Best WordPress SEO Practices for Agencies

Ever wondered why some websites pop up first on Google when you search for something? That’s because of SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. In simple words, SEO helps websites show up higher on search engines. But here’s the thing: Google changes how it ranks websites from time to time. This means that website owners need to be on their toes to make sure their sites remain at the top.

When it comes to the best WordPress SEO, it’s essential to understand these changes and how to make the most of them. After all, having a site that appears as one of the first results when people search is what everyone aims for. It boosts visibility and enhances online presence and business success.

At the White Label Agency, we’ve seen how Google updates can impact websites. SEO isn’t just about using the right keywords; it’s a combination of perfecting your website’s technical aspects, creating quality content, and using SEO plugins to optimize a website. These plugins play a crucial role in making your site Google and other search engine-friendly.

With our decade of experience in WordPress, WLA is the world’s leading provider of WordPress outsourcing services to digital agencies, we employ over 130 in-house WordPress developers, and we’ve built over 10,000 sites. Using our deep knowledge of WordPress SEO, we want to explain Google’s updates, the value of SEO plugins, and why having great content and a well-built site is key for your website’s top rankings.

Google’s Changes Over Time: What Happened?

When the internet was still young and Google was just starting out, its search method was pretty basic. It was a groundbreaking tool, but like any new tool, it had room for growth. As more and more websites popped up, Google recognized the need to refine how it ranked them.

Some of the most noteworthy changes include:

Panda Update

Google introduced the Panda update to prioritize high-quality content in search results. This change meant that websites with content deemed low-quality, thin, or duplicated from other sources were penalized. As a result, many websites with such content experienced a decline in their search rankings. The goal of this update was to ensure users were presented with the most relevant and valuable content when searching.

Penguin Update

Google’s Penguin update was designed to target websites that were violating Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, especially those involved in manipulative link schemes. Prior to this update, many sites used unnatural or spammy links to boost their search engine rankings. With the Penguin update, Google started penalizing sites with suspicious, low-quality, or purchased backlinks. Websites with many of these “bad” links saw drops in their search rankings. The primary goal was to encourage genuine, high-quality link-building and to provide users with more trustworthy search results.

Hummingbird Update

Introduced by Google in 2013, the Hummingbird update was a significant overhaul of the core algorithm and how Google responded to user queries. Before Hummingbird, search algorithms primarily matched keywords in queries to keywords on a webpage. With Hummingbird, Google began considering the full context of a search query rather than just isolated words.

The main emphasis was on semantic search—understanding the intent behind a user’s search rather than just the literal words they typed in. This was especially useful for handling conversational queries or natural language questions. For instance, if someone typed, “How to customize my WordPress homepage?” before Hummingbird, Google might primarily focus on exact matches for that phrase. However, with Hummingbird’s emphasis on understanding intent, Google would recognize the user’s desire for guidance on WordPress customization. It could then show results related to WordPress theme adjustments, page builders, or specific plugins—even if the exact phrase “customize my WordPress homepage” isn’t present on a website. This makes it more likely for the user to find comprehensive tutorials and solutions related to their WordPress customization needs.

In essence, Hummingbird aimed to deliver search results that truly matched a user’s intent, providing more accurate and relevant results.

Because of these updates and more, the old tricks websites used (like adding too many keywords or using fake links) don’t work anymore. Today, to achieve the best WordPress SEO, the focus is on quality: providing valuable information and ensuring a great user experience.

Why Staying with Google’s Algorithm Changes is Crucial for Businesses

Failing to adapt to Google’s updates can be dangerous for businesses. Websites that don’t evolve with these changes risk losing their favorable search engine rankings, leading to decreased visibility online. This translates to fewer clicks, fewer potential customers, and lost revenue. More severe oversights can even result in penalties from Google, pushing your site even further down the search results or removing it altogether.

On the flip side, staying up-to-date with these updates brings its own set of advantages. Primarily, it gives businesses the opportunity to maintain or even boost their rankings. Being proactive in adjusting to Google’s priorities not only ensures visibility but can also offer insights into modern SEO best practices. This proactive approach enables businesses to offer an enhanced user experience, keeping in line with what Google considers valuable and user-friendly.

It’s clear that Google’s algorithm changes have tangible effects on businesses. The choice is simple: adapt and thrive or ignore and risk fading into online obscurity. With the best WordPress SEO practices in mind, your agency can effectively navigate these changes, ensuring a robust online presence for your clients.

Strategies to Stay Informed and Adapt to Google’s SEO Updates

Digital marketing is always evolving, always changing. Staying updated with these shifts, particularly in search engine optimization, is vital for ensuring a distinguished online presence. SEO is not stagnant. Every year, every month, and sometimes even every week, there are new developments to grasp, new techniques to understand, and outdated practices to abandon. For businesses and marketers, staying still is not an option. Continuous learning and upskilling become essential to stay ahead of the curve.

While the internet is awash with information, not all of it is trustworthy or accurate. It’s crucial to sieve through the noise and tune into authoritative sources for insights on SEO updates. Platforms such as the Google Webmasters Blog offer official insights into what’s new and what’s changing. Similarly, tools and platforms like aHrefs and Semrush don’t just offer invaluable SEO tools but also regularly publish in-depth articles, studies, and updates that give clarity on the ever-evolving search engine optimization.

“Google algorithms are like a puzzle. Relying on just one tactic is asking for trouble,” Olivier, our marketing manager, points out. “You’ve got to mix it up – from polishing up your content and getting solid backlinks to nailing local SEO. That way, you’re set no matter how Google shakes things up.”

WLA, Always in Your Corner

Mastering the best WordPress SEO tactics is a necessary process for your agency to effectively serve your clients and ensure their online success. No matter where your agency stands in its SEO journey, having a sharp, on-point strategy is a game-changer.

If your agency would like to partner with a WordPress outsourcer that can help you lead the industry in development and design, contact us at White Label Agency. Over ten years we’ve produced over 10,000 websites. We offer website development, design, maintenance and dedicated developer rental. Don’t hesitate to contact our sales team today.