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SEO

Drupal SEO optimization

Learn how to optimize your Drupal site for Google and other search engines. Technical SEO, modules and best practices for Drupal 10.

Drupal is SEO-friendly from the ground up

Drupal has a strong reputation for SEO. The clean code, flexible URL structure and powerful modules make it an ideal platform for visibility.

  • Semantic, clean HTML output that Google understands
  • Powerful SEO modules like Pathauto and Metatag
  • Fast performance with built-in caching (important for SEO)

Essential Drupal SEO modules

These modules are must-have for any Drupal site serious about ranking in Google

Pathauto

Must-have

Automatically generate SEO-friendly URLs. Uses the title of your content to create clean URLs.

  • /node/123 becomes /my-article-title
  • Bulk update existing URLs
  • Patterns per content type
composer require drupal/pathauto

Metatag

Must-have

Manage meta tags for every page. Title, description, Open Graph for social media and Schema.org markup.

  • Per page or global defaults
  • Open Graph and Twitter Cards
  • Schema.org structured data
composer require drupal/metatag

Simple Sitemap

SEO

Automatic XML sitemap generation. Google and other search engines find all your content.

  • Automatically updated
  • Multilingual support
  • Hreflang tags for SEO
composer require drupal/simple_sitemap

Redirect

SEO

Manage 301 redirects and prevent 404 errors. Essential for URL changes and migrations.

  • Automatic redirects on URL change
  • 404 tracking and fixes
  • Bulk import redirects
composer require drupal/redirect

Schema.org Metatag

Advanced

Structured data for rich snippets in Google. Improves CTR in search results.

  • Rich snippets (stars, reviews)
  • Knowledge Graph information
  • FAQ, Recipe, Product schema
composer require drupal/schema_metatag

Image Optimize

Performance

Optimize images automatically. Faster load times = better rankings.

  • WebP conversion
  • Automatic compression
  • Lazy loading integration
composer require drupal/imageapi_optimize

Drupal 10 technical SEO checklist

Work through these items for optimal visibility

1. Configure clean URLs and URL aliases

Make sure Pathauto is set up and automatically generate readable URLs. /blog/drupal-seo-tips is better than /node/456.

Configure: Configuration → Search and metadata → URL aliases → Patterns

2. Optimize meta tags per content type

Set defaults for each content type. Use tokens like [node:title] and [node:summary] for dynamic meta descriptions.

Configure: Configuration → Search and metadata → Metatag

3. Generate and submit XML sitemap

Simple Sitemap automatically creates a sitemap.xml. Submit it in Google Search Console for faster indexing.

URL: yoursite.com/sitemap.xml | Configure: Configuration → Search and metadata → Simple XML Sitemap

4. Optimize images with alt tags

Always fill in alt attributes for images. Use descriptive text with your keywords (not forced).

Best practice: Alt text describes what is in the image, not "image123.jpg"

5. Use canonical URLs

Prevent duplicate content with canonical tags. Metatag module adds these automatically.

Check: Every page should have a <link rel="canonical"> tag

6. Enable caching for speed

Page load speed is a ranking factor. Enable Page Cache and Dynamic Page Cache in Drupal 10.

Configure: Configuration → Development → Performance | Also read: Make Drupal faster

7. Make your site mobile-friendly

Google uses mobile-first indexing. Use a responsive theme like Bootstrap or Olivero (Drupal 10 default).

Test: Google Mobile-Friendly Test | Also see: Best Drupal themes

8. Use structured data (Schema.org)

Add JSON-LD structured data for rich snippets. Think FAQ schema, Article schema, Organization schema.

Module: Schema.org Metatag | Test: Google Rich Results Test

9. Install SSL certificate (HTTPS)

Google prefers HTTPS sites. Almost every hosting provider offers free Let's Encrypt SSL.

Check: Force HTTPS in settings.php or via your hosting | See: Drupal hosting with free SSL

10. Monitor with Google Search Console

Verify your site in Google Search Console. Check indexing status, Core Web Vitals and search performance.

Module: Google Analytics + Google Tag Manager for tracking

Content SEO tips for Drupal

Technology alone is not enough. Your content must also be good.

Write for people, not for robots

  • Answer questions your audience has
  • Use a natural writing style
  • Use headings (H2, H3) for structure
  • Keep paragraphs short and scannable

Use internal links strategically

  • Link to related content on your site
  • Use descriptive anchor text
  • Link important pages from your homepage
  • Create breadcrumbs for hierarchy

Keyword research and optimization

  • Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush
  • Focus on long-tail keywords
  • Use keywords in H1, first paragraph and URL
  • Avoid keyword stuffing (unnatural)

Update old content regularly

  • Google loves fresh content
  • Update statistics and examples
  • Add new sections to old posts
  • Update outdated screenshots

Frequently asked questions about Drupal SEO

Is Drupal better for SEO than WordPress?

Both platforms are good for SEO, but Drupal has some advantages. The cleaner code output, better caching and enterprise-level performance make it ideal for large sites. For small blogs, WordPress is easier. Read the full comparison.

Which Drupal modules are essential for SEO?

The top 3 are: Pathauto (clean URLs), Metatag (manage meta tags) and Simple Sitemap (XML sitemap). Additionally, Redirect (for URL changes) and Schema.org Metatag (structured data) are very useful. Install them with Composer and you're good to go.

How do I make my Drupal site faster for better SEO?

Enable Page Cache and Dynamic Page Cache in Drupal 10. Use Advanced CSS/JS Aggregation module for asset optimization. Optimize images with Image Optimize module. And choose Drupal hosting with SSD and good performance. Also read: Make Drupal faster.

Should I add Schema.org structured data?

Yes, definitely! Schema.org markup creates rich snippets in Google (stars, FAQ accordions, breadcrumbs). This increases your CTR in search results. Use the Schema.org Metatag module for Drupal to add JSON-LD markup without writing code.

How do I prevent duplicate content in Drupal?

Use canonical URLs (Metatag module does this automatically). Prevent taxonomy term pages and node pages from showing the same content. And use 301 redirects (Redirect module) when changing URLs. Also important: block admin pages in robots.txt.

Is Drupal 10 better for SEO than Drupal 9?

Drupal 10 is faster thanks to improved caching and newer Symfony components. It uses PHP 8.1+ which also provides speed benefits. In terms of SEO functionality they are comparable, but the performance boost of Drupal 10 does help for rankings.

Which hosting is important for Drupal SEO?

Choose hosting with SSD, PHP 8.1+, sufficient RAM (1GB+) and good uptime. Speed is a ranking factor. Free SSL is essential (HTTPS). Providers like TransIP, Antagonist and Vimexx are good for Drupal. Compare Drupal hosting.

Ready to rank higher in Google?

Start with fast hosting and install the right SEO modules. Your Drupal site becomes a ranking machine.

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