WordPress SEO in 2026: The Complete Checklist (Including AI Optimization)

Most WordPress SEO checklists you'll find online were written in 2020 and updated with a new year in the title. They tell you to install Yoast, write meta descriptions, and submit your sitemap to Google. That advice isn't wrong -- it's just incomplete.

Here's the problem: over 30% of informational searches now involve AI-powered answers. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews, and Claude are pulling content from websites and synthesizing it into direct responses. If your SEO strategy only targets traditional search crawlers, you're optimizing for a shrinking slice of the pie.

This checklist covers everything -- the fundamentals that still matter, plus the AI optimization steps that most guides ignore entirely. Thirty items, organized by category, each with a clear "what to do" and "why it matters."

Bookmark this page. You'll come back to it.

Technical SEO (Items 1-8)

Technical SEO is the foundation. Get this wrong and nothing else matters -- Google can't rank what it can't crawl, and AI models can't cite what they can't access.

1. Install an SEO plugin

WordPress out of the box doesn't generate meta tags, XML sitemaps, or structured data. You need a plugin to handle this.

Your main options in 2026: Prime SEO (the only one with built-in AI search optimization), Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or AIOSEO. All four handle the basics. The difference is what they do beyond the basics.

Prime SEO includes llms.txt generation, AI bot management, and AI crawler monitoring as free features -- things the others either don't offer or lock behind premium tiers. If AI visibility matters to you (and after reading this checklist, it will), that's worth considering.

What to do: Install one SEO plugin. Not two -- running multiple SEO plugins causes conflicts. If you're migrating from another plugin, most modern SEO plugins include import tools that transfer your existing data.

2. Set up your XML sitemap

An XML sitemap tells search engines which pages exist on your site and when they were last updated. It doesn't guarantee indexing, but it accelerates discovery -- especially for new or updated content.

What to do: Enable XML sitemaps in your SEO plugin settings. Submit the sitemap URL (typically yoursite.com/sitemap.xml) to Google Search Console. Exclude low-value pages like tag archives, author pages, and media attachment pages. For more on configuration, see our XML Sitemap module documentation.

Why it matters: Google discovers most pages through links, but sitemaps catch the pages that internal linking misses. For sites with 100+ pages, a clean sitemap is non-negotiable.

3. Configure robots.txt

Your robots.txt file controls which crawlers can access which parts of your site. In 2026, this isn't just about Googlebot anymore -- there are 16+ AI crawlers that may visit your site, including GPTBot (OpenAI), ClaudeBot (Anthropic), and PerplexityBot.

What to do: Review your robots.txt at yoursite.com/robots.txt. Make sure it allows Googlebot and Bingbot full access. For AI crawlers, decide your strategy: allow all, block training bots but allow search bots, or fine-tune per bot. Our robots.txt for AI bots guide has three ready-made templates.

Why it matters: If you block GPTBot entirely, ChatGPT can't use your content in search answers. If you allow everything, your content may be used for AI training without attribution. A nuanced approach gives you control.

4. Enable SSL/HTTPS

If your site still loads on http://, fix this today. Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014, and most browsers now show security warnings for non-HTTPS sites.

What to do: Install an SSL certificate (most hosts provide free ones through Let's Encrypt). Set up a redirect from HTTP to HTTPS. Update your WordPress Address and Site Address in Settings > General to use https://. Check for mixed content warnings using your browser's developer tools.

Why it matters: Beyond rankings, HTTPS is a trust signal. Users (and AI models evaluating source credibility) trust secure sites more than insecure ones.

5. Optimize page speed (Core Web Vitals)

Google's Core Web Vitals -- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) -- are ranking factors. Slow sites lose traffic. Fast sites get a small but measurable boost.

What to do: Test your site at PageSpeed Insights. Target LCP under 2.5 seconds, INP under 200ms, and CLS under 0.1. The biggest wins usually come from image optimization (use WebP format, lazy loading), caching (install a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache), and reducing unused JavaScript.

Why it matters: Speed affects both rankings and user experience. A 1-second delay in load time can reduce conversions by 7%, according to multiple studies. For AI search, page speed affects how quickly crawlers can access and process your content.

6. Fix broken links and set up redirects

Broken links (404 errors) waste crawl budget and frustrate users. If you've changed URLs, deleted pages, or migrated content, you likely have them.

What to do: Use your SEO plugin's 404 monitor (or Google Search Console's Pages report) to find broken URLs. Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to relevant current pages. Don't redirect everything to your homepage -- that's a soft 404 and Google treats it as such. For details, see our Redirects module documentation.

Why it matters: Each 404 error is a missed opportunity. Someone (or some bot) tried to reach your content and failed. A redirect turns that dead end into a live page.

7. Set canonical URLs

Canonical tags tell search engines which version of a page is the "original" when duplicate or near-duplicate versions exist. WordPress creates duplicates more often than you'd think -- category archives, paginated pages, URL parameters, and trailing slashes can all create multiple URLs for the same content.

What to do: Enable canonical URLs in your SEO plugin (most set these automatically). Review any pages where you've set custom canonicals to make sure they still point to valid URLs. If you have www and non-www versions of your site, pick one and redirect the other.

Why it matters: Without canonicals, search engines may split your ranking signals across multiple URLs, weakening all of them. Canonicalization consolidates that authority onto a single URL.

8. Add Schema markup (JSON-LD)

Schema markup is structured data that helps search engines understand what your content is, not just what it says. It's what powers rich results -- star ratings, FAQ dropdowns, recipe cards, event listings, and more in Google search results.

What to do: Add JSON-LD schema to your key pages. At minimum, implement Organization (for your homepage), Article or BlogPosting (for posts), and BreadcrumbList (for navigation). If you have products, events, recipes, or FAQs, add those too. Your SEO plugin should handle this -- see our Schema Markup module documentation.

Why it matters: Pages with schema markup earn rich results, which have significantly higher click-through rates than plain listings. Schema also helps AI models understand your content's type and structure, making it more likely to be cited accurately.

On-Page SEO (Items 9-16)

Technical SEO gets you crawled. On-page SEO gets you ranked. These are the content-level optimizations that tell search engines (and AI models) what each page is about and why it deserves to rank.

9. Write SEO titles and meta descriptions

Your SEO title appears in search results as the clickable blue link. Your meta description appears below it. Together, they determine whether someone clicks your result or scrolls past it.

What to do: Write a unique SEO title for every important page. Keep it under 60 characters. Include your target keyword near the beginning. For meta descriptions, aim for 150-155 characters. Make it specific and action-oriented -- not a generic summary, but a reason to click.

Example:

• Weak: "Our Services - Company Name"
• Strong: "WordPress Speed Optimization: Cut Load Time by 50% | Company"

Why it matters: A compelling title and description can double your click-through rate on the same ranking position. Google sometimes rewrites these, but a well-crafted version usually sticks.

10. Use proper heading hierarchy (H1-H3)

Headings aren't just visual formatting -- they're semantic structure. Search engines use heading hierarchy to understand the outline and topic structure of your page.

What to do: Use exactly one H1 per page (your main title). Use H2s for major sections. Use H3s for subsections under those H2s. Don't skip levels (H1 to H3 with no H2). Don't use headings for visual styling -- use CSS instead.

Why it matters: Proper heading hierarchy helps both search engines and AI models parse your content. When ChatGPT or Perplexity scans a page, it uses headings to understand which section answers which question. A flat wall of text with no headings is much harder for AI to extract specific answers from.

11. Optimize images (alt text, compression)

Images are a ranking factor on their own (Google Images drives real traffic) and they affect page speed. Every image on your site should have descriptive alt text and be properly compressed.

What to do: Write alt text that describes what the image shows -- not keyword-stuffed, just descriptive. Compress images before uploading (use TinyPNG, ShortPixel, or similar). Serve images in WebP format where possible. Add width and height attributes to prevent layout shifts (CLS). For WordPress, an Image SEO module can automate alt text patterns -- see our Image SEO documentation.

