SEO Optimization module uses AI to fix SEO recommendations from Rank Math and other SEO plugins directly inside the Gutenberg editor. Instead of manually rewriting content to pass SEO checks, let AI handle keyword placement, readability, content length, and more — with one click.
This module analyzes your post against SEO plugin recommendations and generates targeted fixes for each failing test. It supports Rank Math natively, injects fix buttons into Yoast and Rank Math panels, and includes a generic analyzer for sites without a dedicated SEO plugin.
Enabling the Module
- Go to SmartyPress AI → Components (
#/components). - Find SEO Optimization in the modules list.
- Click Activate if it is disabled (enabled by default).
- The module loads Gutenberg editor assets automatically — there is no separate admin page for SEO Optimization.
Supported SEO Plugins
| Plugin | Integration Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rank Math | Full (primary) | Reads Rank Math SEO tests, applies content and meta field fixes, mounts buttons in the Focus Keyword panel and snippet preview |
| Yoast SEO | Editor UI + meta apply | Mounts a fix button in Yoast panels; generated meta can be written back to Yoast fields. Analysis uses the built-in universal analyzer (yoastseo engine) |
| Generic / SmartyPress SEO | Fallback | Built-in universal analyzer when Rank Math is not the active provider |
Note: AIOSEO stubs exist in the module tree, but the active fix pipeline providers are Rank Math and the generic SmartyPress SEO provider. Yoast receives editor buttons and meta updates through the generic provider path.
How It Works
The SEO Optimization module follows a three-step pipeline:
- Analysis: The module reads your current post content and SEO plugin recommendations (failing tests, scores, keyword data).
- AI Fix Generation: AI generates targeted fixes for each failing SEO test — rewriting paragraphs, adjusting keyword density, adding headings, and optimizing meta fields.
- Preview & Apply: Review the proposed changes in a diff view before applying them to your post.
Content Strategies (9 Built-in)
The module includes 9 content optimization strategies that AI uses to fix SEO issues:
| Strategy | What It Fixes |
|---|---|
| Keyword in Introduction | Ensures the focus keyword appears in the first paragraph |
| Keyword in Content | Adds natural keyword mentions throughout the article body |
| Keyword in Subheadings | Places the keyword in H2/H3 headings where appropriate |
| Keyword Density | Adjusts keyword frequency to the recommended 1–2% range |
| Content Length | Expands thin content to meet minimum word count requirements |
| Table of Contents | Generates a TOC block when the article has multiple headings |
| Short Paragraphs | Breaks long paragraphs into shorter, more readable chunks |
| Readability (Sentence Length) | Shortens overly long sentences for better readability scores |
| Readability (Transition Words) | Adds transition words to improve content flow |
Meta Field Optimization
In addition to content fixes, the module can optimize SEO meta fields:
- SEO Title — generates an optimized title with the focus keyword
- Meta Description — creates a compelling description within character limits
- Permalink / Slug — suggests a keyword-rich URL slug
- Focus Keyword — validates and improves keyword targeting
Module Options
SEO Optimization has no dedicated settings screen. The following options live in module settings storage:
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Allow Image ALT Updates | Off | When enabled, generated fixes may update image ALT attributes in the content |
Tip: Preview is always shown before apply. The modal never auto-applies generated fixes in the current UI.
Using SEO Optimization in Gutenberg
- Open any post or page in the Gutenberg editor.
- Make sure the post has a focus keyword set in your SEO plugin (recommended for accurate targeting).
- Open the entry point in one of these places:
- SmartyPress AI Writer toolbar dropdown → Fix SEO Errors
- Yoast SEO panel → button Fix SEO errors with AI (
[data-smartypress-ai-seo-button="true"]) - Rank Math Focus Keyword panel → same button label
- Rank Math snippet preview dialog → Fix errors
- In the Fix SEO Errors modal (
.smartypress-seo-fix-modal), review failed tests by group and optionally adjust generation settings (provider, model, temperature). - Click Generate fixes.
- Review the diff preview (SEO title, meta description, slug, post title, content operations, and optional recommendations).
- Click Apply (or Apply with selected recommendations when optional recommendations are checked). Use Regenerate to try again.
- Save or update the post.
