The Complete RankMath Tutorial 2023

In this RankMath tutorial, we are going to talk about optimizing your WordPress website using the powerful Rank Math SEO plugin. 

What is RankMath SEO plugin

This remarkable plugin empowers you to index and optimize your WordPress website, ensuring its visibility in Google search results. With Rank Math, you can optimize each page and post on your website to appear just the way you desire in search engine results.

By the end of this blog post, your website will be fully optimized for all major search engines. 

I’ll guide you through configuring Rank Math on your website with optimal settings specifically designed to cater to Google’s preferences.

We’ll cover each setting in detail, breaking down complex terms like “robot.txt” files and “Google sitemaps” into simple, beginner-friendly explanations. Don’t worry if these concepts seem unfamiliar.

I’m here to ensure you understand every step of the way.

How to install RankMath plugin in WordPress

To get the Rankmath SEO plugin, click here, then on the landing page go to the site Navbar to download the WordPress SEO plugin. After downloading it Login to your WordPress Admin dashboard

Once you’re on your WordPress dashboard, head to the top left corner and navigate to the “Plugins” section. Click on “Add New”.

Click upload, then select the file from your download folder in your device. after that click the install button. Once the installation process is done click on “Active”.

To unlock more features on RankMath, go to this page and click on “my account” on the navbar to create a new account.

RankMath setup wizard

Navigating through the RankMath WordPress dashboard can be overwhelming, especially for beginners.

But in this guide I will show you how to use the RankMath setup wizard.

To use the setup wizard, go to the RankMath dashboard and locate the “setup wizard” then click on it.

Once you are on the setup wizard landing page, you can select the “Advanced” option. Then click the “Start wizard” button.

Advance

The advanced option enable you gain a thorough understanding of each setting and its impact on your website’s performance.

Now, let’s determine the nature of your website. Is it a new site, a portfolio, or a small business website? 

Select the option that best represents your online presence. 

For instance, if you offer professional services, choose “Small Business Website”. Then enter your website name, alternative name and a company name if you have one.

Moving on, let’s address the importance of adding a logo for Google. This logo will be displayed on mobile devices, so it’s crucial to upload one that reflects your brand. Click on “Add New” and choose a captivating logo.

Next, we encounter the “Default Social Share Image” setting. This image will be displayed when someone shares your website on social media platforms like Facebook. 

Once you’ve made these selections, click on “Save and Continue.”

There are better ways to add Google analytics code to your WordPress site, so skip the “Analytic” section. Let’s focus more on RankMath settings.

Rankmath Sitemaps

Let’s talk about sitemaps. 

These maps inform search engines like Google about which pages you want to be indexed and which ones you’d rather keep hidden. It’s a crucial element of Rank Math’s functionality, making it a valuable tool. 

Ensure that sitemaps and Include images are both enabled.

Additionally, review the “Public Post Types” and “Public Taxonomies” options carefully. If you’re using a custom post type, it’s advisable to have it indexed.

However, if you’re using page builder templates or elements that don’t require indexing, leave those unchecked.

Once you’ve made the necessary selections, click on “Save and Continue”.

RankMath SEO tweaks

Rank Math has done an excellent job with the initial settings, but it’s always good to review and fine-tune. But let’s go through the Rankmath SEO tweak section.

Firstly, consider the “No Index for Tag Archives” option. Generally, tag archives hold little value for search engines, so it’s best to prevent indexing of such pages.

As for the “No Follow External Links,” it’s typically not advisable to check this box. Gambling and gaming websites often employ this practice, but for most cases, it’s not conducive to good SEO. Let your links flow naturally, without any restrictions.

There’s also the “Open External Links in New Tab/Window” setting. This option determines whether clicking on a link will open a new tab, ensuring your visitors remain on your website. Feel free to check or uncheck this based on your preferences.

Once you’ve made your decisions, click on “Save and Continue.”

The wizard declares that your website is ready.

But hold on, we’re not quite done yet, there are a few more steps to conquer. Click the “Setup advanced option”.

