In this article, we will provide basic guidelines for achieving excellent SEO results using the Rank Math SEO plugin for WordPress.
Rank Math SEO is a popular tool for optimizing websites built on WordPress, with more than three million active users.
Although this plugin offers various functionalities, here we will focus on achieving the best possible results for a specific page or post by applying on-page SEO optimization techniques.
Rank Math: Using Keywords
When we start writing, the SEO score in the upper right corner of the page will show 1/100.
As we progress, it will gradually increase.
When entering keywords in the Rank Math SEO plugin, it is important to follow several rules to achieve the best possible SEO result.
Here are some guidelines you can follow:
Keyword entry
In the window labeled “Focus Keyword,” we will enter the term for building the entire article.
Writing the Title
The title we write should have the main keyword at the beginning.
Using numbers and some “power words” in the title is good for better SEO.
For example, “5 Incredible Ways to Increase Traffic.”
Of course, you still need to include your main keyword here.
Permalink or URL of the Page
If you do not set the URL when publishing the article, Rank Math will take it from your title.
This will almost always be too long, so it’s advisable to define it yourself.
You can do this by clicking the “Edit Snippet” button.
In the open panel, you can see how your title and the entire URL will look when someone searches for it.
It is recommended that the length of the URL not exceed 75 characters.
It is also advisable to include the keyword in it.
Meta Description
In the previously described interface, you will also find a field for the meta description.
In this field, you should briefly describe the content of your article. This description, along with the title, will be displayed to users during internet searches.
It is advisable to use the main keyword here and keep the length under 160 characters.
You will see that the total SEO score has increased to 64/100.
Using Keywords in Alt Text of Images
Alt text (alternative text) in the image options in WordPress is used to describe images to search engines and users who cannot see the image.
This is an important element for SEO as it helps search engines better understand the content of the image.
Additionally, alt text provides accessibility for visually impaired users who use screen readers, as these tools read the alt text instead of displaying the image.
To get a better SEO result, use the main keyword in the image description (alt text).
Using the Main Keyword in the Text
First Sentence of the Text
The keyword should appear in the first sentence of the text, which helps signal search engines about the content.
Keyword Density
The keyword should be naturally integrated into the text without excessive repetition (keyword stuffing).
It is recommended that the keyword appears in 1-2% of the total text.
Headings and Subheadings (H1, H2, H3)
It is important to use the main keyword in the main title (H1), which we’ve already mentioned, and in at least one subheading (H2 or H3), to structure the content and make it easily readable.
Other Keywords
If you haven’t already, you can now enter additional keywords.
In the Pro version of the Rank Math SEO plugin, you can use an unlimited number of keywords for optimizing a single page or post.
However, it is recommended to use 3-5 relevant keywords to avoid overloading the content and ensure better optimization.
The free version of Rank Math allows the use of up to 5 keywords per page or post.
When using other keywords (besides the main one), the previously described rules apply.
- The word should be included in the H2 or H3 heading.
- The word should be in the alt text of the image.
- The word should be used in the content.
When you click on any of the keywords in the panel named “Keywords,” it will change color.
At the same time, on the right toolbar, you’ll be able to see what else you need to do to achieve the best SEO result.
Content-Length
The article content should be at least 600 words, which is the minimum for a good SEO result.
Our recommendation is up to 1000 words.
The maximum article length can be up to 2000 words in exceptional cases, and we do not recommend exceeding this number.
If some sentences are too long and unreadable, Rank Math will inform you in the toolbar.
External and Internal Links
To complete the SEO optimization of the article, it is necessary to have at least one link to an external website and at least one to one of your previous articles (internal links).
It is recommended that the link to the external website points to a site with greater authority than yours.
It is also advisable to mark it with the dofollow attribute.
This means that in the link settings, the “Set to nofollow” field must remain unchecked.
Final Result
In the same place where we started, you will now see a much better SEO score.
Although this is an excellent result, check the right toolbar for minor adjustments that you may have missed to further improve the score.
Schema Generator
Rank Math has a schema generation option.
You can enable it in the main settings or generate it later.
Such an article will be marked as a rich result in search engines and will automatically rank higher in search results.
In the free version, you can only use one type of schema per page.
Sharing on Social Media
By clicking on the “Social” option, you will see a preview of the image and text shared on social media (Facebook and X).
Here, the image you use as the featured image on the blog will automatically be inserted.
If its ratio is 16:9, you won’t need to make any corrections.
If the ratio is different, you will need to replace and upload an image with the correct ratio to ensure it looks as good as possible on social media.
For this purpose, we recommend the jpg format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
We believe that Rank Math is one of the best plugins for SEO optimization that can be used.
Everything important is displayed on the side toolbar, and you can track the SEO score and its changes in real time.
Because of this, it’s excellent for those just entering the world of WordPress SEO optimization.
Soon, we will describe how to set up this plugin, as well as other features and tools it contains.
Recommended Reading
How to optimize images and reduce image size for web (before upload)