If you are someone new to SEO or someone who is disappointed as you are not seeing the ranking.
Then, its good to learn and understand that SEO changes a lot, and tools like SEO plugins for WordPress can really help you do better.
This is even more true because of recent changes Google made to how it decides what websites to show people.
Content Outline
Why Google Updates Matter?
Google often changes its rules to make sure when you search for something, you find helpful and relevant websites. These changes can be big or small, but they always affect how well websites do in search results.
For example, some updates make it more important to have a website that works well on phones or one that loads quickly and is easy to use.
These updates are important because they can change what you need to do to make your website show up higher in search results. That’s where WordPress SEO plugins come in.
Why WordPress SEO Plugins Are Great?
WordPress SEO plugins are super useful for a few reasons:
Making SEO Easier:
These plugins make it simple to do SEO stuff, like picking the right titles or making your website easy for Google to understand.
Keeping Up with Google:
The plugins get updated to match what Google likes, which helps you avoid getting in trouble with new rules.
Helping You Right Away:
They give you tips on how to make your website better while you’re working on it, like how to write in a way that’s good for both people and Google.
Checking How You’re Doing:
Some plugins also show you how well your website is doing and what you can do better.
Some Numbers That Show They Work
WordPress is super popular and used by over 40% of websites, so there are lots of plugins just for SEO.
Plugins like Yoast SEO are used by millions of people, and many say they really help them get seen more on Google.
Studies show that websites that follow SEO advice can get a lot more visitors in just a few months.
So, now, let’s explore which of my top WordPress SEO plugins can help you in your SEO game.
My Recommendation of TOP WORDPRESS PLUGIN:-
1. Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is great because it comes with lots of helpful features right from the start. It lets you add important SEO details to your pages and posts, like the main keyword you’re focusing on, a short description that shows up in search results, the main URL, and more.
Plus, it gives tips on how to make your writing easier to read.
The latest version is 22.3, updated on March 20, 2024. You can download it as “wordpress-seo.22.3.zip”.
It’s well-liked, with a 96% positive rating and over 5 million users. It works on WordPress versions 6.3 and newer.
How does it help you?
- Makes special site maps to help Google find all your pages.
- It helps Google understand what your site is about.
- It lets you decide which pages show up in search results.
- It helps you write good titles and descriptions for your pages.
- Works in many languages.
- It gives you free lessons on how to use it.
- It is great for people who are just starting with WordPress and SEO, and it’s easy to use.
Cost
Yoast is free to use and great for getting started. There’s also a paid version with extra features like help with linking your pages together, learning what parts of your content are working well, and fixing broken links. The paid version costs $99 a year for one website.
2. All in One SEO Pack plugin
The All in One SEO Pack plugin is a great choice if you’re looking for something different from Yoast. It’s really user-friendly, especially if you’re starting.
When you set it up, it takes care of some important tasks on its own. For instance, it will create meta tags (which are bits of text that tell search engines what your page is about) and ensure that your page titles are set up so that search engines like Google will notice.
This is great for people who want to save time on SEO tasks, like making sure titles are set up correctly to attract more visitors.
But if you know a bit more about SEO and want to control things yourself, this plugin lets you do that, too. You can change the settings that were done automatically when you feel more comfortable.
There’s also a tool called the Robots.txt editor, which is pretty cool because it lets you communicate directly with search engines.
You can use it to tell search engine bots what parts of your site they should look at and what parts they can skip.
Another great feature is that whenever you update your site, the All in One SEO Pack automatically lets search engines know so they can update how they show your site in search results. This means your site’s information is always up-to-date when people search for it.
How does it help you?
- It can make special maps for your site (XML and RSS Sitemaps) that help search engines find and understand all of your content.
- It helps your images show up in searches (Image SEO), which is great for drawing more visitors.
- It uses Schema markup, a code that tells search engines more about your site’s content, making it stand out in search results.