RankMath Advanced Setup Option

Let’s tackle the RankMath advanced setup option, the first option is assigning role manager.

RankMath role manager

The “Role Manager,” which allows you to assign specific roles to users on your WordPress website. This feature proves invaluable, especially if you have content writers. 

For instance, grant authors access to on-page analysis and advanced settings, empowering them to optimize their content effectively.

Feel free to customize these roles according to your requirements, ensuring that authors have the necessary control and flexibility over their work. 

Click on “Save and Continue” once you’ve made the appropriate adjustments.

404 + Redirection

The “Monitor” option, Enable this feature to receive notifications if visitors or search engines encounter any issues while navigating your website. It helps you identify and rectify problems like dead links or deleted pages promptly.

Next up, we have “Redirections.” This feature allows you to set up temporary addresses for 404 error pages, ensuring a smoother browsing experience for your visitors. Consider implementing this if you have numerous 404 errors on your website.

Click on “Save and Continue” once you’ve configured these settings.

Schema markup

Schema markups enable your website to display rich search results on platforms like Google. These visually appealing snippets provide valuable information at a glance, making your content more engaging and prominent in search results.

Make sure the “Schema Type for Posts” is set to “Article” to indicate that your posts represent articles. Similarly, adjust the “Schema Type for Pages” to “Article” as well.

However, for landing pages created with Elementor or similar tools, choose “None” to prevent unnecessary indexing.

If you’re running an Amazon affiliate website and writing product reviews, select “Article” as the schema type for product reviews. 

This choice increases the chance of your reviews being displayed as rich snippets in search results.

Once you’ve made these selections, click on “Save and Continue.”

RankMath Dashboard

Now, you can explore the Rank Math dashboard, which offers various options to optimize your custom post types, such as Google Web Stories and WooCommerce.

Feel free to dive into the ones relevant to your website, but let’s not get overwhelmed by every single option.

Under “Image SEO,” it’s advisable to enable this feature. Image optimization plays a crucial role in enhancing your website’s performance. 

Take your time to explore the settings and make the necessary adjustments to optimize your images effectively.

General setting

Let’s discuss the “Strip Category Base” option.

While you may be tempted to enable this feature, I advise against it. Once activated, it becomes challenging to revert without encountering errors. 

Moreover, from an SEO perspective, removing the category from the URL doesn’t significantly impact your rankings. So, it’s safe to say this option holds no relevance to your SEO efforts.

Images

Moving on to images, this is an important area to focus on. 

Let’s start with the “Add Missing Alt Attributes” option. Alt attributes provide alternative text for your images, enhancing their accessibility and aiding search engines in understanding their context. 

When someone searches for related content, Google often displays images with proper alternative text. It’s wise to manually add alt attributes whenever you upload an image to your media library. 

However, if you prefer automation, Rank Math can generate alt attributes based on the file name or site title and description. The choice is yours, but I recommend adhering to good SEO practices by adding them yourself.

Regarding the “Add Missing Title Attributes” option, you can probably leave it unchecked. WordPress now automatically titles images by default when you upload them. 

Therefore, enabling this feature might be unnecessary. Keep an eye on updates from Rank Math, as they may retire this option in the future.

Once you’ve made your desired changes, remember to click on “Save Changes” to implement them.

Submitting your website with Google search engine

Now, let’s move on to verifying your website with Google.

Creating a Google Search Console account is free and highly beneficial. It allows you to monitor your site’s performance, analyze search traffic, and identify potential issues. 

To get started, follow this link, and you’ll land on the Google Search Console page. There, you can add your website and proceed with the verification process.

Previously, there was a complicated method, but Google has made it much easier now.

Simply copy the verification code provided in the Google Search Console, navigate to your website’s settings, and paste it in the appropriate section.

Then paste your code in the Google Search Console section and click on “Save changes”. Then go back to the search console page and click the “Verify” button.

RSS feed

Let’s take a moment to address the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) settings. We want to ensure that your content is properly formatted for syndication. Firstly, we’ll insert some information before and after the RSS content.

