Does PHP Version Affect SEO? Check Your Backend

The PHP programming language or Hypertext Preprocessor was originally designed to make it easier to create and format web pages. However, over the years it has evolved into a powerful scripting language that can be used for much more than just creating websites.

Today, PHP is used by millions of websites around the world, popularly used in every WordPress site, and it plays an important role in both security and efficiency.

The more secure, efficient, and protected your website, the better its SEO performance, and the higher authority it has within Google’s search rankings. So, is upgrading to better PHP versions more favorable for your SEO efforts?

Let’s find out.

Does the PHP Version Affect SEO?

There’s a lot that goes into search engine optimization, and website developers are always trying to stay ahead of the curve in terms of best practices. One question that comes up often is whether the PHP version used on a site has any impact on SEO.

The short answer is that it can, but it’s usually not a significant factor. Generally speaking, newer PHP versions are faster and more secure, which can help improve your website’s overall performance and security.

However, search engines are designed to index websites regardless of the technology used, so as long as your site is accessible and properly coded, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it ranked.

Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. Google has stated that they use PHP to index websites, and they often crawl PHP code looking for new content. That means that if your site is running an outdated version of PHP, it could be missing out on important Google crawls.

So if you’re looking to improve your site’s SEO, make sure you’re running the latest PHP version, just to be on the safe side of your backend operations.

What are the effects of updating or having an outdated PHP version in your SEO strategies?

 

What happens when you run older PHP versions in your SEO strategies?

Using an older version of PHP can put your website at a disadvantage in several ways.

• First, Google and other search engines prefer websites that use the latest versions of PHP, so you may be missing out on valuable ranking opportunities.
• Second, outdated versions of PHP are often less secure than the latest versions, exposing your website to potential hacking attempts.
• Finally, older versions of PHP can often be slower and more inefficient than the latest versions, which can impact your website’s speed and performance.

To ensure that your SEO strategies are effective, it’s important to always use the latest version of PHP.

What are the effects of updating to the latest version of PHP?

One of the most common questions asked is whether or not updating to the latest PHP version will have any noticeable effects on performance. And unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to that question.

It really depends on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of your website, the number of plugins and extensions you’re using, and your server environment. That said, in general, it’s found that updating to the latest version of PHP can slightly improve performance – especially if you’re coming from an older version.

Newer PHP versions include patches for any known vulnerabilities, which help to keep your WordPress sites safe from attacks. Additionally, new versions often include improvements in code efficiency and performance – which can help your site load just a little bit faster.

So if you’re looking to squeeze a bit more speed out of your website, updating to the latest version of PHP is definitely worth a shot.

Steps to check your PHP version on the backend

It’s always good to know which version of PHP your WordPress site is running. Not only so you can keep up with the latest WordPress updates, but also so you can keep your site secure. There are a few different ways to check your WordPress PHP version.

1. Site Health Page

One way is to look in the “Site Health” section of your WordPress Dashboard. Under the “Info” tab, you should see a section labeled “Server Information.”

Tools >> Site Health >> Info >> Server Information

If you’re running an old version of PHP, it will be listed here.

2. Dedicated PHP Version free and paid plugins

Another way to check your WordPress PHP version is to install the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin. Once installed, go to the “Tools” section of your Dashboard and click on the “health Check” tab. Your PHP version will be listed under the “WordPress environment” section.

3. Contacting the hosting provider

Finally, you can also ask your web host which PHP version you’re running. They should be able to tell you which version of PHP your site is running.

Whichever method you choose, always update the PHP version on your WordPress websites to keep them up-to-date and secure.

What else do you need to check on the backend for SEO?

SEO isn’t just about the front-end of your website. Once you’ve optimized your titles, tags, and descriptions, there’s more work to be done on the back-end if you want to make sure your site is truly search-friendly. Here are a few security fixes to perform on the backend for SEO:

Clean Code

An inefficient code can quickly lead to a host of problems, including slow loading times, unresponsive pages, and even crashes. Not only is this frustrating for users, but it can also have a negative impact on search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.

This is because search engines like Google take website speed into account when ranking websites. In other words, a website with clean and well-organized code is more likely to rank higher in search results than a website with messy and bloated code.

Crawlability (XML sitemap)

One of the most important aspects of SEO is crawlability which refers to a search engine’s ability to find and index your content. If your site is not crawlable, it will be difficult for searchers to find your content, and you will not show up in the search results.

There are a number of ways to improve crawlability, but one of the most effective is to create an XML sitemap. An XML sitemap is a file that contains a list of all the pages on your website, as well as information about each page.

This information makes it easier for search engines to find and index your content. In response to a changed PHP version, an XML sitemap can help you to improve the organization of your website and make it easier for visitors to navigate.

URL Readability

A well-optimized URL is easy for both users and search engines to read and understand. It should be short, descriptive, and free of any unnecessary characters or parameters. Additionally, your URLs should be automatically generated whenever possible.

This ensures that they’re always up-to-date and consistent with the rest of your site’s content. Finally, remember to use keyword-rich anchor text when linking to other pages on your site.

This will help search engines understand the relationship between those pages and improve your site’s overall link quality.

Redirection from dead pages

Broken links are a frustrating reality of the internet. Not only do they create a poor user experience, but they can also harm your site’s search engine ranking. When search engines crawl your site, they keep track of any 404 errors that they encounter.

If too many 404 errors are found, your site will be flagged as out-of-date and may be penalized in the search results. One way to avoid this problem is to ensure that all of your dead pages are properly redirected.

Redirecting a dead page to an active one ensures that users will always land on valid content, and it prevents search engines from flagging your site as having outdated content.

Others

Any good SEO campaign starts with a solid foundation. That means making sure your website’s backend operations are running smoothly and free of any console errors.

By ensuring there are no console errors, you’re giving your website the best possible chance to rank highly on search engine results pages. This can be accomplished by carefully monitoring your website’s code and correcting any errors that pop up.

How ProRankTracker Helps You Boost Your Website Ranking

Quite often, before and after a PHP upgrade, businesses fret over how their recent change in PHP affects websites to stay at the top of the search results, even though the benefits of a PHP update are stated in this article.

By using ProRankTracker, you can get detailed reports on your website’s performance, specifically information on your search engine rankings, traffic levels, and conversions.

In addition, ProRankTracker offers a variety of tools to help you improve your website’s ranking, including keyword research and analysis.

With ProRankTracker, you can get the most out of the recent PHP version upgrade and ensure that your website is well-positioned to take advantage of the new features and improvements.

Don’t take our word for it. Sign up for a FREE trial and start tracking!