Why it matters: According to HTTP Archive data, images account for 40-50% of average page weight. Uncompressed images are the #1 reason WordPress sites fail Core Web Vitals. Alt text also serves as context for AI models that can't process images.

12. Build an internal linking strategy

Internal links distribute ranking authority (PageRank) throughout your site and help search engines discover new pages. Most WordPress sites underutilize internal linking dramatically.

What to do: Link from each new post to 2-5 relevant older posts. Link from high-authority pages (homepage, popular posts) to pages you want to rank. Use descriptive anchor text -- "WordPress SEO checklist" is better than "click here." Create hub pages (like this one) that link to multiple related articles.

Why it matters: Internal links are the primary way search engines understand your site's topical authority and hierarchy. A well-linked site can outrank a poorly linked one even with less backlinks. For AI search, internal links help crawlers navigate from one piece of content to related pieces, building a more complete picture of your expertise.

13. Focus keyword optimization

Each page should target one primary keyword and a handful of related terms. This isn't about keyword density (that died in 2010) -- it's about topical relevance and search intent.

What to do: Research your target keyword before writing. Use it in your title, H1, first paragraph, and URL. Include related terms naturally throughout the content. Check that your page actually answers the search intent -- if someone searches "how to set up WordPress SEO," they want a tutorial, not a sales page.

Why it matters: Focus keywords keep your content aligned with what people actually search for. Without keyword research, you might write great content that no one ever finds because no one is searching for it.

14. Content length and quality

There's no magic word count. A 500-word post can outrank a 5,000-word post if it answers the query better. That said, comprehensive content tends to rank better for competitive queries.

What to do: Match your content length to the search intent and competition. For "best WordPress hosting" you'll need 3,000+ words. For "WordPress admin login URL" you need 100 words. Study the top-ranking results for your keyword and aim to be more comprehensive, more current, and more practical.

Why it matters: Google's "helpful content" system evaluates whether pages provide satisfying, complete answers. Thin content that rehashes what's already out there won't rank. For AI citation, comprehensive content with clear, quotable statements is more likely to be referenced.

15. URL structure (short, descriptive)

Clean URLs help users and search engines understand what a page is about before they click it.

What to do: In WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks and choose "Post name" (/%postname%/) or a custom structure. Keep URLs short -- 3-5 words is ideal. Include your keyword. Avoid dates in URLs (they make evergreen content look old). Never change URLs after publishing unless absolutely necessary (and set up redirects if you do).

Example:

• Bad: yoursite.com/?p=123
• Bad: yoursite.com/2026/02/08/my-really-long-blog-post-title-about-wordpress-seo/
• Good: yoursite.com/wordpress-seo-checklist/

16. Open Graph and Twitter Cards

When someone shares your page on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Slack, Open Graph (OG) tags determine the title, description, and image that appear in the preview. Without them, social platforms guess -- and they usually guess wrong.

What to do: Set OG title, OG description, and OG image for every important page. The OG image should be 1200x630 pixels. Use your SEO plugin's social settings to configure these. Test your pages at the Facebook Sharing Debugger and Twitter Card Validator.

Why it matters: Social shares drive referral traffic. A post shared with a compelling image and title gets 3-5x more clicks than one with a generic preview. OG tags also help AI models that scrape social metadata to understand your content.

AI Search Optimization (Items 17-24)

This is the section that makes this checklist different from every other one. AI search isn't coming -- it's here. ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude are answering millions of queries daily. These items help your content get discovered, cited, and linked by AI.

17. Create an llms.txt file

llms.txt is a plain-text Markdown file that gives AI models a curated overview of your website -- what it's about, what the key pages are, and how they're organized. Think of it as a table of contents specifically designed for language models.

What to do: Create an llms.txt file at your site's root (yoursite.com/llms.txt). List your most important pages with descriptive one-line summaries, organized by section. You can do this manually or use a plugin that generates it automatically. See our complete llms.txt guide for the full spec and setup instructions.

Why it matters: Only about 3% of websites have an llms.txt file as of early 2026. It's a simple way to stand out and give AI models a clear signal about what your site offers. Zero risk, minimal effort.

