WordPress Plugins for SEO
At Climb & Conquer, we leverage the power of WordPress to enhance SEO performance. WordPress offers a strong foundation for SEO, with its core CMS thoughtfully designed to support organic growth. Add to that the vast array of plugins, and you have the flexibility to enhance existing functionality or introduce new features to boost rankings. The vibrant plugin marketplace offers solutions for nearly every problem, often with multiple options to choose from, making it a key selling point for WordPress.
With so many choices, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Below, we’ll guide you through the essential plugins we recommend and use for our clients. While these are our preferred tools, alternatives are available, and you’re welcome to explore other options to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Optimising Loading Speed for WordPress
Image Handling
Improving loading speed is critical for SEO, and image optimisation plays a significant role. At Climb & Conquer, we use Imagify, a powerful tool that compresses images and generates WebP versions automatically when uploaded. Its bulk processing feature also allows us to optimise older media and theme images directly from your FTP files.
Additional features like compression aggression settings and metadata removal further enhance performance. For smaller sites, Imagify’s free credits can get you started, while its affordable unlimited plan ensures larger sites are fully covered.
Asset Handling
Poorly optimised CSS and JS files can slow down your site, especially when plugins load unnecessary scripts globally. To address this, we take a hybrid approach:
1.Perfmatters – This tool allows us to control which scripts run on specific pages, fix expired transients, and implement advanced performance features like lazy loading.
2.Hummingbird – A robust caching and modification tool that enhances speed out of the box. It also includes performance reporting and grading to identify further optimisation opportunities.
Dedicated SEO Plugins for WordPress
Yoast SEO
Our go-to SEO plugin is Yoast, known for its reliable functionality and comprehensive features. It streamlines on-page SEO with tools for optimising titles, meta descriptions, canonical tags, and more. Its ability to handle archives and taxonomies at scale makes it invaluable for managing larger sites.
Google Site Kit
We also recommend Google’s Site Kit, which simplifies integrating essential tools like Google Search Console and Tag Manager into one plugin. This seamless setup ensures your site is fully equipped for tracking and analysis.
Noteworthy Plugins for WordPress
Beyond SEO, we frequently use these plugins to improve functionality:
- Really Simple SSL: Simplifies HTTPS management and prevents redirection loops.
- Simple 301 Redirects: Offers an intuitive interface for redirecting old pages, ideal for managing product redundancy and preserving SEO value.
- IndexNow: Useful for faster indexing in Bing, with potential benefits for Google as well.
Beyond Plugins: Holistic WordPress Optimisation
While plugins are vital, they’re only part of the equation. To maximise performance, we also focus on:
- Theme Optimisation: Ensuring your WordPress theme is lightweight and SEO-friendly.
- Top-Level Speed Improvements: Tailored specifically for WordPress, including hosting optimisation and advanced caching strategies.
Plugins are powerful tools, but combining them with broader SEO strategies ensures your WordPress site runs efficiently, ranks higher, and delivers long-term results. At Climb & Conquer, we’re here to help you make the most of your WordPress setup. Get in touch today to see how we can elevate your site’s performance.