wpSEO is a simple and more comprehensive solution
you can use to take care of SEO optimization.
Smashing Magazine

The engine of this plugin consists of a very complex algorithm, but the user interface is very simple. You still struggle with the handling of the plugin, these FAQ's might help you.

SEO Monitor displays outdated values on my dashboard. #

wpSEO allows to display SEO-related metrics like Google PageRank and Alexa Rank on the dashboard, and it is possible to link directly further information with appropriate services. Depending on the used version of WordPress, it can occur under certain circumstances, that the values are not getting updated on a regular basis. A tiny, but important error in the WordPress core prevents Plugins to establish a reliable connections to external servers.

The defect can be eliminated with a simple change, WordPress developers show the exact location in the core. After modifying the file, wpSEO updates the values within 24 hours on your dashboard.

Execution time of the plugin can be reduced. With the help of the blog administrator. #

Connected settings have the major disadvantage that they are equipped with numerous queries because of their dependencies. Frequent queries in the code result in less performance.

To continue to remain dynamic, quick and easy to maintain, wpSEO has an additional button in the settings to optimize the query process: At default, wpSEO searches and replaces the meta data plus title implemented by the current theme - the replacement of data ensures that the values of the template and of wpSEO won't interfere.

The search and the discovery of any existing meta tags from the header template will cost - as well as any other operation in the code - precious time. However, if the title and meta tags from the file header.php were manually removed or commented out, wpSEO can save an existence check. The result: the performance increases.

If the current template is free from title or meta tags, the option "Performance management" > "Check for duplicates" should be selected.

When trying to activate wpSEO, it comes to this error (Error 500). A soluble problem? #

The problem doesn't just affect the plugin wpSEO, even other extensions can't be activated on WordPress 2.7.x and missing PHP5 support. In this problem case you have to include the following two lines in the .htaccess in your main directory of your Blog:

AddType x-mapp-php5 .php
AddHandler x-mapp-php5 .php

wpSEO doesn't make any changes in robots.txt. How do I block posts and pages from being indexed? #

That's absolutely correct: wpSEO doesn't modify the robots.txt in your root at all. Why? Because there is no significant reason to do so. Many competitive plugins are providing the possibility to change their robots.txt. But this shows poor knowledge and cluelessness.

That's correct - that a robots.txt belongs in your root directory of your blog - search engines automatically look for this file to controll the indexing. In a perfect case you only have to put two lines in your robots.txt:

User-Agent: *
Allow: /

Google doesn't submit trackback-URLs of your blog anymore. Therefore it's not necessary to block these kind of addresses. If you like to hide an article or a page for a search engine, you cannot achieve this with your robots.txt, instead you have to manually input noindex in the robots-tag of this page. More information can be found on: Custom defined value for robots-tag

Entered robots values are not displayed in my source code. Something wrong? #

If you apply to a post or page the robots value "index" or "index, follow" (this can be done separately for each post/pages or global for all post/pages), wpSEO 2.7 won't display the "robots"-tag in a source code. The reason: Google assumes the default value "index, follow". Since wpSEO 2.7.1 this feature is available as an option in the plugin settings.

This practice in wpSEO Plugin saves code, increases clearness and gives the actual content a higher position within the source code.

There are no changes visible in the source code after activation of the plugin. #

If wpSEO is active, and there is nothing to see in the source code of wpSEO, then you are probably using an invalid theme. Since wpSEO starts its output right after the HEAD-Tag(<head>) in the source code, it is essential that the HEAD-Tag is there. If the tag in your template file header.php is missing, there won't be any output of wpSEO possible.

Can I transfer meta data from the plugin "All in One SEO Pack"? #

Yes, meta data from "All in One SEO Pack" can easily be used by wpSEO. You just have to activate the option "Add title / description / keywords manually" and it will automatically insert the value in your posts.

How to maintain manual meta data with wpSEO is explained further below.

wpSEO convince with their dynamic. Many settings can also be manually allocated. #

wpSEO can do much more than just create meta data and titles automatically: It is possible to assign a Title and Category Description with Keywords manually per post.

Since recent updates of wpSEO more methods have been added to enable a manual assignment per post, separate to the options made in the option panel. You can manualy assign Title, Category Description and Keywords while you write or edit the post or page via custom fields. Below a list of wpSEO supported custom fields, which can be assigned to each post or page:

• 301-redirect
  Name: set-redirect
  Value: Destination as URL
• Value for Metatag "robots"
  Name: custom-robots
  Value: Desired data like "noindex, nofollow"
• Suppress Title
  Name: hidden-title
  Value: 1
• Suppress Category Description
  Name: hidden-description
  Value: 1
• Suppress Keywords
  Name: hidden-keywords
  Value: 1

Optimal settings for wpSEO can easily be import via XML-file. #

Activating the plugin is very simple: Download wpSEO, upload, the folder to wp-content/plugins/ ; activate and set settings. You can set the settings manually or automatically.

Are the keywords in a source code of a page still SEO relevant or absolutely unnecessary? #

The answer is, no they aren't. Keywords in a source code don't have any value anymore, due to the fact that this value was abused many times in the past to get a higher ranking. Google, as a result completely ignores comma separated lists in meta tag.

But I wouldn't abandon the word list completely, because there are smaller search engines besides Google, which are still paying attention for keywords in your source code. The other good reason is that wpSEO implements those keywords in the title or your website. Relevant keywords in your page title is the best criteria for an effective search engine optimization.
More infos to this option.

Opening the option page give me an error "Activation of license failed". #

There are many reasons why the activation of the plugin fails. In most cases the serial number most likely has expired because your trial ends after 10 days or this number is being used on another website. Please note, that an acquired CLASSIC license is only valid for one URL. Usage on several websites are technical and legally not allowed.

Where can you put in Keywords, Category Description and Title manually? #

You have to activate the option to "Add Keywords / Title / Description manually" to enter the value manually. Go to "Posts" - "Add New" or "Edit" and at the end of this page you will see a tab "wpSEO". If you choose not to use a manual assignment, just leave the field empty. The automatic generated value will be used instead.