Drupal 9 is the latest version of the popular content management system (CMS), which is known for its flexibility and power. As a website owner, you want your site to be as visible as possible on search engines like Google. Drupal 9 provides a range of features to help you optimize your site for search engines, from built-in SEO tools to third-party modules.
In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best practices for Drupal 9 SEO.
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Use Clean URLs
Clean URLs are important for search engine optimization. Drupal 9 allows you to enable clean URLs by default, which is great for SEO. Clean URLs are easy to read and understand, both for humans and search engines. To enable clean URLs in Drupal 9, go to Configuration > Search and metadata > Clean URLs, and check the "Enable clean URLs" box.
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Use the Pathauto Module
The Pathauto module is a must-have for Drupal 9 SEO. It allows you to automatically generate clean URLs for your pages, based on the page title. This means that you don't have to manually create clean URLs for each page on your site. To use Pathauto, simply install and enable the module, and configure the URL patterns you want to use.
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Optimize Your Content
Optimizing your content is key to good SEO. In Drupal 9, you can use the Metatag module to add meta descriptions and keywords to your pages. These tags help search engines understand what your pages are about, and can improve your search engine rankings. You should also make sure your content is well-structured, with headings and subheadings to break up the text.
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Use Redirects
If you change the URL of a page on your site, it's important to use a redirect to ensure that visitors are taken to the new URL. Drupal 9 provides a built-in redirect module, which allows you to set up redirects for your site. This is important for SEO, as it helps to ensure that your pages are not penalized for duplicate content.
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Use the XML Sitemap Module
An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your site, along with information about each page. This file is used by search engines to crawl and index your site. In Drupal 9, you can use the XML Sitemap module to generate an XML sitemap for your site. Once you've installed and enabled the module, you can configure the settings to include the pages you want in the sitemap.
Conclusion
Drupal 9 provides a range of features to help you optimize your site for search engines. By using clean URLs, the Pathauto module, the Metatag module, redirects, and the XML Sitemap module, you can improve your site's visibility on search engines like Google. With a little effort, you can make sure your Drupal 9 site is optimized for SEO and ready to compete for search engine rankings.
While Drupal 9 provides a number of tools and features to help optimize your site for search engines, it can still be a daunting task for website owners. If you're struggling to implement these best practices, or simply don't have the time to manage SEO on your own, consider hiring a Drupal professional to help.
Reinis Fischer is a Drupal expert with years of experience in web development and SEO. He has worked with clients across a range of industries to help them optimize their Drupal sites for search engines, and achieve higher rankings on Google and other search engines.
Reinis can work with you to develop a customized SEO strategy for your Drupal site, including keyword research, content optimization, and link building. He can also help you set up and configure Drupal modules like Pathauto and Metatag to ensure your site is fully optimized for search engines.
Working with Reinis can save you time and ensure that your site is optimized for search engines in the most effective way possible. Plus, with his expertise in Drupal development, he can also help with any other website issues or customizations you may need.
In summary, while there are many Drupal 9 SEO tips and best practices to follow, hiring a professional like Reinis Fischer can take your website's optimization to the next level. His expertise in Drupal development and SEO can help ensure that your site is fully optimized for search engines, resulting in higher rankings and increased visibility online.