18. Create llms-full.txt for content-heavy sites

While llms.txt is a table of contents, llms-full.txt is the entire book -- the full Markdown content of your key pages concatenated into one file. AI models with large context windows can ingest it in a single pass.

What to do: If you have 20+ pages of important content (documentation, detailed guides, product pages), create an llms-full.txt that contains the full text of those pages. Your SEO plugin may generate this automatically. Keep in mind that this file can get very large -- prioritize quality over quantity.

Why it matters: When an AI model can access your full content in one request instead of crawling multiple pages, the accuracy and depth of its references improve dramatically. This is especially valuable for SaaS companies, publishers, and documentation-heavy sites.

19. Configure AI bot access in robots.txt

Not all AI crawlers are equal. Some (like GPTBot-SearchAgent and PerplexityBot) power AI search -- they're the ones that cite your content. Others (like GPTBot-Training and CCBot) scrape content for model training, which may not benefit you directly.

What to do: Identify the AI crawlers visiting your site and configure your robots.txt accordingly. A balanced approach: allow search-oriented AI bots (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot) while blocking pure training bots (CCBot, Google-Extended). See our AI bots robots.txt guide for templates.

20. Monitor AI crawler traffic

You can't optimize what you can't measure. Knowing which AI crawlers visit your site, how often, and which pages they access gives you data to guide your AI SEO strategy.

What to do: Check your server logs for AI bot user agents (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, etc.). If you use Prime SEO, the AI Crawler Stats feature tracks this automatically. Review the data monthly -- look for trends in visit frequency and which pages get crawled most.

Why it matters: If no AI crawlers are visiting your site, your robots.txt might be blocking them, or your content might not be attracting them. Either way, you can't fix what you can't see.

21. Structure content for AI citation (quotable paragraphs)

AI models cite sources by pulling specific passages from web pages. Content that's easy to quote gets cited more often than content buried in long paragraphs or hidden behind complex layouts.

What to do: Write clear, self-contained paragraphs that answer specific questions without requiring the reader to read the entire page. Front-load your key claims. Use the "inverted pyramid" structure: answer first, details second. Avoid vague openings -- get to the point in the first sentence of each section.

Example:

• Hard to cite: "There are many factors that go into SEO performance, and it's important to consider all of them when developing your strategy..."
• Easy to cite: "WordPress sites with JSON-LD schema markup earn 40% more rich results than those without structured data, according to Search Engine Land's 2025 analysis."

22. Add FAQ sections (AI loves Q&A format)

When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity a question, it looks for content that directly answers that exact question. FAQ sections are structured exactly this way -- question as heading, answer as paragraph.

What to do: Add a FAQ section to your key pages with 4-6 real questions your audience asks. Use H3 headings for questions. Write concise, complete answers (2-4 sentences each). Don't pad with filler -- every word should add value. Bonus: if your SEO plugin generates FAQ schema automatically, these also appear as rich results in Google.

Why it matters: FAQ sections serve triple duty: they target long-tail keywords in traditional search, they generate FAQ schema for rich results, and they provide perfectly structured content for AI models to cite. No other content format hits all three simultaneously.

23. Build entity authority (consistent brand mentions)

AI models determine source credibility partly through entity recognition -- how consistently and frequently your brand appears across the web in association with specific topics.

What to do: Use your brand name consistently everywhere (don't alternate between "Company Name," "CompanyName," and "CN"). Get mentioned on relevant industry sites, directories, and publications. Ensure your Google Business Profile, Wikipedia entry (if applicable), and social media profiles all use consistent naming and descriptions.

Why it matters: When ChatGPT decides which source to cite for a query about "WordPress SEO," it weighs entity authority -- how well-established a brand is as an authority on that topic. Building entity authority is the AI search equivalent of building backlinks.

24. Test AI visibility (search your brand on ChatGPT/Perplexity)

The simplest way to know if AI search sees your site: ask it.

What to do: Open ChatGPT (with web search enabled), Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews. Search for your brand name, your main products, and questions your content should answer. Note whether you're cited, linked, or absent entirely. Do this monthly and track changes.

