WordPress Page-by-Page SEO Checklist

This simple SEO checklist is designed to assist in simple, on-page SEO using WordPress and Yoast SEO for WordPress. Prior to starting work, it’s recommended you have separate images for Twitter, Facebook and the Post / Page Featured Image.

Minimum Recommended Image Sizes

  • Twitter: 1024px x 512px
  • Facebook / Open Graph: 1200px x 630px
  • Featured: 800px x 800px

Handy Shortcut Keys

  • Select All: Ctrl + A
  • Undo: Ctrl + Z
  • Cut: Ctrl + X
  • Copy: Ctrl + C
  • Paste: Ctrl + V

Content / Text Information

  • Set a focus keyword
  • Copy and paraphrase the first two sentences (or up to 1 paragraph) of text-based content from the content body
  • Paste (Ctrl + V) the paraphrased text into the Excerpt
  • Paste (Ctrl + V) the paraphrased text into the Twitter and Facebook Description fields
  • Paste (Ctrl + V) the paraphrased text into the Meta Description area (may need further trimming)

SEO Page Title

  • If the SEO Page Title is one or two words, feel free to expand
  • If the SEO Page Title is too long, feel free to paraphrase
  • For contact pages, add the phone number (eg, Contact PSD to Final on 1300 551 549) to the SEO Page Title, Twitter Title and Facebook Tile

Images

If there is a featured image that is larger than 200px x 200px:

  • Add the Featured Image to the Open Graph / Facebook image image field
  • Add the Featured Image to the Twitter Image field

If there is a featured image that is smaller than 200px x 200px:

  • Add the default Open Graph or Facebook image to the Facebook image field
  • Add the default Twitter Card Image to the Twitter Image field

If no featured image exists for the page being updated:

  • Add / select a featured image (middle, right-hand column)
  • Add the default Open Graph or Facebook image to the Facebook image field
  • Add the default Twitter Card Image to the Twitter Image field

Additional Image SEO

Where a featured image does not have an existing description:

  • Copy the SEO Title into memory
  • Click on the featured image
  • Add the SEO Title as the Title, Alt, and Description

If there are images in the body of content that do not have an existing description:

  • Copy the SEO Title into memory
  • Click the image block, or edit image button
  • Set the Title and Alt Image Text to the SEO Title

Skipping / Unindexing

If the page you’re editing contains nothing but a utility shortcode (eg, WooCommerce Cart, WooCommerce Checkout), it’s best to remove this page from the search index structure of the site.

In the Yoast SEO box on the Page / Post / Product admin screen, click the Settings Cog, and set Meta Robots Index to noindex.