This helps indicate that your blog post is originally published on your website, written by you—the author. 

Finally, don’t forget to include the post link. Once you’re done, save the changes, and you’re all set.

Title and Meta description

Let’s shift our focus to titles and meta descriptions, which play a crucial role in attracting organic traffic.

Global Meta: Leave it set to “index” to ensure your website gets indexed by search engines.

Choosing the right title format is essential. Most people prefer using a separator, such as a dash or a pipe, to separate their post title and site name.

It’s a matter of personal preference, so choose what resonates with your brand. You may also consider capitalizing your titles for added impact.

When it comes to social media sharing, opt for the “summary card” type for Twitter.

This allows for a visually appealing sharing experience, with a large image accompanying your content.

Local SEO

It’s crucial to provide comprehensive information about your company. By doing so, you enhance the chances of your business appearing in rich snippets when users search for specific addresses or businesses. 

Make sure to fill out these details accurately.

Author

If you have multiple authors contributing to your website, enable the author archives. 

However, if you’re the sole writer, it’s advisable to disable this feature to avoid any issues related to duplicate content. Google penalizes duplicate content, and we certainly don’t want that!

Misc pages 

Here, you have the opportunity to customize how your broken pages are displayed in search results. You may choose to remove the site name, creating a less aggressive appearance. 

Additionally, you can make your search results more appealing by using phrases like “Results for [search query]” followed by your website name. It’s an optimal way to attract potential visitors.

Submitting sitemap to Google search console

I’ll guide you through the crucial steps of optimizing your website for Google’s search engine.

Step 1: Creating an XML Sitemap

To commence our optimization journey, let’s start by generating an XML sitemap for your website. This sitemap acts as a roadmap for search engines, providing clear directions on what to index and what to exclude. Head over to your website’s dashboard and locate the sitemap setting tool in RankMath.

Once generated, ensure that it includes all the essential pages you want Google to crawl.

Step 2: Submitting the Sitemap to Google Search Console

Now that we have our sitemap ready, it’s time to submit it to the Google Search Console. This powerful tool allows you to monitor your website’s performance in search results and uncover valuable insights. 

Open the Google Search Console and navigate to your domain. On the left-hand side, click on “Sitemaps,” followed by “Add a new sitemap.”

To submit your sitemap, simply right-click and paste the generated URL into the designated field.

Remove any unnecessary characters or extra text, ensuring that the URL corresponds precisely to your sitemap. Once done, hit “Submit”.

Understanding Page and Post Optimization 

To begin, let’s clarify what we mean by optimizing your pages and posts. Imagine your website’s URL appears in search engine results, and you want it to display relevant information that accurately represents your website. 

By optimizing your pages and posts, you ensure that search engines display compelling snippets that entice users to click through and visit your site.

Optimizing Page Titles and Descriptions: 

The first step in optimizing your pages and posts is to focus on your snippet, which consists of the title, separator, and site name. Rather than relying solely on plugins, it is beneficial to manually craft unique and engaging snippets for each page. 

Let’s dive into the process.

Editing Page Snippets: 

Start by navigating to the page you want to optimize and click on “Edit Page.” On the right side, you will find Rank Math’s options. 

Look for the “General” tab, where you’ll see a score, advanced settings, schema options, and sharing settings. Click on the “Edit Snippet” button.

Customizing the Snippet: 

Here, you can customize the snippet for the specific page. Consider including your site name and separator, but it’s crucial to add a manually written description that accurately reflects your website’s purpose. 

For example, if your website provides free Blogging tutorials, your snippet could be “Learn how to optimize your blog post to rank on Google search.”

Adding a Custom Image for Social Sharing:

In the social settings, you have the option to add an image that will appear when your page is shared on platforms like Facebook or Twitter. 

Click on “Add Image” to select a compelling visual representation of your page. You can also leave it empty. If you don’t want a custom image.

The RankMath Tutorial ends here.

Also read: Why I Chose RankMath for My Blog’s SEO

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