Lack of rankings is one of the top questions that site owners struggle with and ask me about. That's why I have so many SEO articles from every angle here on this site.
One of the many reasons to switch to WordPress is that it makes SEO easier. However, that in no way means that WordPress is a “magic bullet.”
In my world, every day I receive questions about SEO. But, to be honest, not much has changed in over two decades I've been crafting and marketing websites.
When I hear these questions, more come to mind.
These answers to these questions let me know if the site owner has realistic expectations or just pie-in-the-sky desires.
Recently I was having a conversation with a developer I know on this very topic. We fondly remember “the old days” when you could put up a site, get found, and make things happen. That was over 25 years ago, and since then, millions of websites and billions of web pages have been added to search engine indexes.
To say it takes time and a lot of hard work to make that top page nowadays is an understatement. It is a pretty unrealistic expectation for any new site or simply because you moved your site to WordPress.
SEO Friendly
Yes, moving your site to the WordPress platform, which is inherently SEO friendly, was a great move. Add the ability to install SEO Plugins that will guide you on making your content and site optimized, makes it as easy as you can hope for.
If you don't have your site on WordPress or are thinking of putting up a new site — WordPress is the way to go. But remember that all new websites take more time to acquire relevant rankings over established sites. Patience is a virtue here.
The act of “putting” your site on WordPress alone does not negate the other things you need to think about consistently and for perpetuity when planning and updating your site. Embrace this fact to ensure you will know what is necessary to reach your goals.
Where I See Folks Fall Short
SEO doesn't just happen on its own. With every bit of new content that you add, you want o be aware of the necessary variables and integrate them into your site. I have a bunch of articles on the topic of SEO. If you only read one, read my article WordPress How To: Learn About SEO.
When I think about what most of my clients struggle with when it comes to SEO, this is what comes to mind:
Google's SEO Starter Guide
Google does have its SEO Starter Guide online for you to bookmark and become intimate with. Here is the Table of Contents to give you an idea of what this document will cover.
- Getting started
- Help Google find your content
- Tell Google which pages shouldn't be crawled
- Help Google (and users) understand your content
- Manage your appearance in Google Search results
- Organize your site hierarchy
- Optimize your content
- Optimize your images
- Make your site mobile-friendly
- Promote your website
- Analyze your search performance and user behavior
Read, learn, absorb and do.
I wish there were a magic bullet I could offer to you. But there is no replacement for the reality of what you need to do. That is if you want to have a chance at getting ranked in the top handful of pages on Google.
There are no “secrets,” tricks, or shortcuts. No schemes, programs, or software to negate what the above resources advise. The numbers are overwhelming. For any search, there are millions of results.
Only by working hard and making your site the most stunning, zippy, and helpful website for your target market will you one day exclaim with glee, “I found my WordPress site on Google!”.
At your service,
