic keywords with good chances of appearing in those searches.
Want to try out Squirrly to improve your WordPress SEO?
How does your WordPress website compare to your competitors?
Contact me here for a free consultation.
See your website how Google sees it
Taking a look at your site through the Google search 'lens' can help you find mistakes that could be holding you back. That's where Google Search Console comes in. It shows you what you're doing right or wrong from the perspective of search.
The search console can help webmasters find mistakes, and verify a website with Google to help its search rank. It's a good idea to try it out when you're starting out so that you can return to it later and see how you've improved. It's useful tool that SEO plugins often link to for its data and insights.
SEO is a pretty big and complex topic, and it's only possible to scratch the surface here. I'll try to follow up with more targeted content in my blog. If you have any specific questions, contact me here for a free consultation.