Why it matters: This isn't just a vanity check. If AI search consistently ignores your site while citing competitors, you have a specific, actionable problem. The items in this section (17-23) are how you fix it.

Monitoring & Maintenance (Items 25-30)

SEO isn't a one-time setup. It's an ongoing process. These monitoring items ensure you catch problems early, track progress, and adapt as search evolves.

25. Set up Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) tracks who visits your site, where they come from, what they do, and how long they stay. It's the foundation of data-driven SEO.

What to do: Create a GA4 property at analytics.google.com. Add the Measurement ID (G-XXXXXXXXXX) to your WordPress site -- either through your SEO plugin's analytics module (no extra plugin needed with Prime SEO's Analytics module), a dedicated analytics plugin, or manually in your theme's header. Set up key events: page views, scroll depth, outbound clicks, and form submissions.

Why it matters: Without analytics, you're guessing. GA4 tells you which pages drive traffic, which keywords bring visitors, and which content converts. It's also the only way to measure the ROI of your SEO work.

26. Connect Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) shows you how Google sees your site -- which queries you rank for, your average positions, click-through rates, and any crawling or indexing issues.

What to do: Verify your site at search.google.com/search-console. Submit your XML sitemap. Check the Pages report for indexing issues. Review the Performance report weekly to track keyword rankings and clicks.

Why it matters: GSC is the only source of truth for Google search performance. It shows you queries GA4 can't -- including impressions (how often you appeared in search results but weren't clicked). This data is gold for identifying content improvement opportunities.

27. Monitor 404 errors

Every 404 error represents a missed opportunity -- a user or bot tried to reach content that doesn't exist. Accumulated 404s can also signal crawling problems to search engines.

What to do: Check your 404 logs regularly (weekly for large sites, monthly for small ones). Your SEO plugin likely has a 404 Monitor built in. For each 404, decide: redirect to a relevant page (most common), fix the broken link that caused it, or ignore it (if it's a bot probing random URLs).

Why it matters: A site that consistently returns 404 errors looks poorly maintained to search engines. Redirecting popular 404 URLs to relevant content recovers lost traffic and preserves any backlink authority pointing to the old URL.

28. Track keyword rankings

You should know where you rank for your target keywords -- and whether those positions are improving, declining, or stagnant.

What to do: Use Google Search Console (free) for basic ranking data. For more detailed tracking, consider a dedicated tool like SE Ranking, Ahrefs, or Semrush. Track your top 10-20 keywords weekly. Look for patterns: are informational keywords growing while transactional ones decline? That might indicate a content gap.

Why it matters: Rankings are the leading indicator of organic traffic. A drop from position 3 to position 8 for a key term can cut traffic by 60% before you notice it in analytics. Early detection means early action.

29. Check AI search citations

Traditional keyword tracking doesn't cover AI search. You need to separately monitor whether AI platforms cite and link your content.

What to do: Monthly, search your top keywords on ChatGPT (with web search), Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Document which sources are cited. Check if your site appears. Track this over time -- are you being cited more or less frequently? Tools for automated AI search monitoring are emerging (Otterly.ai, Peec AI), but manual checks work for now.

Why it matters: AI search citations are becoming a meaningful traffic source. Some sites report 5-15% of referral traffic coming from AI platforms. If competitors are getting cited and you're not, you're leaving traffic on the table.

30. Run regular SEO audits (monthly)

All of the items above need periodic re-checking. Pages change, links break, new content gets published without proper optimization, and search algorithms update.

What to do: Once a month, run through this checklist and check for regressions. Focus on: new 404 errors, pages missing meta descriptions, recently published pages without schema, and broken internal links. Use your SEO plugin's site audit or dashboard to get a quick health check.

Why it matters: SEO decay is real. A page that ranked #3 six months ago might be #12 now because competitors published better content, your page developed technical issues, or the search intent shifted. Regular audits catch these problems before they compound.

