LiteSpeed Cache: A Practical Guide to WordPress Speed & Performance

By Peter Brittain on November 11, 2024 in SEO Tools

After working with numerous WordPress caching plugins, I’ve found LiteSpeed Cache to be an exceptional option – particularly if you’re hosted on a LiteSpeed web server. Let me share everything I’ve learned about making the most of this powerful, free plugin.

Why Consider LiteSpeed Cache

The most compelling thing about LiteSpeed Cache is that it’s completely free while offering features that premium plugins charge for. However, there’s something important you should know upfront: while it works on any server, you’ll get the best performance when using a LiteSpeed web server.

Core Features You’ll Actually Use

Page Caching

The bread and butter of LiteSpeed Cache is its server-level caching. Unlike other plugins that cache at the PHP level, LiteSpeed Cache integrates directly with the web server when you’re on LiteSpeed. This means:

Faster cache creation
Lower resource usage
Better handling of concurrent visitors
More efficient cache clearing

WP Rocket

By Peter Brittain on November 10, 2024 in SEO Tools

After spending years optimizing WordPress sites, I can confidently say that WP Rocket is my go-to caching plugin. While it’s not the cheapest option available, its features and ease of use make it worth every penny. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about this powerful tool.

Why I Choose WP Rocket

The thing I love most about WP Rocket is that it just works. Unlike many other caching plugins that overwhelm you with complex settings, WP Rocket starts working immediately after activation. You don’t need to be a technical expert to see immediate speed improvements.

Core Features That Matter

Page Caching

The basic function of WP Rocket is creating cached versions of your pages. This means instead of WordPress generating pages dynamically for each visitor, it serves pre-generated static HTML files. I’ve seen load times drop from several seconds to under a second just from this feature alone.

File Optimization

WP Rocket handles all the technical optimization automatically:

Minifies HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files
Combines files to reduce HTTP requests
Optimizes Google Fonts loading
Removes unused CSS

What I particularly appreciate is how it handles these optimizations without breaking your site – something that’s surprisingly rare in caching plugins.

How Can I Optimize My Website for Mobile SEO?

By Peter Brittain on November 10, 2024 in Mobile SEO

After years of helping Perth businesses succeed online, I’ve learned that mobile SEO isn’t optional – it’s essential. Let me share real strategies and results from businesses that have mastered mobile optimization.

The Mobile-First Reality: A Perth Success Story

When Seasons Bali approached us in December 2023, their mobile performance needed serious attention. After implementing a comprehensive mobile optimization strategy, they saw a remarkable 182% increase in organic traffic. Here’s how we did it.

Understanding Mobile SEO Through Real Results

Principal Pools + Landscapes provides an excellent example of mobile optimization success. As Cullen Long, their Director, shares: “Peter and his team have worked diligently in the background to ensure our website is first class, functional and has a good presence online.”

Key mobile improvements included:

Page speed optimization
Responsive design implementation
Touch-friendly navigation
Content restructuring

The WordPress SEO Plugins I Actually Use: A Real-World Guide

By Peter Brittain on November 7, 2024 in SEO Tools

After a decade of optimizing WordPress sites, I’ve tested virtually every SEO plugin available.

But when it comes to my own projects and client sites, I stick to a carefully curated stack of plugins that deliver real results without bloating the site or creating conflicts.

Here’s my personal toolkit, along with detailed insights on why I chose each one and how I use them to maximize SEO performance.

$Rank Math WordPress SEO Plugins$ Rank Math SEO: My Primary SEO Framework

When people ask me which SEO plugin I recommend, Rank Math is consistently my go-to choice.

I switched from Yoast to Rank Math about four years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. Here’s why it’s become my foundation for WordPress SEO:

Why I Chose Rank Math

Modular Design: Unlike other plugins that force you to load features you’ll never use, I love how Rank Math lets me enable only the modules I need. On most sites, I activate just 4-5 core modules, keeping things lean and efficient.
Schema Implementation: The structured data options are simply outstanding. I regularly use their Article, FAQ, and Product schema markup with zero coding required. The ability to nest schema types has been particularly valuable for my eCommerce clients.
Built-in Features: I used to need separate plugins for redirects and 404 monitoring, but Rank Math handles these tasks beautifully. This consolidation has helped me reduce plugin conflicts and improve site speed.

How I Configure Rank Math

Here’s my exact setup process:

Initial Configuration
- I always start with their setup wizard but customize the settings based on site needs
- I enable XML sitemap generation but typically customize the settings to exclude specific post types
- For most sites, I activate their Google Search Console integration for deeper insights
Content Optimization Settings
- I set the content length minimum to 1500 words for posts
- I customize the title and meta description length limits
- I always enable their LSI keyword suggestions feature
Advanced Settings I Use
- Link counting for internal link optimization
- Auto-linking for key terms (with careful rules)
- 404 monitoring with email notifications
- Breadcrumb navigation support

Pro Features I Find Essential

While the free version is powerful, I invest in Pro for specific features:

Advanced Schema Builder
Content AI suggestions
Multiple keyword optimization
Google News sitemap support
Local SEO features

Get the → Rank Math WordPress Plugin

How Can Local Businesses Improve Their Google Rankings in Perth?

By Peter Brittain on November 6, 2024 in Local SEO

As someone who’s spent years helping Perth businesses climb the Google rankings ladder, I’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Today, I want to share some proven strategies that have helped my clients achieve remarkable results.

The Perth Success Stories That Shaped My Approach

Let me start with a real story that perfectly shows what’s possible. When Principal Pools + Landscapes first came to us, their website barely made it past page two on Google. Fast forward to today, and they’ve seen a 409% increase in organic traffic. How did we do it? Through careful attention to what actually matters for local rankings.

“Our ranking has always been very good and Peter and his team have worked diligently in the background to ensure our website is first class, functional and has a good presence online,” shares Cullen Long, Director at Principal Pools + Landscapes.

The Three Pillars of Local Ranking Success

Technical Foundation

One of our most striking transformations came from Brilliance Carpet Cleaning. When they approached us, their key terms were nowhere to be found in Google’s results. Today, they rank on page one for 92% of their target keywords.

Here’s what we tackled first: