Overview
After you've added the SEO Toolkit to your website and your site is live and loading from DreamHost's servers, you can begin adjusting your SEO settings.
Step 1 — Log into the DreamHost SEO Toolkit
This section explains how to access your website's SEO Toolkit.
Your website's DNS records must be pointed to DreamHost before proceeding.
WordPress websites
You will need to have DreamPress or a DreamHost WordPress installed website to use these instructions. If your WordPress website is not a DreamHost WordPress install version, refer to the steps below.
Log into your DreamHost WordPress install or DreamPress site. In the left menu, select the DreamHost SEO Toolkit item.
All other websites
You must upload your website contents before proceeding.
If there are no files uploaded to your site, the SEO Toolkit will be unable to function and the dashboard link will notify you the site is not live yet.
- Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
- Click the Manage button to open the Domain Settings page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
- Click the Website tab.
- Scroll down to the Search Engine Optimization section.
- Click the SEO Dashboard link.
Step 2 — Add information about your website
On the SEO Toolkit page, click the Get Started button. You'll be asked setup questions to better know your website.
Step 3 — Implement the SEO Toolkit's suggestions
The SEO Toolkit then displays your website's SEO score and suggests steps you can take to help improve it.
WordPress and DreamPress sites
If you have a DreamPress or DreamHost WordPress install, the SEO Toolkit will help guide you through making these changes in your dashboard.
Non-WordPress sites
If your website is not built on WordPress you will need to manually make adjustments based on the SEO Toolkit's suggestions.
Step 4 — Add keywords
SEO keywords are the words and phrases in your website's content that make it possible for visitors to find your website in search engines.
When your website is well optimized for search engines, search engine robots can easily understand what your website content is about and relay that information to potential visitors.
WordPress and DreamPress sites
If you have a DreamPress or DreamHost WordPress install, the SEO Toolkit will help guide you through making these changes in your dashboard.
Non-WordPress sites
- On the top-right menu, click on the Settings link.
- In the left menu, click Tracked Keywords.
- Click the Find new keywords button to open the keyword search box.
- Enter the word or combination of words that a searcher might type into a search engine when looking for your website. For example, someone looking for a restaurant in Los Angeles might search for los angeles restaurants.
- Click the Search button.
You are shown your keyword as well as some alternatives. Next to each, you'll see how easily this keyword can bring visitors to your site, as well as how many times that keyword was searched for in the last month.
- Click the plus icon (+) to add a keyword to your website.
On the Tracked keywords page you will now see a list you've created. Click the x icon to delete a keyword.
Step 5 — Add competitors
Your competitors are other websites that share a similar audience with your website. They may sell the same types of products you do, be in the same industry, or provide the same type of content.
To improve your SEO score, it's important for you to identify, monitor, and understand what kind of SEO work your competitors are putting into their websites. This way, you can compare your website's performance to theirs, and see what is working for you against your competition.
WordPress and DreamPress sites
If you have a DreamPress or DreamHost WordPress install, the SEO Toolkit will help guide you through making these changes in your dashboard.
Non-WordPress sites
- On the top right menu, click on the Settings link.
- In the left menu, click Competitors.
- Click the Add a competitor button.
- In the box, type in the full website address (https://example.com) of the competitor you want to track and compare with your results.
- Click the Add Competitor button.
On the Competitors page, you will now see a list you've created. Click the x icon to delete a competitor.
It's recommended that you monitor your SEO results and settings on a weekly basis. Regular SEO maintenance ensures that your website continues to have a healthy SEO score and appears high in search engine rankings.
Changing the language of the DreamHost SEO Toolkit interface
DreamPress and DreamHost WordPress install websites
The latest WordPress plugin version of the SEO Toolkit has integrated Spanish language support, based on your WordPress installation's language settings. Make sure your plugin is updated and your WordPress language settings are set to Spanish to use the translated plugin:
If you need support for a language other than English or Spanish, some web browsers provide tools that translate webpages in the browser window itself. Instructions for popular browsers are listed below:
- Chrome: Change Chrome languages & translate webpages
- Safari for Mac: Translate a webpage in Safari on Mac
- Firefox: By default, Firefox does not come with translation features. Mozilla recommends installing an add-on to their browser instead: How to add translate feature to Firefox
All other websites
- On the top-right menu, click the Settings link.
- In the left menu, click the Company profile item.
- Scroll down to the Interface preferred language section, and select your preferred language.