Drupal SEO Checklist
SEO checklist for Drupal CMS websites. Covers module configuration, content types, taxonomy, and performance optimization for Drupal sites.
What is the SEO checklist for Drupal?
The Drupal SEO checklist covers 18 essential tasks across Technical SEO, On-Page SEO, Content, and Performance categories. Key items include configuring XML sitemaps, optimizing meta tags, improving page speed, and setting up structured data. SEO checklist for Drupal CMS websites. Covers module configuration, content types, taxonomy, and performance optimization for Drupal sites.
Technical SEO
Install essential SEO modules
Install Pathauto, Metatag, XML Sitemap, Redirect, and Real-time SEO for Drupal (Yoast equivalent).
Configure Pathauto for clean URLs
Set URL alias patterns for content types (e.g., /blog/[title] for articles). Enable automatic alias generation.
Generate and submit XML sitemaps
Configure the XML Sitemap module. Set priorities, change frequencies. Submit to Google Search Console.
Set up the Redirect module
Install and configure the Redirect module for 301 redirects. Enable automatic redirects when URL aliases change.
Configure robots.txt
Edit the robots.txt file in your Drupal root. Block admin paths (/admin, /node/*/edit) and private files.
On-Page SEO
Configure Metatag module defaults
Set default meta title and description patterns for each content type. Use token replacements for dynamic values.
Set up canonical URLs
The Metatag module handles canonical URLs. Verify they are correct for all content types and taxonomy pages.
Use proper heading structure in templates
Ensure Twig templates use proper H1-H6 hierarchy. The page title should be H1, not wrapped in multiple divs.
Configure image alt text as a required field
In content type settings, make the image alt text field required. Train editors to write descriptive alt text.
Add Open Graph meta tags
Use the Metatag module's Open Graph submodule to set og:title, og:description, og:image for content types.
Content
Create content types with SEO in mind
Build content types with dedicated fields for SEO: meta description, focus keyword, canonical URL override.
Use taxonomy for content organization
Create vocabularies (tags, categories, topics) and use them for internal linking and content discovery.
Add structured data with Schema.org Metatag
Install the Schema.org Metatag module for automatic structured data based on content type mappings.
Build internal linking with Views
Create Views blocks for 'Related content' based on shared taxonomy terms. Place them on node pages.
Performance
Enable Drupal's built-in caching
Go to Configuration > Performance. Enable page caching and set aggregate CSS/JS. Set appropriate cache lifetimes.
Use a CDN for static assets
Configure the CDN module or your hosting's CDN. Serve images, CSS, and JS from edge servers.
Optimize images with responsive image styles
Configure responsive image styles in Drupal. Set breakpoints and image style mappings for different screen sizes.
Audit and disable unused modules
Each enabled module adds overhead. Audit and uninstall modules you do not actively use.
Optimize Your Drupal Site
Use our free SEO tools to generate meta tags, schema markup, and robots.txt for your Drupal site.