Fixing Common SEO Issues in WordPress
Quick fixes for indexing, image optimization, and internal linking.
The Most Common SEO Issues (and How to Fix Them Quickly)
Struggling with your site’s visibility? These are the most frequent SEO errors we encounter—and how you can resolve them using tools like Google Search Console and WordPress plugins.
1. Missing Alt Tags
- What’s the issue?
Images without descriptive alt (alternative) text make your site less accessible and can hurt your rankings in image search. - Quick Fix:
- Use a WordPress plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to identify images missing alt text.
- Edit each image in your Media Library or page/post editor, and add clear, concise descriptions of what the image shows.
2. Broken Links
- What’s the issue?
Links that lead to non-existent pages (404 errors) irritate visitors and make it harder for search engines to crawl your site. - Quick Fix:
- Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to scan for and report broken internal and external links.
- Update, remove, or redirect broken links to relevant, live pages.
3. Duplicate Content
- What’s the issue?
Identical or very similar content on different pages confuses search engines and can dilute your site’s ranking power. - Quick Fix:
- Review content with plugins like Yoast SEO or Siteliner (for overall site checks).
- Rewrite or consolidate duplicate content, and use canonical tags (easy with most SEO plugins) to show Google your preferred version.
4. Crawl Errors
- What’s the issue?
Problems like unreachable pages or server errors block search engines from indexing your content. - Quick Fix:
- Check for crawl errors in Google Search Console.
- Resolve errors by fixing server or permissions issues, updating links, or removing blocked pages from your sitemap.
- After fixing, click “Validate Fix” in Search Console to notify Google.
5. Tools & Plugins to Speed Things Up
- Google Search Console:
Free, essential tool for detecting indexing and crawl issues—set it up if you haven’t already! - WordPress SEO Plugins:
- Yoast SEO and Rank Math highlight duplicate content and missing tags.
- Broken Link Checker continuously monitors for bad links and notifies you instantly.
- Image Optimization Plugins:
Tools like Smush or Imagify encourage you to add and optimize alt text during image upload.
Summary:
Addressing these common SEO pitfalls—missing alt tags, broken links, duplicate content, and crawl errors—strengthens your website’s rankings and improves visitor experience. With the right tools and simple habits, you can keep your site optimized and competitive.
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4 Most Common SEO Issues (and How to Fix Them Fast)
Every website faces SEO problems that can hurt rankings and user experience. Here are the ones we see most often—and step-by-step solutions using tools like Google Search Console and WordPress plugins.
1. Missing Alt Tags
- Why it matters:
Alt tags describe images to search engines and users with screen readers. Missing or generic alt text lowers accessibility and SEO value. - How to fix:
- Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to scan for images missing alt tags.
- Edit posts or Media Library items to add descriptive, relevant alt text for each image.
2. Broken Links
- Why it matters:
Broken links frustrate users and reduce your site’s trustworthiness. They also block search engine bots from crawling your pages completely. - How to fix:
- Install a plugin like Broken Link Checker to automatically find broken internal and external links.
- Regularly review and update or remove any broken links the plugin finds.
3. Duplicate Content
- Why it matters:
Google may not know which page to rank if you have duplicate or very similar content, diluting your SEO efforts. - How to fix:
- Use Yoast SEO or online tools like Siteliner or Copyscape to identify duplicate pages.
- Rewrite, consolidate, or use canonical tags (handled easily by Yoast or Rank Math) to point Google to the original version.
4. Crawl Errors
- Why it matters:
Crawl errors (such as unreachable or non-indexable pages) prevent Google from seeing your content, limiting your organic reach. - How to fix:
- Open Google Search Console and check the “Coverage” report for crawl errors.
- Fix errors—update links, check robots.txt, unblock key pages, and repair broken sitemaps.
- After corrections, use the “Validate Fix” option in Search Console.
Tools for Fast SEO Fixes
- Google Search Console:
Tracks crawl errors, indexing, and page performance—all for free. - Yoast SEO / Rank Math:
Top WordPress plugins to help you spot and remedy issues like missing alt tags and duplicate content. - Broken Link Checker:
Scans your website automatically for broken links and lets you fix them quickly.
Summary:
Fixing these common issues—missing alt tags, broken links, duplicate content, crawl errors—will boost your SEO and usability. With the right tools and consistent checks, your site will be both search-engine and user-friendly.