{"slug":"rank-math-configuration","title":"Rank Math SEO Configuration","tags":["rank-math","seo","sitemap","schema","redirections","404-monitor"],"agent_summary":"Rank Math initial setup wizard, critical settings for titles/meta, sitemap, schema, and Local SEO, 404 monitor workflow, redirections module, and GMB NAP sync requirements.","trigger_phrases":["rank math setup","rank math configuration","rank math sitemap","rank math schema","rank math local seo","rank math redirections","rank math 404 monitor","rank math gmb nap"],"runnable":true,"markdown":"\nRank Math is the preferred SEO plugin. Configure correctly on every new WordPress site.\n\n## Setup Wizard\n\n1. Install Rank Math > Activate > Setup Wizard\n2. Connect Rank Math account (free — required for schema features)\n3. Import from Yoast if migrating (Rank Math handles import automatically)\n4. Configure: Blog type, business info, social profiles\n5. Enable modules: Sitemap, Schema, Local SEO, Redirections, 404 Monitor\n\n## Critical Settings\n\n**General Settings > Links:**\n- Redirect attachment URLs to parent post: **ON**\n- Strip category base: **ON** if removing `/category/` from URLs\n\n**Titles & Meta:**\n- Separator: `|` or `—`\n- Homepage: `Primary Keyword | Brand Name`\n- Post: `%title% | %sitename%`\n- Noindex (for single-author blogs): Date Archives, Author Archives\n\n**Sitemap:**\n- XML sitemap: ON\n- Exclude from sitemap: Media/Attachment posts\n- Images in sitemap: ON\n- Ping search engines on update: ON\n- Add sitemap URL to robots.txt: ON\n\n**Schema:**\n- Default schema for posts: Article\n- Default schema for pages: WebPage\n- Local SEO: LocalBusiness — fill ALL fields (name, address, phone, hours, geo)\n- Logo: square format, 600×600px minimum\n\n## GMB NAP Sync\n\nNAP in Rank Math Local SEO must **exactly match** GMB profile:\n- Business name: no abbreviations, identical to GMB\n- Address format: match character-for-character\n- Phone: include country code and area code\n- Hours: match to exact minutes\n\n## Redirections Module\n\nRank Math > Redirections > Add New:\n- Source URL: `/old-slug/`\n- Destination URL: `/new-slug/`\n- Redirect type: 301 Permanent\n- Regex patterns supported for bulk redirects\n\n## 404 Monitor\n\nRank Math > 404 Monitor shows all 404 URLs with hit count.\n\nReview weekly:\n- High-hit 404s (10+ hits): add 301 redirect immediately\n- Low-hit 404s: batch redirect monthly or let decay\n- Sort by: Hits descending\n\n## Focus Keyword Best Practices\n\n- One focus keyword per page (primary)\n- Add secondary keywords via \"Add more keywords\" field\n- Target 1-2% keyword density — Rank Math score of 80+ is the target\n- Pillar content: target 90+ score\n\n## Rank Math vs Yoast\n\n| Feature | Rank Math (preferred) | Yoast |\n|---------|----------------------|-------|\n| Schema | Rich, free tier | Requires premium |\n| Local SEO | Built-in module | Separate plugin |\n| Redirections | Built-in | Separate plugin |\n| Free features | More | Less |\n| Price | Free / $59/yr | $89/yr |\n","html":"<p>Rank Math is the preferred SEO plugin. Configure correctly on every new WordPress site.</p>\n<h2>Setup Wizard</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Install Rank Math > Activate > Setup Wizard</li>\n<li>Connect Rank Math account (free — required for schema features)</li>\n<li>Import from Yoast if migrating (Rank Math handles import automatically)</li>\n<li>Configure: Blog type, business info, social profiles</li>\n<li>Enable modules: Sitemap, Schema, Local SEO, Redirections, 404 Monitor</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>Critical Settings</h2>\n<p><strong>General Settings > Links:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Redirect attachment URLs to parent post: <strong>ON</strong></li>\n<li>Strip category base: <strong>ON</strong> if removing <code>/category/</code> from URLs</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>Titles &#x26; Meta:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Separator: <code>|</code> or <code>—</code></li>\n<li>Homepage: <code>Primary Keyword | Brand Name</code></li>\n<li>Post: <code>%title% | %sitename%</code></li>\n<li>Noindex (for single-author blogs): Date Archives, Author Archives</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>Sitemap:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>XML sitemap: ON</li>\n<li>Exclude from sitemap: Media/Attachment posts</li>\n<li>Images in sitemap: ON</li>\n<li>Ping search engines on update: ON</li>\n<li>Add sitemap URL to robots.txt: ON</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>Schema:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Default schema for posts: Article</li>\n<li>Default schema for pages: WebPage</li>\n<li>Local SEO: LocalBusiness — fill ALL fields (name, address, phone, hours, geo)</li>\n<li>Logo: square format, 600×600px minimum</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>GMB NAP Sync</h2>\n<p>NAP in Rank Math Local SEO must <strong>exactly match</strong> GMB profile:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Business name: no abbreviations, identical to GMB</li>\n<li>Address format: match character-for-character</li>\n<li>Phone: include country code and area code</li>\n<li>Hours: match to exact minutes</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Redirections Module</h2>\n<p>Rank Math > Redirections > Add New:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Source URL: <code>/old-slug/</code></li>\n<li>Destination URL: <code>/new-slug/</code></li>\n<li>Redirect type: 301 Permanent</li>\n<li>Regex patterns supported for bulk redirects</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>404 Monitor</h2>\n<p>Rank Math > 404 Monitor shows all 404 URLs with hit count.</p>\n<p>Review weekly:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>High-hit 404s (10+ hits): add 301 redirect immediately</li>\n<li>Low-hit 404s: batch redirect monthly or let decay</li>\n<li>Sort by: Hits descending</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Focus Keyword Best Practices</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>One focus keyword per page (primary)</li>\n<li>Add secondary keywords via \"Add more keywords\" field</li>\n<li>Target 1-2% keyword density — Rank Math score of 80+ is the target</li>\n<li>Pillar content: target 90+ score</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Rank Math vs Yoast</h2>\n<p>| Feature | Rank Math (preferred) | Yoast |\n|---------|----------------------|-------|\n| Schema | Rich, free tier | Requires premium |\n| Local SEO | Built-in module | Separate plugin |\n| Redirections | Built-in | Separate plugin |\n| Free features | More | Less |\n| Price | Free / $59/yr | $89/yr |</p>\n"}