[BASIC] RankMath: SEO Plugin Setup & Optimization for WordPress

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNyPGLYBc_E

1. Install and Activate RankMath

   • Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New
   • Search for "RankMath", click Install, then Activate
   • Username and password →
     
     • blackflam85@gmail.com
     • m6Fx%XdN$zA#

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Initial Configuration Wizard

1. • Choose "Advanced" mode for more control
   • Select your website type (e.g., business, blog, e-commerce)
   • Enter your website name, logo, and default social share image
     • Create a social share image 1200 x 630. Duplicate the design at Canva
   • Click “Save and Continue” after each step

1. Sitemap Setup

   • Enable Sitemap
   • Include images, posts, pages, and products (if e-commerce)
   • Exclude unnecessary custom post types to avoid duplicates
   • Enable categories and product categories in sitemap
   • Save settings

2. SEO Tweaks

   • Activate "noindex" for empty categories/tags
   • Leave "nofollow external links" off unless running affiliate sites
   • Enable "Open external links in a new tab"
   • Save and continue

3. Activate Essential Modules

   • Enable Image SEO, Sitemap, Instant Indexing, and Local SEO modules as needed

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Run SEO Analyser

1. Follow recommendations 
   1. insert keywords for each page
   2. update meta title and descriptions etc
2. edit Homepage 
   1. insert h1
   2. mention keywords etc

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Dashboard

Follow this guide by onlinemediamasters.com →

Do these (not included in the guide)

1.  manually update Meta Title and Meta descriptions for every page

Skip these:

1. Connect Search Console/Webmaster Tools ❌
   

   (this part is powered with "Google Site Kit" plugin)

2. Instant Indexing (Optional) ❌

   • Enable instant indexing for posts, pages, and products under RankMath > Instant Indexing

3. Ongoing Optimization ❌

   • Regularly check RankMath SEO Analyzer for warnings and critical errors
   • Manually optimize new pages, posts, and products—do not rely solely on automation
   • Keep plugin updated; roll back using tools if needed for compatibility

4. Content Protection (Optional) ❌

   • Under RSS settings, add before/after content templates to protect against content scraping

Advance SEO settings are not required for basic setups. It's for customers who invested in "LOCAL SEO" package

Start here: [ADVANCE] RankMath: More Optimization

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