My Prioritized WordPress SEO Checklist for 2026

When my WordPress traffic stalls, it’s almost never because I “need more keywords.” It’s usually because something basic is off, my pages load too slowly on mobile, or my content doesn’t answer the real question.

In this guide, I’m sharing how I approach WordPress SEO in a way that holds up over time. I’ll stick to practical changes, WordPress paths you can click through, and the small stuff that quietly makes a big difference.

Get the WordPress basics right (so Google can actually index you)

The first fixes I make are boring, but they’re the ones that can block everything else.

1) Check the “discourage search engines” setting

I’ve seen this left on after a redesign or staging-to-live move.

Go to Settings > Reading and make sure Search engine visibility is unchecked.

2) Set clean permalinks

A messy URL structure makes your site harder to understand and harder to share.

Go to Settings > Permalinks and use Post name for most blogs and small business sites. If you change permalinks on an older site, set up redirects right away (your SEO plugin can often handle this).

3) Pick one SEO plugin and configure the essentials

I don’t stack multiple SEO plugins. It creates overlaps, duplicate schema, and weird indexing rules.

In your SEO plugin, I always set up:

• Titles and meta descriptions for posts and pages
• XML sitemap enabled
• Noindex rules for thin pages (more on this later)

If you want a deeper walkthrough of the plugin-side setup, I keep a longer set of notes in my own reference doc: WordPress SEO tips.

4) Connect Google Search Console and submit your sitemap

This is how I spot indexing problems before I waste weeks publishing into a void. After you verify your site, submit the sitemap URL your plugin provides (often /sitemap_index.xml).

If Google isn’t indexing new posts, I check Search Console coverage reports before I touch anything else. It’s like checking the power before blaming the lightbulb.

Once these basics are solid, I move on to the part that actually earns clicks.

Build pages that win clicks (even when AI answers first)

Search results in 2026 are messy. AI summaries and rich results can answer questions without a click, so I write and format pages to give people a reason to visit anyway.

Match intent, then go one step past it

If someone searches “best email tool for photographers,” they don’t want a history lesson. They want a short recommendation, pricing, pros and cons, and a reason to trust you.

So I structure my posts like this:

• A clear answer near the top
• Real examples (screenshots, small case studies, what I did)
• A few options with honest tradeoffs
• A “next step” section that helps them act

I also update important pages on a schedule. For competitive topics, I revisit them every 6 to 8 months, even if it’s just tightening screenshots, refreshing pricing, and improving sections that readers skim past.

For on-page ideas that still hold up, I like this rundown of on-page SEO tactics for 2026, mostly because it focuses on what you can test and improve.

Internal linking that feels natural (and actually helps)

Internal links aren’t decoration. I use them to guide readers through a topic like stepping stones.

A simple pattern that works:

• Write one “pillar” guide (the big, complete page)
• Publish a few supporting posts that answer narrower questions
• Link both ways (pillar to supporting, supporting back to pillar)

In WordPress, I also watch my navigation. If a page is important, I often link it from the top menu or from a “Start here” section. That helps both readers and crawl discovery.

Notes for popular page builders (Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder)

Page builders can rank fine, but bloat is real. I keep layouts simple:

• Fewer sections per page
• Fewer animations
• Fewer third-party widgets
• No giant hero sliders

If a design choice makes the page feel slower, I cut it. Rankings don’t care how pretty your fade-in is.

Next, I make sure the site performs well in the real world, not just on my laptop.

Fix technical SEO that impacts Core Web Vitals (without breaking your theme)

I treat speed work like tuning a car. One good change beats ten random tweaks.

Core Web Vitals: what I focus on

I care about three user experiences:

• Loading speed (your main content appears quickly)
• Responsiveness (taps and clicks don’t lag)
• Stability (content doesn’t jump as it loads)

In practice, that usually means cutting heavy images, taming scripts, and using caching properly.

Caching, CDN, and managed hosting: avoid “double optimization”

If you’re on a managed host, you may already have server-level caching and a CDN option. In that case, installing three more caching plugins can make things worse.

My rule:

• If my host provides full-page caching, I only add a performance plugin for front-end cleanup (minify, delay scripts, font handling) if needed.
• If my host does not provide caching, I add one trusted caching plugin and stop there.

If you want a performance checklist that’s WordPress-focused, this is the one I reference when I’m troubleshooting: speed up your WordPress site.

Image handling that doesn’t tank LCP

Large images are the usual culprit.

What I do:

• Upload the right size image (don’t rely on the browser to shrink it)
• Use modern formats when possible (WebP or AVIF)
• Lazy load below-the-fold images

If you want the lazy load setup in plain steps, here’s a solid walkthrough: lazy loading images in WordPress.

Structured data and index control (the “quiet wins”)

I add schema only when it matches the page. Article and Organization schema are common. LocalBusiness is great for local companies. Product schema matters for ecommerce.

I avoid fake FAQ schema or stuffing ratings where they don’t belong. It’s not worth the risk.

Schema should describe what’s already on the page. If it reads like a trick, I don’t ship it.

I also reduce “index bloat.” In my SEO plugin, I often noindex:

• Thin tag archives
• Internal search pages
• Attachment pages (depending on the setup)

Now, here’s the quick-win list I use so I don’t spin my wheels.

My prioritized WordPress SEO checklist

Here’s how I separate fast wins from deeper work:

Priority	What I do	Where in WordPress
Quick win	Uncheck search visibility	Settings > Reading
Quick win	Set Post name permalinks (new sites)	Settings > Permalinks
Quick win	Write a better title and meta description	SEO plugin, per post editor
Quick win	Compress and lazy load images	Media + performance plugin
Deeper fix	Clean up tag/category index bloat	SEO plugin archive settings
Deeper fix	Audit slow templates and heavy scripts	Performance plugin + speed tests
Deeper fix	Build a pillar and internal linking map	Posts and Pages editor

If you’re also evaluating your plugin stack, I cross-check against lists like WordPress.com’s data-backed plugin picks for 2026, then I keep my setup lean.

Conclusion: the WordPress SEO plan I’d follow this week

When I want better rankings, I start with indexing and site settings, then I improve content for intent and trust, and finally I tighten performance so pages feel fast on mobile. That order keeps me from chasing shiny tactics.

If you take only one step today, make it this: pick one important page, update it for clarity, add a few helpful internal links, and improve its images. Sustainable WordPress SEO is mostly that, repeated consistently.