wpm

clarity-seo

plugin

2.4.0 • public • Published 19 hours ago

Lightweight, fast SEO plugin for WordPress — meta tags, Schema.org markup, XML sitemap, 301 redirects, 404 monitor, image SEO, breadcrumbs, and more. All in under 100KB.

meta tagsredirectsschemaseositemap
Overview Versions Dependencies

Description

Clarity SEO is a fast, lightweight WordPress SEO plugin that delivers professional-grade optimization tools without the bloat. Everything you need to rank better — nothing you don't.

Built for speed and simplicity, Clarity SEO adds under 100KB to your site while providing features that rival plugins ten times its size. No upsells, no unnecessary complexity, just clean SEO tools that work.

🎯 Core Features

Per-Page Meta Tags & Open Graph
Automatically generates meta title, description, keywords, and Open Graph tags from your content. Override any field manually in the Gutenberg sidebar metabox. Full Twitter Card support included.

Schema.org JSON-LD Markup
Rich structured data for WebPage, Article, BlogPosting, FAQPage, VideoObject, LocalBusiness, Product, and custom types. Supports multiple schema types per page. Organization schema with logo, contact, and social profiles.

Dynamic XML Sitemap
Automatically generated /sitemap.xml with proper priorities, change frequencies, image tags, video support, and Google News tags for blog posts. Includes all public post types and taxonomy terms.

Readability Analysis
Real-time Flesch-Kincaid readability score in the editor. Aim for 60+ for optimal readability. Get actionable tips to improve your content.

Focus Keywords & Density
Set focus keywords per post and get real-time keyword density analysis. Optimal range indicator helps you avoid over- or under-optimization. Internal linking suggestions based on your focus keywords.

SEO Score
Visual 0-100 SEO score per post based on meta title, description, keywords, density, and readability. See at a glance which posts need attention.

🔧 Advanced Tools

301 Redirect Manager
Create redirects with simple URL matching or regex patterns. Easily redirect old URLs to new ones. Built-in validation for regex patterns.

404 Monitor
Automatic logging of 404 errors with hit count, timestamps, referrer tracking, and user agent data. Uses a dedicated database table for zero performance impact on your options table. Export to CSV, paginated interface, and automatic cleanup of old logs.

Image SEO
Auto-generate alt text and titles from filenames on upload. Bulk find-and-replace tool for existing image alt text (processes up to 500 images per batch).

Local Business SEO
Add business address, geo coordinates, and contact information for LocalBusiness schema. Perfect for brick-and-mortar businesses.

Google Search Console Integration
Connect via OAuth2 access token to fetch top-performing pages and URL inspection status. Cached API calls to respect quotas.

Keyword Position Tracking
Track keyword rankings over time via GSC Search Analytics API. Weekly email reports with position, impressions, and click data.

SEO Audit Checklist
30-point automated health check covering HTTPS, permalinks, sitemap, robots.txt, meta tags, schema, alt tags, readability, content length, internal links, and more. Actionable fix links for every issue.

Breadcrumbs
Schema-enhanced breadcrumbs via [clarity_seo_breadcrumbs] shortcode. Supports page hierarchy, post categories, archives, and search results.

Setup Wizard
Quick onboarding wizard to configure your organization name, logo, social profiles, contact info, and global defaults in one step.

Noindex / Nofollow
Per-post control to exclude specific pages from search engine indexing.

Import from Yoast / Rank Math
One-click import of meta titles and descriptions from Yoast SEO or Rank Math.

🚀 Performance First

  • Custom database table for 404 logs — no wp_options bloat
  • Transient caching for GSC API calls
  • Minimal footprint: under 100KB total plugin size
  • No external API calls on frontend (everything is self-contained)
  • Admin scripts only load on relevant pages

🤝 Compatibility

  • WordPress 5.8+ through 6.9
  • WooCommerce: metabox on products, schema support, sitemap inclusion
  • Gutenberg: full block editor integration with sidebar metabox
  • Classic Editor: works with the standard meta box interface
  • Extend with filters: clarity_seo_metabox_post_types to add custom post types

Installation

  1. Upload the clarity-seo folder to /wp-content/plugins/.
  2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
  3. Go to Clarity SEO → Setup Wizard to configure your global settings.
  4. Go to Clarity SEO → Settings for advanced configuration.
  5. Edit any post or page — the Clarity SEO metabox appears in the sidebar.

Quick Start

After activation, the plugin works out of the box with sensible defaults:

  • Meta tags are auto-generated from your post titles and excerpts
  • A dynamic sitemap is available at /sitemap.xml
  • Virtual robots.txt is configured automatically
  • Schema markup is added to all pages

Visit the Setup Wizard to fine-tune your organization details, then check the SEO Audit to see what else needs attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I exclude a page from search engines?

Yes. In the Clarity SEO metabox on any post or page, check the "Noindex / Nofollow" checkbox. This adds a <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"> tag to that page.

Does Clarity SEO work with WooCommerce?

Yes. The SEO metabox appears on product pages, schema markup supports Product type, and products are automatically included in the XML sitemap.

Does this plugin store personal data?

The 404 monitor logs IP addresses and user agents for diagnostic purposes. This data is automatically cleaned up after 30 days and can be exported or cleared at any time from the 404 Monitor page.

How accurate is the readability score?

