WordPress SEO is not just writing blog posts. It starts with the foundations of your site.
I have helped dozens of Sydney businesses rank higher on Google, generate more leads from SEO, and grow revenue through consistent organic traffic. If you want a Top rated WordPress Developer in Sydney who can fix your website and improve SEO in one workflow, get in touch.
Content cannot carry a site with weak structure. On WordPress, rankings often stall because templates, internal linking, and technical settings work against you. I audit and fix those first so Google can crawl the site properly, understand what each page is about, and trust what it indexes.
Below is the WordPress SEO Sydney checklist I use for Sydney businesses before I write or rewrite a single paragraph.
Confirm the goal and the pages that must rank
I map the money pages first. These are the pages that should generate enquiries.
I check:
- Primary service pages
- Location pages for Sydney and key suburbs
- Quote, booking, and contact paths
- The main conversion offer on mobile
If these pages are missing or thin, content will not carry the site.
Check indexation and crawl health
If Google cannot crawl and index properly, content updates are wasted.
I check:
- Google Search Console indexing status
- Pages excluded and the reason
- Noindex tags and robots rules
- Canonicals that point to the wrong URL
- XML sitemap accuracy
- Tag, author, and archive bloat
Common issue. WordPress archives get indexed and dilute relevance.
Fix site architecture and internal linking
Structure drives SEO on WordPress. It also drives conversions.
I check:
- Clear silos by service and location
- Navigation that matches search intent
- Internal links to key service pages
- Breadcrumbs and category logic
- Orphan pages with no links pointing to them
- Pagination and thin archives
Goal. Make it easy for Google to understand the site. Make it easy for users to take the next step.
Audit templates and heading structure
Templates can break SEO across the whole site.
I check:
- One H1 per page
- Logical H2 and H3 structure
- Theme output that avoids duplicate titles
- Builder blocks that repeat headings
- Hidden headings in sliders and tabs
- Plugin conflicts for schema and metadata
If templates are messy, every new page inherits the problem.
Titles and meta descriptions for high intent pages
This is where clicks are won.
I check:
- Unique titles on every service page
- Sydney modifiers where relevant
- Clear intent match for the query
- Meta descriptions that sell the next step
- No keyword stuffing
Better titles can lift leads without changing rankings.
Duplicate content and cannibalisation
Sydney sites often have overlap that kills performance.
I check:
- Multiple pages targeting the same keyword
- Similar location pages that say the same thing
- Blog posts competing with service pages
- Old URLs still indexed after rebuilds
- Parameter URLs and duplicates
Fixing cannibalisation can create fast gains.
Speed and Core Web Vitals
Speed affects crawl efficiency and conversion rate.
I check:
- LCP on mobile
- CLS issues from banners and fonts
- Interaction delays from heavy scripts
- Image sizing and lazy loading setup
- Font loading and preloads
- Caching, compression, and server response time
- Third party scripts like chat and tracking
Real speed work is not a single plugin.
Mobile UX and conversion friction
If people bounce, rankings usually follow.
I check:
- Sticky headers that block content
- Popups and overlays on mobile
- Tap targets and form usability
- Above the fold clarity
- Trust signals near the primary CTA
- Contact path on every key page
A fast site can still lose leads if the UX is poor.
Local SEO foundations for Sydney searches
Local signals need to match the site.
I check:
- Google Business Profile alignment
- NAP consistency across the site
- Service areas and suburb targeting strategy
- Location pages that add real value
- Reviews and trust elements
- Local schema where it makes sense
Local SEO Sydney is not about listing suburbs. It is about relevance and proof.
Technical basics that prevent ranking drops
These items stop silent SEO damage.
I check:
- HTTPS and mixed content
- Redirect chains and loops
- Broken links on key pages
- 404s that should be redirected
- Canonical rules sitewide
- WWW and trailing slash consistency
- Duplicate home page URLs
- Image indexing and media attachment pages
Many ranking drops are technical.
Tracking so SEO results are measurable
If you cannot measure, you cannot improve.
I check:
- GA4 installed properly
- Key events tracked
- Form submits and phone clicks tracked
- Google Ads tags if you run campaigns
- Search Console connected
- Lead quality tracking where possible
You should know which pages drive real enquiries.
Content readiness before writing
Only after the foundation is clean do I focus on content.
I check:
- Keyword mapping per service page
- Intent match for each page
- Competitor gaps in Sydney
- Supporting blog topics that link to money pages
- Internal link plan for new content
- FAQs that match real questions
Then content becomes a multiplier.
What happens after this checklist
Once these items are fixed, SEO content starts working.
You can:
- Improve service pages for conversions
- Build location pages that rank safely
- Publish supporting blogs that funnel to enquiries
- Strengthen internal linking and topical authority
- Track leads and iterate monthly
This is how WordPress SEO Sydney becomes predictable.
Want this checklist applied to your site
If you want a Top rated WordPress Developer in Sydney who can handle both WordPress fixes and SEO improvements, WP Guru can help.
Send me an email with some details about your main services. I will tell you what is holding rankings back and what to fix first.
