Where to Add Keywords in WordPress

You finally have a good list of keywords, but when you open the WordPress editor you see a maze of fields: title, URL, excerpt, SEO title, meta description, image alt text, and more. If you are not sure where each keyword actually belongs, it is easy to either underuse it or cram it into all the wrong places.

This guide walks you through exactly where to add keywords in WordPress posts and pages: titles, slugs, headings, content, images, and taxonomies. If you need a broader overview of how all these pieces fit into your overall strategy, start with our complete WordPress SEO beginner’s guide, then come back here to map those ideas to specific spots in your dashboard.

By the end, you will have a simple, repeatable checklist you can run every time you publish a new post so you can improve your chances of ranking without risking keyword stuffing or broken URLs.

Prerequisites

Before you start placing keywords, make sure you have a few basics ready. That way you can move smoothly through each step without jumping back and forth.

• Access to your WordPress admin dashboard (a user with at least Editor permissions).
• A primary keyword or keyphrase for the post, plus 1–2 closely related variations.
• Optional but recommended: an SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO so you can edit SEO titles and meta descriptions easily.
• If you are still deciding what to target, review our guide to keyword research tools for SEO and choose one main keyword before you continue.

Step 1: Add Keywords to Your Post Title and SEO Title

Your title is usually the first thing searchers see. You have two main title fields in WordPress: the on-page title (H1) at the top of the editor, and the SEO title that appears in Google’s results.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts > Add New or edit an existing post or page.
2. In the top title field, write a clear headline that includes your primary keyword as naturally as possible, ideally near the beginning (for example, “Where to Add Keywords in WordPress (Complete Checklist)”).
3. If you are using an SEO plugin, scroll down to the SEO meta box and locate the SEO title or Title field. Adjust it so it also contains your main keyword and a compelling reason to click, such as a benefit or promise.

Step 2: Use Keywords in Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions do not directly boost rankings, but they strongly influence click-through rate. Including your keyword here reassures searchers that your result matches their intent.

1. In the same SEO meta box, find the Meta description field.
2. Write 1–2 sentences (about 120–155 characters) that summarize the benefit of your content and include your primary keyword once in a natural phrase.
3. Add a soft call to action such as “Learn how…” or “Follow this checklist…” to encourage clicks.

Step 3: Optimize Permalinks and Slugs

The slug is the part of your URL after the domain (for example, /where-to-add-keywords-in-wordpress/). A clean, keyword-focused slug helps search engines and users quickly understand what the page is about.

1. In the post editor, under or near the title field, locate the Permalink or URL section and click Edit if it is available.
2. Shorten the slug to a handful of words that include your main keyword once, separated by hyphens (for example, where-to-add-keywords-in-wordpress).
3. Remove stop words and extra numbers unless they are essential. Avoid repeating the keyword more than once inside the slug.

Step 4: Place Keywords in Headings and Subheadings

Headings (H2, H3, etc.) break up your content and tell search engines how your information is organized. Including your main keyword or close variations in a few headings reinforces topical relevance.

1. Scan your outline and identify the most important sections that relate directly to your primary keyword.
2. In the editor, format these section titles as H2 headings and include your keyword or a natural variant in at least one or two of them.
3. Use H3 or H4 for sub-points, where you can sprinkle secondary or related keywords if they fit naturally.

Step 5: Naturally Distribute Keywords in the Content

There is no magic keyword density number, but where you place the keyword in your content matters more than how many times you repeat it. Focus on clarity for the reader and use your keyword to reinforce what the page is about.

1. Use your primary keyword or a very close variation within the first 100–150 words so both users and search engines know immediately what the page covers.
2. Sprinkle related phrases and synonyms throughout the body where they fit naturally—especially in sections that answer searcher questions.
3. Include your main keyword or a variant again near the conclusion to reinforce the topic and tie everything together.

Step 6: Add Keywords to Image Alt Text and File Names

Image optimization is often overlooked. Proper alt text helps with accessibility and gives search engines extra context about your topic. File names and alt text are good places for descriptive, keyword-rich phrases.

1. Before uploading, rename your image files on your computer with short, descriptive names that may include a keyword (for example, wordpress-keyword-positions-checklist.png).
2. Upload the images to your post using the WordPress editor or Media Library.
3. Select each image and fill in the Alt Text field with a clear description of what the image shows. Use your keyword only when it accurately describes the image.
4. Optionally, use captions when they genuinely help readers, but do not force keywords into every caption.

Step 7: Use Keywords in Categories, Tags, and Navigation

Categories and tags help group related content and can generate additional archive pages that rank for broader topics. Using keywords here tells search engines how your content clusters together.

1. Assign each post to one primary Category that closely matches your main topic (for example, “SEO” or “WordPress SEO Basics”). Avoid putting a single post into many unrelated categories.
2. Add a small number of focused Tags that reflect subtopics and key phrases you cover in the article, rather than every keyword variation you can think of.
3. Keep your navigation menus clear and descriptive, using category names and page titles that naturally include important keywords where appropriate.

Step 8: Double-Check Keyword Placement with an SEO Plugin

Most SEO plugins include on-page analysis that checks whether you have used your focus keyword in the key locations. Treat these checks as a helpful reminder, not rigid rules.

1. In the SEO meta box, set your focus keyword or keyphrase to match the primary keyword you chose for the post.
2. Review the plugin’s checklist to confirm the keyword appears in the SEO title, meta description, slug, first paragraph, at least one heading, and in the main content.
3. Adjust your content only where it still reads naturally; do not chase a “perfect” score at the expense of clarity.

For a full walkthrough of optimizing each on-page element, including many of the fields from this checklist, follow our tutorial on on-page SEO in WordPress once you are comfortable with basic keyword placement.

Turn Keyword Placement into a Simple WordPress Habit

Adding keywords in WordPress does not have to be guesswork. Once you know exactly where they belong—titles, slugs, headings, content, images, and taxonomies—it becomes a quick routine you can apply to every post.

Use this eight-step checklist as part of your publishing workflow: confirm your keyword, work through each field in the editor, and run a quick final check with your SEO plugin. Over time, these placements will feel automatic, and your content will be better positioned to compete in search results without risking over-optimization.

Further Reading

• How to Add Keywords in WordPress Without Hurting Your SEO
• How to Add Keywords to a WordPress Website
• How to Add Keywords to Your WordPress Website
• What Is SEO on WordPress?

Frequently Asked Questions