10 Common WordPress SEO Mistakes and How to Fix Them
WordPress is one of the most SEO-friendly content management systems out there—but only when used correctly. Many websites built on WordPress fall short in search rankings not because of poor content, but because of technical or structural mistakes that are easy to avoid.
Whether you’re a small business owner, blogger, or digital marketer, understanding the basics of WordPress SEO best practices can make the difference between showing up on page one of Google or getting lost in the noise.
In this guide, we’ll break down 10 of the most common WordPress SEO mistakes and how you can fix them—starting with structure, speed, and one of the most overlooked elements: SEO header tags.
1. Not Using SEO-Friendly Permalinks
One of the first technical mistakes beginners make is sticking with the default WordPress permalink settings. A URL like www.example.com/?p=123 tells neither users nor search engines what the page is about.
Fix:
Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and select the “Post name” option. This setting creates clean, readable URLs that match your content and keywords—one of the fundamental WordPress SEO best practices.
A descriptive URL like www.example.com/seo-tips-for-wordpress is not only easier to read but also more clickable in search results.
2. Poor Use of Header Tags
Many users style their text to look like headings but don’t use actual HTML heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.). This confuses search engines and undermines your site’s SEO structure.
Fix:
Use SEO header tags properly by assigning one H1 per page (usually the title), followed by H2 for main subheadings and H3 for supporting points. This creates a clear hierarchy, improves user experience, and helps Google understand your content layout.
If you’re unsure how to implement this, check out the header tags in SEO guide for an easy-to-follow breakdown.
3. Neglecting Image Optimisation
Large image files slow down your website, increase bounce rates, and negatively affect your rankings. Even if your visuals look great, they could be hurting your SEO.
Fix:
Compress images before uploading using tools like Tinypng or ShortPixel. Add descriptive filenames and ALT text to every image. This doesn’t just support accessibility—it also provides additional keyword signals to search engines.
Optimising media is one of the easiest WordPress SEO best practices to implement, and it has a significant impact on speed and user experience.
4. Skipping Meta Titles and Descriptions
Without custom titles and descriptions, Google may generate them automatically, and not always in your favour. This can lead to lower click-through rates even when your page ranks.
Fix:
Use SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math to customise your meta title and description for each post. Include your main keyword naturally and ensure it reflects the intent of your content.
Your metadata should act as a hook, convincing users to click and explore further.
5. Using Multiple H1 Tags
This is a common oversight. Using multiple H1 tags on a single page—often through design elements like headers, banners, or sliders—dilutes your SEO efforts.
Fix:
Limit your use of H1 to the main page or post title. Use H2 and H3 for all other headings. A clean structure with correct SEO header tags improves your chances of ranking, especially when combined with relevant internal links and keyword usage.
6. Not Creating or Submitting an XML Sitemap
If your site lacks a sitemap, search engines may not crawl all your content. Pages may get indexed inconsistently or not at all.
Fix:
Use your SEO plugin to generate an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console. This helps Google better understand the structure of your site and ensures your new content is indexed faster.
This is a key component of SEO best practices for WordPress, especially for growing websites with dozens or hundreds of pages.
7. Forgetting Internal Linking
Internal linking guides users to relevant pages and helps search engines understand the relationship between content. Many website owners neglect this, missing out on better site architecture.
Fix:
Link to related blog posts, product pages, or service sections naturally within your content. Use descriptive anchor text that clearly indicates what the linked page is about.
This not only improves crawlability but also keeps users on your site longer.
8. Not Optimising for Mobile
Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning the mobile version of your site is what gets evaluated for ranking. If your site is clunky on mobile devices, your rankings will suffer.
Fix:
Choose a responsive WordPress theme, test your website on different screen sizes, and run Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Optimising for mobile is one of the most essential WordPress SEO best practices in 2025.
Also, ensure that text is readable, buttons are tappable, and images are scaled correctly on smaller screens.
9. Ignoring Schema Markup
Schema markup helps search engines better understand your content and enables rich snippets in search results. It’s especially useful for reviews, products, articles, and FAQs.
Fix:
Use tools or plugins like Schema Pro or Rank Math to add schema markup to your posts and pages. Structured data doesn’t guarantee rich snippets, but it increases your chances significantly.
It’s an advanced tactic, but one worth learning if you’re serious about improving visibility.
10. Inconsistent Formatting and Poor Readability
Even if your content is valuable, a lack of structure can make it hard to read. Huge blocks of text, inconsistent fonts, or missing headings drive users away.
Fix:
Use clear subheadings with proper SEO header tags to break up content. Write short paragraphs, use bullet points where appropriate, and include whitespace to improve readability.
Remember, a well-formatted post isn’t just good for users—it helps search engines scan and index your content more effectively.
Final Thoughts
Improving SEO on your WordPress website doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It starts with small, consistent improvements rooted in clarity, structure, and user experience. From using correct SEO header tags to building internal links and creating mobile-friendly layouts, each fix contributes to stronger rankings and better engagement.
By following WordPress SEO best practices, you’re not only making your content more discoverable—you’re creating a smoother experience for every visitor who lands on your page.
SEO isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing process that evolves with your content, your audience, and search engine algorithms. But if you get the basics right, you’re already ahead of most.
