When it comes to ranking your WordPress website, mastering on-page SEO is non-negotiable. While backlinks and content marketing are crucial, your on-page elements lay the foundation for all SEO success. As a team of SEO freelancers with over 10 years of experience optimizing WordPress sites for agencies and eCommerce brands, we’ve seen firsthand how even small technical tweaks can skyrocket rankings. This guide walks you through a complete on-page SEO checklist—from meta tags and schema to Core Web Vitals, internal linking, and advanced WordPress settings—to help you dominate Google search results in 2025 and beyond.
Understanding On-Page SEO for WordPress
Before diving into the checklist, let’s clarify what on-page SEO really means. It refers to optimizing all elements within your website that impact search engine visibility—content, structure, code, and user experience. In WordPress, this means working with tools like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and built-in settings to fine-tune how your pages communicate with Google.
Why On-Page SEO Matters for WordPress Sites
- Better search rankings: Optimized pages align with Google’s E-E-A-T and Core Web Vitals standards.
- Faster crawling and indexing: Proper sitemaps, canonical tags, and internal links help Google find your pages efficiently.
- Higher engagement: Clean layouts and optimized readability improve dwell time and CTR.
- Reduced bounce rate: A technically sound, fast-loading website keeps visitors on-page longer.
Step 1: Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Your title tag and meta description are the first impression users get in Google results. A well-optimized tag can make or break your CTR.
Best Practices
- Keep title tags under 60 characters and include your target keyword near the start.
- Meta descriptions should stay under 160 characters and include a clear call-to-action.
- Use power words like best, ultimate, expert, and guide to increase clicks.
Example
Title: On-Page SEO Checklist for WordPress Sites | Advanced 2025 Guide
Meta: Optimize your WordPress site like a pro with our advanced on-page SEO checklist. Boost speed, keywords, and rankings—affordably with FMS services.
💡 Pro Tip: FMS offers affordable SEO & PPC packages starting at $250/month—perfect for small businesses and startups aiming for scalable growth.
Step 2: Optimize Permalink Structure
Your URL structure affects both SEO and user experience.
Recommended WordPress Settings
- Go to Settings → Permalinks and choose Post Name (/%postname%/).
- Keep URLs short, clean, and descriptive (avoid stop words like “the,” “and,” or “of”).
Example
✅ https://yourwebsite.com/wordpress-seo-checklist/
❌ https://yourwebsite.com/index.php?p=123
Advanced Tip
Include one primary keyword in your URL and avoid changing permalinks after publishing to maintain link equity.
Step 3: Use Header Tags Strategically
Headers (H1–H6) tell Google what’s important on your page.
Checklist
- One H1 per page containing the main keyword.
- Use H2 for major sections, H3–H4 for subtopics.
- Include semantic variations (LSI keywords) naturally.
Example
H1: On-Page SEO Checklist for WordPress Sites
H2: Optimize Titles and Meta Descriptions
H3: How to Improve Click-Through Rates
Need help structuring content perfectly for SEO? Our FMS experts handle full on-page optimization, starting at only $250/month.
Step 4: Optimize Images for SEO
Images enhance UX but can also slow your site if not optimized.
Best Practices
- Compress images using tools like ShortPixel, TinyPNG, or Imagify.
- Use descriptive file names: wordpress-seo-checklist.png.
- Add alt text with your target keyword naturally.
- Implement lazy loading to reduce initial load time.
Technical Tip
Serve images in next-gen formats like WebP for better compression.
Step 5: Internal Linking Structure
A strong internal link network helps distribute authority and guide both users and crawlers.
How to Do It
- Link from high-authority pages to new or important ones.
- Use keyword-rich but natural anchor text.
- Avoid orphan pages—every post should have at least one internal link.
Tools to Use
- Link Whisper (WordPress plugin) for automated internal linking suggestions.
At FMS, our SEO specialists map and optimize internal link structures as part of every $250/month plan to maximize crawl efficiency.
Step 6: Optimize Page Speed and Core Web Vitals
Site speed and user experience are now ranking factors under Google’s Core Web Vitals.
Key Metrics
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Should load under 2.5 seconds.