Printable Checklist Summary

Here's the full list in one place for quick reference:

Technical SEO

• Install an SEO plugin (Prime SEO, Yoast, Rank Math, or AIOSEO)
• Enable and submit XML sitemap
• Configure robots.txt (including AI bot rules)
• Enable SSL/HTTPS
• Optimize Core Web Vitals (LCP < 2.5s, INP < 200ms, CLS < 0.1)
• Fix broken links and set up 301 redirects
• Set canonical URLs
• Add JSON-LD Schema markup

On-Page SEO

• Write SEO titles (< 60 chars) and meta descriptions (< 155 chars) for all pages
• Use proper H1 > H2 > H3 heading hierarchy
• Optimize all images (alt text, compression, WebP format)
• Build internal links (2-5 per post)
• Optimize for focus keywords (title, H1, first paragraph, URL)
• Match content length and depth to search intent
• Use short, descriptive URLs with keywords
• Configure Open Graph and Twitter Card metadata

AI Search Optimization

• Create llms.txt file
• Create llms-full.txt (if 20+ content pages)
• Configure AI bot access in robots.txt
• Monitor AI crawler traffic
• Write quotable, self-contained paragraphs
• Add FAQ sections to key pages
• Build entity authority (consistent brand mentions)
• Test AI visibility on ChatGPT and Perplexity

Monitoring & Maintenance

• Set up Google Analytics 4
• Connect Google Search Console
• Monitor 404 errors weekly/monthly
• Track keyword rankings for top 10-20 keywords
• Check AI search citations monthly
• Run a full SEO audit monthly

What Most People Get Wrong

After working with hundreds of WordPress sites, the biggest mistake we see isn't missing any single item on this list. It's stopping after the technical and on-page sections and ignoring AI optimization entirely.

Traditional SEO is table stakes now. Everyone has meta tags, sitemaps, and schema. The competitive edge in 2026 comes from being visible where your competitors aren't -- and right now, that's AI search.

The eight items in the AI optimization section take about an hour to implement. An hour for a channel that's growing at 30%+ year over year. That's the best SEO ROI you'll find right now.

If you want to cover all 30 items with a single plugin, Prime SEO handles technical SEO, on-page optimization, and AI search readiness -- all in the free version. It's the only WordPress SEO plugin built from day one for both traditional and AI search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to see results from WordPress SEO?

Typically 3-6 months for meaningful organic traffic improvements. Technical fixes (speed, broken links, canonical issues) can show impact within weeks as Google recrawls affected pages. Content-driven improvements like new blog posts and keyword optimization usually take 2-4 months to stabilize in rankings. AI search visibility can improve faster since AI crawlers re-index more frequently than Google.

Do I need a paid SEO plugin for WordPress?

No. Free versions of major SEO plugins cover all the essentials -- meta tags, sitemaps, schema, redirects, and analytics integration. Paid tiers typically add features like advanced schema types, content AI, and multi-site management. For most sites under 100 pages, a free plugin is sufficient. Prime SEO's free version includes AI optimization features that other plugins charge for.

Which items on this checklist should I prioritize first?

Start with items 1-4 (SEO plugin, sitemap, robots.txt, SSL) -- these take under 30 minutes and form the technical foundation. Next, do items 9 and 11 (titles/descriptions and image optimization) for your top 10 pages. Then move to the AI section, starting with items 17 and 19 (llms.txt and AI bot access). After that, set up monitoring (items 25-27) so you can track progress.

Is AI search optimization actually necessary in 2026?

The data says yes. Gartner projects that 25% of search volume will shift to AI-powered platforms by late 2026. ChatGPT alone has over 200 million weekly active users, many of whom use it as a search engine. If your site isn't optimized for AI search, you're ignoring a growing segment of your potential audience. The good news: because adoption is still low (under 5% of sites have llms.txt), early movers have a significant advantage.

How do I know if my WordPress SEO is working?

Track three metrics: organic traffic in Google Analytics (is it growing month over month?), keyword positions in Google Search Console (are your target keywords moving up?), and AI search citations (does ChatGPT or Perplexity reference your site when asked relevant questions?). If all three are trending upward, your SEO is working. If organic traffic is flat but keyword positions are improving, you may have a click-through rate problem (revisit item 9). If traffic is growing but AI citations are absent, focus on items 17-24.