Quick Tip: Learn the basics of SEO and non-coding WordPress Customization

WordPress currently powers over 23% of ALL the world’s websites. It powers sites such as CNN, Jay-Z, and Mashable.

So, you want a highly customizable site without coding?

Divi WordPress Drag and Drop Theme
Divi WordPress Drag and Drop Theme

Find a drag-and-drop Theme like Divi or Enfold for something easier to build (no code – EXTREMELY customizable). You’ll need to go self-hosted (no more WordPress.com).

You want easy SEO?

WordPress plugin SEO by Yoast
WordPress plugin SEO by Yoast

For SEO, sign up for Google Analytics to start tracking your site and learning which keywords attract visitors. Also, get a good couple of good WP plugins like SEO by Yoast (which is the highest ranked and most downloaded SEO plugin for WP in history). Also get Google Analytics by Yoast for better tracking.

Here’s the Definitive Guide to WordPress SEO by Yoast.

You want to learn the basics of SEO tactics?

Jon Duckett's HTML & CSS book
Jon Duckett’s HTML & CSS book

I recently read through HTML & CSS by Jon Duckett and it has a simple (though comprehensive) 2-page walkthrough on SEO. The basic things you should know are:

  1. On-site SEO tactics and
  2. Off-site SEO tactics

On-site SEO tactics include:

Having your targeting keywords appear in every:

  1. Page <title>
  2. URL
  3. Headings <h1>
  4. Body text 2-3 times each
  5. Hyperlinks  (make them descriptive, not just “click here”)
  6. Image <alt> attributes
  7. Page <meta> description

(The Yoast SEO plugin takes care of ALL of this for you on a page-by-page basis).

Off-site SEO tactics include:

Getting links IN to your site from other (relevant) sites. You can do this through:

  1. Social Media sharing (and enabling social sharing buttons with other plugins)
  2. Commenting (and ADDING VALUE) on other blogs in your industry with a link back to your site (no spam and no “Nice post” stuff either)
  3. Guest posting on other blogs with a link back to your site.

Hope this helps you build a better website!~