Your WordPress theme encapsulates your brand’s essence and contributes to a seamless user experience. However, many overlook the search engine optimization (SEO) aspect.
A non-SEO-friendly WordPress theme, especially one that is bloated and slow, can significantly impede your efforts to rank high on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Given that higher rankings can drive more organic traffic, leads, and revenue, selecting the right theme is critical.
In this guide, you’ll learn what makes a theme SEO-friendly, the essential considerations for choosing one, and the top five WordPress themes for SEO.
The Basics of a Search-Friendly WordPress Theme
An SEO-optimized WordPress theme supports better rankings on SERPs. These themes are designed to enhance SEO efforts and deliver a great user experience.
There are thousands of WordPress themes available, both from WordPress itself and third-party providers. While many of these themes make your website visually appealing, a closer inspection can reveal underlying issues such as poor coding, slow loading speeds, and limited plugin support. These flaws can all negatively impact search engine rankings.
Significant technical SEO issues can undermine Google’s trust in your site, making it difficult to reach top results.
How to Choose the Best WordPress Theme for SEO
To choose an SEO-friendly WordPress theme, you should:
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Pick a Responsive Theme
- Mobile devices account for over 54% of web page views globally. A responsive theme ensures that your website adjusts smoothly to varying screen sizes, which is crucial for mobile users. Google preferences mobile-friendly sites and offers tools to test your website’s performance.
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Pick a Theme That Supports Most Plugins
- WordPress plugins enhance your website’s functionality. Popular plugins like WooCommerce, Jetpack, Akismet, and Google Analytics are essential. The theme you select should support these popular plugins to ensure functionality and speed.
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Pick a Theme with Clean Code
- Clean code is vital for a secure, fast, and reliable website. Themes with clean code improve page load speed and SEO ranking by helping search engines quickly find and crawl your site’s content.
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Choose a Theme That Works on Multiple Browsers
- Your theme should be compatible with popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera, and also work well on different versions of these browsers. Tools like PowerMapper can help check browser compatibility.
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Select a Theme With a Page Builder Plugin
- Page builders make it easy to create website layouts through drag-and-drop features. However, they can generate a lot of code, potentially slowing down your site. Choose a theme that includes a popular page builder plugin.
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Choose a Theme That Loads Quickly
- Users expect fast-loading websites. A theme that loads quickly reduces bounce rates and improves user experience. Select lightweight, fast themes with only the necessary features.
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Select a Theme That’s Updated Regularly
- Regular updates provide security patches, fix bugs, and address compatibility issues. An outdated theme can negatively affect your SEO and user experience.
- Choose a Theme With Good Ratings
- User reviews and ratings are a good indicator of a theme’s performance. Search for reviews on third-party websites and forums to get unbiased insights.
Best WordPress Themes for SEO
Here are five SEO-optimized WordPress themes:
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Divi
- Divi is a popular, customizable theme with built-in SEO optimization and regular updates. It suits various niches and allows extensive customization.
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Astra
- Astra is lightweight with fast load speeds, supports popular plugins, and includes retina-ready page templates. It’s highly customizable and SEO-friendly.
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Kadence
- Kadence is a multi-purpose, fast-loading theme that supports integration with major plugins. It allows easy customization of website elements.
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Hello by Elementor
- Hello by Elementor is ultra-lightweight, loads quickly, and offers numerous templates and customization options.
- GeneratePress
- GeneratePress is fast and lightweight, focusing on speed and performance. Its premium version includes a block-style builder and several starter websites.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right WordPress theme is essential for maintaining SEO effectiveness. Don’t rush the decision; research and select an SEO-optimized theme that suits your needs. For further guidance, consult comprehensive expert resources on WordPress SEO.
More Resources:
- 7 Crucial WordPress Plugins for Blogs & Businesses
- 6 Awesome WordPress Plugins That Will Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly
- 13 Best WordPress SEO Plugins
- WordPress – Plugins, themes, and SEO tips and best practices
Image Credits
- All screenshots taken by the author, July 2021