- FID (First Input Delay): Under 100ms.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Below 0.1.
How to Improve
- Use LiteSpeed Cache or WP Rocket for caching.
- Enable GZIP compression.
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML.
- Host on a fast, SEO-friendly server (Cloudways, SiteGround).
Bonus Tip
Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to track real-world data.
Step 7: Schema Markup and Structured Data
Adding schema helps search engines understand your content better, enabling rich results like FAQs, reviews, and product snippets.
Tools & Methods
- Use Rank Math or Yoast SEO Premium to add schema automatically.
- Add JSON-LD manually for FAQs or reviews if needed.
Recommended Schema Types
- Article
- Product
- FAQPage
- LocalBusiness
FMS integrates full schema optimization as part of our affordable SEO services, ensuring your pages qualify for rich results and higher CTRs.
Step 8: Mobile Optimization
With Google’s mobile-first indexing, your site must be flawless on all devices.
Checklist
- Use a responsive WordPress theme (e.g., Astra, GeneratePress).
- Test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Tool.
- Optimize font size and tap targets.
- Implement AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) only if needed.
Step 9: Optimize Content for SEO and Readability
Your content should satisfy both search engines and readers.
Action Plan
- Use primary keyword in the first 100 words.
- Maintain keyword density around 1-2%.
- Incorporate related keywords and FAQs for semantic coverage.
- Keep paragraphs under 120 words for readability.
- Add visuals, lists, and infographics.
Helpful Plugins
- Yoast SEO Readability Analysis
- Hemingway Editor for clarity and simplicity
Let FMS optimize your website content for conversions and visibility—all under an affordable $250/month plan.
Step 10: Outbound Links and Trust Signals
Linking to authoritative external sources shows Google that your content is trustworthy.
Guidelines
- Link only to relevant, high-authority sites (e.g., Moz, Search Engine Journal).
- Use nofollow for affiliate links.
- Avoid broken or outdated references.
Step 11: Secure Your Website (HTTPS)
Security is a key ranking factor.
Checklist
- Install an SSL certificate via your host.
- Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS using a plugin like Really Simple SSL.
- Update all internal URLs to HTTPS in your database.
Step 12: Canonicalization and Duplicate Content
Duplicate content can confuse crawlers and dilute ranking signals.
How to Fix It
- Set canonical tags in Yoast or Rank Math.
- Avoid publishing similar content under multiple categories.
- Use 301 redirects for merged posts.
Step 13: Technical Elements to Audit Regularly
Key Items
- XML Sitemap: Auto-generate with your SEO plugin and submit to Google Search Console.
- Robots.txt: Disallow admin pages but keep content accessible.
- Crawl Errors: Fix broken links and redirect old URLs.
- Indexing Coverage: Check “Excluded” pages in Google Search Console.
Step 14: Optimize for User Engagement Metrics
Google tracks behavioral signals such as dwell time and bounce rate.
Optimization Tips
- Add compelling introductions.
- Use internal CTAs like “Learn more” or “Explore guides.”
- Embed videos to increase time on page.
- Improve page design for easier navigation.
Step 15: Leverage WordPress Plugins for SEO
Must-Have Plugins
- Rank Math SEO – advanced schema + automation.
- LiteSpeed Cache – optimization and image compression.
- WP-Optimize – cleans database bloat.
- Broken Link Checker – monitors 404s.
- Smush – automatic image optimization.
Step 16: Track and Measure SEO Performance
You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
Tools to Use
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for user behavior.
- Google Search Console for keyword performance.
- Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest for ongoing rank tracking.
- Create monthly performance reports to assess ROI.
Final Thoughts
Mastering on-page SEO for your WordPress site isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about creating synergy between content, structure, and performance. From optimizing titles to fixing Core Web Vitals, every tweak contributes to higher visibility and more organic traffic. Whether you’re managing a blog, eCommerce site, or business page, consistent technical audits ensure long-term SEO health.
Ready to scale your WordPress visibility? FMS offers affordable SEO & PPC services for just $250/month, delivering end-to-end optimization, keyword strategy, and technical audits. Contact us today and start ranking smarter, faster, and higher.