- It lets you set advanced URLs for your pages (Advanced canonical URLs) to avoid problems with duplicate content.
- Offers support for AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages), making your site faster and more mobile-friendly.
- It can detect if content is copied within your site (Duplicate content detection) to prevent SEO issues.
- Provides API support, allowing developers to customize and extend its functionalities.
- Special features for online stores (Ecommerce SEO) to help products rank better in search results.
Cost
This plugin is “freemium,” meaning it’s free for basic features but also offers a premium version with more advanced options.
The premium version is especially good for businesses that want to focus on many different keywords to improve their search rankings.
Pricing for the premium version starts at $49.60 per year, which is a good deal for increasing online visibility and attracting more visitors with advanced SEO tools.
3. WP Meta SEO
WP Meta SEO is a tool that I use a lot. It makes it easier for bloggers like me to improve the content for search engines.
Here’s how it helps me:
Bulk Editing: Imagine you have lots of pictures or posts on your website. Instead of changing the name or the SEO details (like titles that show up in search engines or descriptions) one by one, WP Meta SEO lets you update a bunch of them at once. This saves a lot of time.
Fixing Broken Links: When you have links on your website that don’t go anywhere anymore because the pages they link to have been moved or deleted, this is bad for your site’s SEO. WP Meta SEO has a tool that finds these broken links for you so you can fix them easily. You don’t have to go through all your content manually to find these links.
Works with Gutenberg and Elementor: These are tools that people use to build and design pages on their WordPress sites. WP Meta SEO works smoothly with both, meaning you can make your pages look good and be SEO-friendly directly within these editors.
How does it help you?
- 404 Error Redirects: Automatically guides visitors from missing pages to available content, preventing frustration.
- Internal Broken Link Checker: This tool finds and fixes dead links within your site to improve user and search engine navigation.
- Sitemap Creation: Generates maps of your site (in XML and HTML) that help search engines quickly find and index your pages.
- Live SEO Analysis: Offers real-time advice on improving your posts to rank better in search engine results.
- Bulk Editing: Allows you to quickly update SEO titles, descriptions, and more across multiple pages, saving time.
Cost
For the cost, the basic version of this plugin is free. But, if you want extra features like getting suggestions for keywords from Google, making your online store more visible in search results, and other cool tools, you can upgrade to the premium version for $49 a year.
4. Schema plugin
The Schema plugin helps you add special code (schema markup) to your website so that search engines can show your content in a more eye-catching way in search results, like showing star ratings for reviews or a photo for recipes.
This plugin makes it easy to add details for different types of content like reviews, events, recipes, articles, products, and services.
You fill in some important info about your content, like how long a recipe takes to cook and what ingredients you need, and the plugin sets up the rest.
Anyone looking to attract more visitors by making their search results more informative and appealing should use this plugin.
The main problem is that the free version of this plugin might change how your website looks. To avoid this and to work well with other tools like ACF and Yoast SEO, you’ll need to get the pro version.
How does it help you?
Supports Different Content Types: Makes it easy to add details for reviews, events, products, recipes, articles, and videos to help them stand out in search results.
User-Friendly Interface: Just fill in the important info about your content, and the plugin creates eye-catching rich snippets for you.
Pricing:
Free for basic use, $69/year for advanced features, or $229 for use forever without yearly fees.
5. Google XML Sitemaps
Google XML Sitemaps is a tool that helps search engines like Google find and understand your website better. It does this by creating a special map of your site, called a sitemap, which shows all your pages.
This makes it easier for search engines to see what’s on your site. Once you set it up, it updates this map every time you add new content, so you don’t have to do anything extra.
Thus, it is perfect for WordPress users who want to keep their site’s map updated automatically for better search results.
Unlike other tools that offer lots of different features, Google XML Sitemaps focuses only on making sitemaps.
This is a good thing if your main goal is to make sure search engines can easily find all your content. It works well with all types of content made in WordPress and doesn’t make your website slow or heavy.
So, if you want a simple way to help search engines notice your site, this plugin could be a great choice.
How does it help you?
- Creates Various Sitemaps: Helps you make XML, HTML, and RSS sitemaps for your website, making it easier for search engines to understand your site’s structure.
- Automatic Updates: Tells search engines like Google whenever you add new content, so your site’s information is always current.
- Flexible Content Types: Works with all kinds of posts and categories you create on your WordPress site.
Cost:
It’s free, so you can improve your website’s SEO without spending anything.
6. Squirrly SEO
Squirrly SEO is an easy-to-use tool that gives you tips while you’re writing, helping you make your content better for the keyword you want to be found for. It also checks out your competition and tells you how you can do better than them.
On top of that, Squirrly SEO has some cool extras for marketing. It looks at how engaged your readers are and gives you advice on how to get more clicks.
If you’re moving from a different SEO plugin, it can also bring over your old settings, so you don’t have to start from scratch. It is best for marketers looking for updates on how well their content engages the audience and compares to competitors.
How does it help you?
- Schema Markup: Helps your site stand out in search results with special data.
- Free Coaching Sessions: Offers help and tips on using the plugin effectively.
- ‘Noindex’ Options: Lets you hide certain pages from search engines.
- Advanced Ecommerce Features: Special tools for online stores to improve visibility.
- Google Analytics Integration: Connects with Google Analytics to track your site’s performance.
- Custom Robot.txt: Tells search engine bots how to crawl your site.
- Sitemap XML: Creates a map of your site for search engines to understand easily.
- Social Media Monitoring: Keeps an eye on your social media presence.
Pricing:
Starts free, with a premium version at $20.99 for the first month and $29.99/month after.
7. Rank Math
Now, this is my top pick, and I’m writing it finally so that you can read the article to the end. You know one needs to do so much for rankings!! !
It is a plugin that helps improve how well your website shows up in search engines like Google. It’s like a helpful assistant for making your website more visible online.
Here’s why I recommend it:
Easy to Use: It’s designed to be simple for anyone to use, even if you’re new to SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It guides you through setting it up step by step.
Automation: It does a lot of the work for you automatically, making it easier to optimize your content without needing expert knowledge.
Works with Google: It connects with Google tools like Search Console and helps you keep track of how your website is performing in search results.
Fixes Errors: It helps you find and fix common website errors, like pages that can’t be found (called 404 errors), which makes your website better for visitors.
Keyword Suggestions: It gives you ideas for keywords to use in your content, making it more likely to show up when people search for those topics.
Overall, Rank Math is a helpful tool for improving your website’s visibility online, especially if you’re new to SEO.
How much does Rank Math cost you?
Rank Math offers a free version of its software that provides a good set of features for basic SEO needs. Additionally, they offer a premium version that starts at $5.75 per month.
This premium version offers even more advanced features and functionalities to enhance your website’s SEO performance.
One of the benefits of the premium version is that you can use it on multiple websites without having to purchase separate licenses for each site.
This can be particularly useful for individuals or businesses managing multiple websites and looking to streamline their SEO efforts across all of them.
Essentially, while the free version provides essential SEO tools, the premium version offers additional perks and flexibility for a relatively low monthly cost, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking more advanced SEO capabilities.
Quick Links
- On-Page SEO Checklist
- How Should You Include Keywords In A Title Tag For SEO?
- SEO Settings For WordPress Site
- SEO For Small Business
- SEO Tips to Improve Organic Search Results
- What is Backlinking, And Why Is It Important For SEO?
Conclusion
In summary, improving your website’s SEO has become much easier if you’re using WordPress, thanks to the variety of SEO plugins available.
These tools help you manage things like meta descriptions, keyword optimization, and creating sitemaps. I’ve talked about top plugins in this article.
At the same time, Yoast SEO is popular; both All In One SEO and Rank Math offer similar features and are worth considering. So, give them a try to boost your website’s rankings today!
