Thesis theme and SEO plugins

The Thesis theme, which I have used on a number of WordPress blog, has grest SEO optimization.

Before installing WordPress on a number of blogs, I had used All In One SEO Pack plugin and the Platinum SEO Pack plugin, both of which I can strongly recommend (if you're not using Thesis) as essential and excellent SEO plugins for WordPress. You only need one or the other, not both.

So is the All In One SEO Pack or Platinum SEO Pack needed when you are using the Thesis theme?

In a word, no. The theme takes care of the SEO -- and you can have one less plugin to clutter up the backend of your blog.

There is a very easy way transfer everything you need from the plugin to the theme.

First, make sure that you have a plugin installed that allows you to directly access the SQL database from your WordPress blog. The following will work:

• WP-DBManager (easiest)
  
• WP-PHPMyAdmin

In fact, if you don't have these two plugins on your blog, then I strongly suggest that you install and configure them NOW. They are, in my opinion, essential plugins for backing up and cleaning up (WP-DBManager) and working (WP-PHPMyAdmin) in your SQL database.

You may need to check with your web hosting company to get them set up correctly, so do that first!

Then, to transfer your All In One SEO Pack information to Thesis, do the following:

• Backup your database and make sure that you have a copy of the latest backup file either on your desktop computer or stored someplace on your server.
• Deactivate the All In One SEO Pack / Platinum SEO Pack plugin
• If using WP-DBManager (the easiest way):
  • Go to "Run SQL Query"
• If using WP-PHPMyAdmin:
  • Login to your WP-PHPMyAdmin, select your WordPress blog SQL database, and click on SQL
• Now put the following lines of code into the SQL query box and run them

insert wp_postmeta (post_id,meta_key,meta_value)
select post_id, concat('thesis_',meta_key),meta_value
from wp_postmeta where meta_key in ('title','description','keywords');

• Make sure the queries have run successfully.
• Check your blog to make sure it looks OK.
• If everything looks OK, delete the All In One SEO Pack / Platinum SEO Pack plugin

And you're set to go. Mission accomplished!