It uses the Flesch-Kincaid reading ease formula, a widely recognized standard. Scores above 60 indicate content that is easy to read for most audiences. It's a helpful guide, but always review your content manually for context and tone.

How do I add Clarity SEO to custom post types?

Use the clarity_seo_metabox_post_types filter in your theme's functions.php:

add_filter( 'clarity_seo_metabox_post_types', function( $types ) { $types[] = 'portfolio'; return $types; } );

How do I set up the Google Search Console integration?

You need a valid OAuth2 access token from the Google API Console with Search Console API access enabled. Enter the token and your site URL (e.g., sc-domain:example.com) in Clarity SEO → Settings.

How do breadcrumbs work?

Add the shortcode [clarity_seo_breadcrumbs] to your theme template or any page. Breadcrumbs include Schema.org BreadcrumbList markup and support page hierarchy and post categories.

Where can I find the XML sitemap?

Your sitemap is automatically available at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. It includes all public post types, taxonomy terms, images, and video/news tags.

Will it conflict with Yoast SEO or Rank Math?

It's best to deactivate other SEO plugins before using Clarity SEO to avoid duplicate meta tags and schema markup. You can import your existing meta titles and descriptions from Yoast or Rank Math via the Import tool.

Screenshots

SEO Metabox in Gutenberg editor with readability score, keyword density, and SEO score

SEO Metabox in Gutenberg editor with readability score, keyword density, and SEO score

Dashboard with site statistics and quick actions

Dashboard with site statistics and quick actions

Settings page with redirect manager and bulk image tools

Settings page with redirect manager and bulk image tools

SEO Audit checklist with 30 automated tests

SEO Audit checklist with 30 automated tests

404 Monitor with pagination and CSV export

404 Monitor with pagination and CSV export

Dynamic XML sitemap output

Dynamic XML sitemap output

Changelog

2.4.0

  • New: Noindex / Nofollow option per post — exclude pages from search engines
  • New: Settings link on Plugins page for quick access
  • New: og:type, og:site_name, og:locale meta tags for better social sharing
  • New: Twitter title and description meta tags
  • New: Author meta tag uses actual post author (not site name)
  • New: Content length check in SEO Audit (warns for posts under 300 words)
  • New: Character count indicators for meta title and description in metabox
  • New: Filter clarity_seo_metabox_post_types to extend supported post types
  • Improved: Breadcrumbs now support post categories, archives, and search results
  • Improved: Breadcrumbs include proper Schema.org BreadcrumbList markup
  • Improved: Schema Article types now include author, datePublished, dateModified, and publisher
  • Improved: Multiple schema types now correctly skip the primary type (fixed comparison bug)
  • Improved: LocalBusiness schema uses wp_json_encode for proper escaping
  • Improved: 404 logger skips common bot/junk requests (.env, .git, xmlrpc, etc.)
  • Improved: Database uses SHA-256 hash for URL uniqueness (supports longer URLs)
  • Improved: Admin scripts only load on post editor screens (not tools/settings pages)
  • Improved: All files use consistent Unix line endings
  • Improved: SEO Audit no longer makes slow HTTP requests for broken link checking
  • Improved: SEO Audit links now point to correct admin menu pages
  • Fixed: Broken rel_canonical() check in SEO Audit (function outputs, doesn't return)
  • Fixed: Duplicate bulk image replace handler removed (was running twice)
  • Fixed: Schema extra types comparison bug — was comparing against full comma string
  • Fixed: Admin JS dependencies — removed tools.php from script loading (missing deps)
  • Fixed: Google Trends iframe replaced with reliable direct link
  • Security: Improved nonce verification in CSV export
  • Performance: Activation time set once during activation (not on settings page load)
  • Readme.txt rewritten with comprehensive documentation
  • WordPress 6.9 compatibility verified

2.3.0

  • Custom database table for 404 logs (no more wp_options bloat)
  • Improved settings storage with batched updates
  • Enhanced redirect security with regex validation
  • Better 404 monitor with pagination, count tracking, and bulk actions
  • Automatic migration from old 404 logs format
  • Code cleanup and optimization throughout
  • Added activation/deactivation hooks for proper setup

2.2.4

  • Fixed Google Search Console endpoints (correct v3 searchanalytics + v1 inspection)
  • Added transient caching to GSC API calls
  • Improved bulk image alt replace with 500-image limit and feedback notices

2.2.3

  • Updated readme.txt

2.2

  • Expanded features: more schema types, advanced tools, integrations

2.1

  • Added SEO Audit dashboard (30+ point checklist)
  • Basic GSC integration (fetch errors/index status)
  • Expanded schema to 16+ types via metabox
  • Internal linking suggestions

2.0

  • Added readability analysis (Flesch-Kincaid)
  • Focus keywords with density tips
  • New redirect manager (301/404)
  • WooCommerce support

1.3

  • Global organization settings
  • Improved FAQ schema parsing
  • Text domain for translations
  • Enhanced sitemap

1.2

  • Fixed Gutenberg JS dependencies
  • Better OG image fallbacks

1.1

  • Initial release

Upgrade Notice

2.3.0

Major performance upgrade with custom database tables. Automatic migration of existing data.

2.4.0

New features: noindex option, improved breadcrumbs, better schema markup. Multiple bug fixes including schema type comparison and duplicate handlers. Recommended for all users.