SEO for ExpressionEngine: Complete Guide (2026)

SEO Basics for ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine has its own approach to SEO. Understanding how ExpressionEngine handles URL structure, meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, and page rendering is the foundation of ranking ExpressionEngine sites in search.

Technical SEO for ExpressionEngine

URL Structure

Check how ExpressionEngine generates URLs. Clean, descriptive URLs perform better in search. Configure your ExpressionEngine settings to use keyword-rich slugs.

Meta Tags

Ensure you can customize title tags and meta descriptions for every page. Some platforms limit this. If ExpressionEngine restricts meta tag editing, look for plugins or workarounds.

Sitemap

Verify that ExpressionEngine generates an XML sitemap automatically, or create one. Submit it to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

Page Speed

ExpressionEngine sites vary in page speed depending on themes, plugins, and hosting. Test with Google PageSpeed Insights and optimize images, scripts, and CSS.

Keyword Research for ExpressionEngine Sites

Use Delulu9 to find keywords relevant to your ExpressionEngine site. The MCP server integrates with Claude Code and Cursor, so you can research keywords without leaving your editor.

Focus on keywords that match the content types ExpressionEngine supports well. If ExpressionEngine is strong for blog content, target informational keywords. If it’s an ecommerce platform, focus on product and category page keywords.

Content Strategy for ExpressionEngine

Build content that plays to ExpressionEngine’s strengths. Create pillar pages for your main topics, with supporting blog posts targeting related long tail keywords.

Optimize each page for one primary keyword. Include it in the title, H1 tag, meta description, and naturally throughout the content.

Common ExpressionEngine SEO Mistakes

• Not customizing default meta tags
• Ignoring page speed optimization
• Missing schema markup
• Not submitting sitemap to search engines
• Duplicate content from tag and category pages

Related Guides

• SEO for Discourse
• SEO for SvelteKit
• Keyword Research for Moving Companies
• Keyword Research for Dance Studios

Optimize Your ExpressionEngine Site

Delulu9 gives you keyword research for your ExpressionEngine site. Google, Bing, and Reddit data for $12/mo.