This presentation discusses configuring permalinks, preferred domain URLs, titles, descriptions, XML sitemaps, and the WordPress SEO plugin in WordPress. It provides tips on setting the permalink structure, verifying domain ownership in Google Webmaster Tools, creating effective titles and descriptions for search engine optimization, enabling the XML sitemap, and using features of the WordPress SEO plugin. Contact information is also provided to connect with the presenter.

1. A presentation given to the WordPressInsider meetup on
April 4, 2012
Connect With Me:
Email: Michelle@CastilloMediaGroup.com
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook ( Feel Free to Like us  )
Website: WordPressInsider.org
This presentation can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/wordpress90

2. Configure Permalinks
 Permalink the permanent URL to your Individual posts
 Always make sure to configure your permalink. This is a general WordPress
functionality and can be accesses in the WordPress admin area under
settings>>permalinks
 It is recommended to use either “Post Name”
or /%category%/%postname%/
Including date may reduce click
through rate, use date in
news sites when the
date is really important

3. Preferred Domain URL
Decided what your preferred domain (Aka canonical domain) is. In other words
you need to decide if you want the world to use www.MyWebsite.com or
MyWebsite.com
You will need to use the same format both in the general settings section as well as
in the Google Webmaster tool.

4. Preferred Domain URL Cont.
 In Google Webmaster tools you will need to add the site twice. Once with the
www prefix and once without it.
 No account yet? Read my How to setup Google Webmaster Tools
 To verify ownership you may use WordPress SEO Dashboard
 After you verifying the ownership of both domain names, go to Google
Webmaster Tools>>Site Configuration>>settings and select the prefer domain

5. Your site on the web
 If you type into the Google search box
“site:YourDomain.com” you will be able to see:
1. What pages of your site are indexed by Google -
You will probably find that not all indexed page need
to be indexed.
2. The way the pages are represented at the search
results. Is this the way you want the search results to
look? Is the text displayed going to entice potential
visitor to click and come visit your site?

6. Site
pages on
the
search
results
Title
Description

7. About Titles
Used for search engine ranking –
must include the key words
Shown on the browser tab
Is the first line people see in the
search results

8. Controlling titles
 Define global default rules in WordPress SEO >>
Titles menu
 Overwrite the default at a post, page, category or tag
level
 Guidelines for creating good titles:
 They should always contain the focus keyword ;
preferably be at the beginning of the title.
 They should always contain your brand, preferably at the
end, so people may recognize you in consecutive
searches.
 The title should entice people to click.

9. About Indexation
 When you install WordPress SEO, your admin
pages and search result pages are by default not
indexed
 Disable date based archives indexation – Unless
your site is a news site.
 At a page level , under WordPress SEO >>
Advanced you can set a page to be “Nonindex” .
Pages such as “Terms and Conditions” , shopping
cart and are examples for pages you do not want
indexed.

10. Descriptions
 An accurate description communicates to prospective
visitors the make-up and content relevancy of the
page, and compels (or not) that visitor to click through
and visit your site page.
 If you fail to include a description of the page, search
engines are likely going to fabricate a description of
their choosing by returning a snippet of text from your
page.
 You can control the description at the page, post
, category and tag level using WordPress SEO interface

11. XML Site maps
 To enable the creation of XML site maps by WordPress
SEO plugin, all you have to is check the box and save
the settings
 The xml sitemap should be submitted to Google
Webmaster Tools in the Configuration>>Sitemaps
panel.
 WordPress SEO pings Google and Bing every time you
have a new post

12. WordPress SEO –Permalinks menu
 The only option I use: Strip the category base
(usually /category/) from the category URL.
 Beware - Other options may break some plugins

13. Resources
 Video - WordPress SEO with Yoast, Joost de Valk
 Yoast: WordPress SEO Article
 WordPressInsider – WordPress SEO

14. Connect With Me:
Email: Michelle@CastilloMediaGroup.com
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook ( Feel Free to Like us  )
Website: WordPressInsider.org
This presentation can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/wordpress90