# 38 — Advanced SEO ## Scope | | Free | Pro | |---|---|---| | Canonical URLs for filtered views | Yes | Yes | | Custom meta for taxonomy pages | Yes | Yes | | Sitemap optimization | Yes | Yes | | Internal linking strategy | Yes | Yes | | Noindex for thin/filtered pages | Yes | Yes | | FAQ schema | — | Yes | | Programmatic SEO pages | — | Yes | --- ## Canonical URLs for Filtered Views ### Problem Search URLs like `/restaurants/?cuisine=italian&price=$$&sort=rating` create millions of URL combinations. Without canonicals, Google sees massive duplicate content. ### Solution **Rule 1: Filtered search pages point canonical to the base page.** ```html ``` **Rule 2: Paginated results use self-referencing canonical with page.** ```html ``` **Rule 3: Sort-only changes don't change canonical.** ```html ``` **Rule 4: Type-specific pages ARE canonical targets.** ``` /restaurants/ → canonical: self (this IS the canonical page) /real-estate/ → canonical: self /listings/ → canonical: self (all types) ``` ### Implementation ```php add_action('wp_head', function() { if (is_listora_search_page()) { $canonical = get_permalink(); // base page URL, no query params $page = get_query_var('paged', 1); if ($page > 1) { $canonical = add_query_arg('page', $page, $canonical); } echo ''; } }); ``` ### Meta Robots for Filtered URLs ```php // Add noindex to heavily filtered URLs (3+ filters) add_action('wp_head', function() { if (is_listora_search_page()) { $filter_count = count(array_filter($_GET, fn($k) => !in_array($k, ['page', 'sort']), ARRAY_FILTER_USE_KEY)); if ($filter_count >= 3) { echo ''; } } }); ``` --- ## Custom Meta for Taxonomy Pages ### Problem Category pages (`/listing-category/italian/`) and location pages (`/listing-location/new-york/`) need unique, SEO-optimized meta descriptions — not auto-generated ones. ### Solution **Term Meta Fields:** ``` _listora_seo_title → Custom SEO title (overrides default) _listora_seo_description → Custom meta description _listora_seo_noindex → Boolean (exclude from index) ``` ### Admin UI (on category/location edit screen) ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ SEO Settings │ │ │ │ SEO Title: │ │ [ Best Italian Restaurants in NYC | Directory ] │ │ Characters: 48/60 │ │ │ │ Meta Description: │ │ [ Discover the top 23 Italian restaurants in New ] │ │ [ York City. Read reviews, see menus, and find ] │ │ [ the perfect spot. Updated March 2026. ] │ │ Characters: 148/160 │ │ │ │ ☐ Exclude this page from search engines │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ### Auto-Generated Defaults (if custom not set) ```php // Category page "Browse {count} {category_name} listings. Read reviews, compare options, and find the best {category_name} near you." // Location page "Discover {count} listings in {location_name}. Browse restaurants, hotels, businesses, and more in {location_name}." // Type page "Find the best {type_name} listings. Search {count} verified {type_name} listings with reviews, maps, and more." ``` ### Output ```php add_action('wp_head', function() { if (is_tax('listora_listing_cat') || is_tax('listora_listing_location')) { $term = get_queried_object(); $description = get_term_meta($term->term_id, '_listora_seo_description', true); if (!$description) { $count = $term->count; $description = sprintf('Browse %d %s listings...', $count, $term->name); } echo ''; } }); ``` ### SEO Plugin Compatibility - If Yoast/Rank Math is active and has taxonomy meta description → defer to them - Check: `has_action('wpseo_head')` or `has_action('rank_math/head')` - Listora only outputs meta if no SEO plugin handles it --- ## Sitemap Optimization ### Listings Sitemap WordPress core sitemaps auto-include `listora_listing` (public CPT). Additional optimization: ```php add_filter('wp_sitemaps_posts_entry', function($entry, $post) { if ($post->post_type === 'listora_listing') { // Add lastmod based on last review or edit $last_review = get_last_review_date($post->ID); $last_edit = $post->post_modified_gmt; $entry['lastmod'] = max($last_review, $last_edit); } return $entry; }, 10, 2); ``` ### Sitemap Pagination (100K+ Listings) WordPress core sitemaps paginate at 2,000 URLs per file (configurable): ```php add_filter('wp_sitemaps_max_urls', function($max, $type) { if ($type === 'post') return 2000; // default if ($type === 'term') return 2000; return $max; }, 10, 2); ``` For 100K listings: 50 sitemap files, linked from sitemap index. This is handled by WP core. ### Priority Hints WordPress core sitemaps don't support `` (deprecated in sitemap spec). For