When quizzed on his favorite content management platforms for search, Matt Cutts, Google's head of search engine optimization, claimed that WordPress was 'truly fantastic.' It is praise that has been repeated endlessly in the search engine optimization and search marketing worlds, each time hitting another audience of bloggers and convincing them to switch to the free, open source CMS platform.

WordPress enjoys a reputation for simplicity and versatility, and it is in SEO that these advantages shine. The platform automatically renames page URLs for optimum search value. It can use high-value keywords as page tags automatically. It can even, with the right settings, conjure social and dynamic backlinks automatically as soon as a page is published through the use of trackbacks.

By all accounts, it is the dream platform for search-conscious bloggers and online marketers. But despite its value as a search marketing tool and its obvious strengths as a flexible online business platform, WordPress does need some tweaking for optimum search performance. These three tips, while undoubtedly basic for some, can help you get the most from your WordPress website.

Use 'Pretty Permalinks.'

By default, WordPress configures your website URLs to point towards nameless, serialized pages or unlabeled categories. It is an unwanted result of the software's database-driven nature, and it is quite a large blow for SEO. To make your URLs include keywords, make sure to check 'Pretty Permalinks' in your WordPress dashboard's 'Permalinks' tab. This feature may require MySQL configuration.

Use dynamic content such as video, audio, and images.

Google's search algorithm favors websites that are deep, interesting, and loaded with dynamic items that truly wow visitors. Make your pages, whether dynamic blog posts or simple content, as close to 'full' of dynamic content as possible. Add videos, audio clips, and images using WordPress's simple upload and embed features, and be sure to tag them with keywords for maximum search visibility.

Use a sitemap plug-in for optimum page crawling.

With a single sitemap plug-in installed, WordPress is able to automatically generate a linking index for Google's crawling robot. This allows the search engine – along with others such as Bing – to hit all of your website's pages on every crawl. A variety of plug-ins are available for sitemap creation, all of which offer the same basic features and search performance benefits.

While all of these settings, plug-ins, and tricks can help you, remember that the backbone of great search performance is good content. Use WordPress not as an SEO boost, but as the platform for a great website that performs well in search. Thankfully, it is a platform that is designed with content in mind, so enjoy its great blogging, page creation, and writing tools when optimizing your website.

CH Lavassuar