search engines that still read it, use a sitemap plugin hook: ```php // If Yoast is active, set priorities: // Category/Location pages: 0.8 // Listing detail pages: 0.6 // Type archive pages: 0.7 ``` ### Additional Sitemaps - Category sitemap: `/wp-sitemap-taxonomies-listora_listing_cat-1.xml` - Location sitemap: `/wp-sitemap-taxonomies-listora_listing_location-1.xml` - Both auto-generated by WP core via `public => true` taxonomies --- ## Internal Linking Strategy ### Automatic Internal Links **1. Breadcrumbs (already planned in doc 23)** ``` Home > Restaurants > Italian > Pizza Palace ``` Each breadcrumb level is a link → distributes link equity through the hierarchy. **2. Related Listings (already planned in doc 12)** 3-4 related listings on each detail page → cross-links between related content. **3. Category Listing on Type Pages** Type pages (`/restaurants/`) show category links above the grid: ``` Browse by Cuisine: Italian (23) | Chinese (15) | Japanese (8) | Mexican (12) | View All → ``` Each links to `/listing-category/italian/` → category pages get internal links from every type page. **4. Location Links** Type pages show location links: ``` Popular Areas: Manhattan (45) | Brooklyn (28) | Queens (16) | View All → ``` **5. Listing Footer Links** On each listing detail page, below content: ``` More {category} in {city}: [Link] [Link] [Link] More listings in {city}: [Link] [Link] [Link] ``` --- ## Programmatic SEO Pages (Pro) ### Category + Location Combo Pages Auto-generate pages for high-value keyword combinations: **Pattern:** `/{type}-in-{location}/` or `/{category}-{type}-in-{location}/` **Examples:** - `/restaurants-in-manhattan/` - `/italian-restaurants-in-new-york/` - `/hotels-in-london/` - `/real-estate-in-miami/` **Implementation:** - Rewrite rules detect `{type}-in-{location}` pattern - Page content: auto-generated intro + search block filtered to type + location - Unique meta description per page - Schema.org `CollectionPage` markup - Only generated for combinations with 5+ listings (avoid thin content) ### Generation Rules ```php // Settings → SEO → Programmatic Pages ☑ Enable programmatic pages Minimum listings per page: [ 5 ] URL pattern: [ {type}-in-{location} ▾ ] Options: {type}-in-{location} {category}-in-{location} {category}-{type}-in-{location} ``` ### Intro Text Templates ``` "Discover the best {category} {type} in {location}. Browse {count} verified listings with reviews, photos, and contact information. Updated {month} {year}." ``` Configurable per type. Auto-generated but admin can override per page. --- ## Expired/Deleted Listing URL Strategy | Scenario | HTTP Status | Behavior | |----------|-------------|----------| | Listing expired | 200 + noindex | Show "Expired" message with renewal CTA. Keep URL alive for renewal. | | Listing trashed by owner | 301 redirect | Redirect to type archive page. | | Listing permanently deleted | 410 Gone | Tell search engines URL is permanently gone. | | Category with 0 listings | 200 + noindex | Show empty state with "No listings yet" and nearby category links. | ### Redirect Management ```php add_action('template_redirect', function() { if (is_singular('listora_listing')) { $status = get_post_status(); if ($status === 'trash') { $type = get_listing_type(get_the_ID()); wp_redirect(get_type_page_url($type->slug), 301); exit; } } }); ``` --- ## FAQ Schema (Pro) ### On Listing Detail Pages If listing has a Q&A section or common questions in content: ```json { "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the opening hours?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Monday-Friday 9AM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-10PM, Sunday Closed." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is parking available?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, free parking is available on-site." } } ] } ``` **Auto-generated from fields:** - "What are the opening hours?" → from business_hours field - "What is the price range?" → from price_range field - "Is [feature] available?" → from features taxonomy --- ## SEO Checklist for Site Owners Added to admin dashboard and docs: ``` SEO Health Check (Listora → Dashboard widget): ✅ Schema.org enabled — structured data on all listings ✅ Breadcrumbs enabled — navigation hierarchy for Google ✅ Sitemap active — 12,345 listings indexed ⚠ 45 categories missing meta descriptions [Fix →] ⚠ 12 listings have no featured image [View →] ⚠ 3 listings have descriptions under 50 words [View →] ✅ Canonical URLs configured ✅ Open Graph tags active ```