Stella SEO Plugin Documentation

Stella SEO is a WordPress SEO plugin that helps you manage on-page SEO, XML sitemaps, metadata, social sharing tags, schema output, diagnostics, and advanced technical SEO workflows. The free plugin includes the core SEO and sitemap controls needed for most WordPress sites, while the Pro plugin extends the same interface with advanced sitemaps, schema controls, AI-assisted SEO generation, redirect management, diagnostics, bulk tools, and import/export workflows.This documentation covers both the free plugin and the Pro plugin, including installation, settings, metabox usage, sitemap controls, schema setup, diagnostics, bulk tools, and common troubleshooting.1. OverviewStella SEO is designed to give site owners and editors a practical SEO workflow directly inside WordPress. The plugin focuses on:SEO titles and meta descriptionsCanonical and robots controlsSocial metadata for Facebook, X, and LinkedInXML sitemap managementStructured data outputDiagnostics and SEO auditingBulk SEO editing and CSV workflowsAdvanced Pro tools for redirects, schema, AI SEO, and specialized sitemaps2. Free vs ProFree Plugin IncludesSEO title and meta description fields for posts and pagesCanonical tag outputRobots controls such as noindex and nofollowOpen Graph and Twitter/X metadata basicsGoogle snippet previewCore XML sitemap controlsPost type and taxonomy sitemap controlsExclude specific post IDs from sitemap outputBasic site schema (Organization + WebSite)Integrations and technical toolsAI visibility checklist and basic diagnosticsBulk editor lite / core bulk editing workflowPro Plugin AddsImage, Video, News, Product, Date, and User/Author sitemapsSchema Builder with advanced Organization and LocalBusiness controlsFAQ schema and HowTo schema in the post/page metaboxAI SEO Generation with provider/model settingsRedirect Rules managerAdvanced diagnostics and AI visibility checksBulk editor enhancementsCSV import/export for SEO metadataPro advanced tools and technical utilities3. InstallationFree Plugin InstallationUpload the stella-seo plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/.Go to Plugins in WordPress admin.Activate Stella SEO.Open the Stella SEO menu in the admin sidebar.Pro Plugin InstallationInstall and activate the free Stella SEO plugin first.Upload the stella-seo-pro plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/.Activate Stella SEO Pro.The Pro features will extend the existing Stella SEO interface.Important: The Pro plugin depends on the free plugin. If the free plugin is inactive, the Pro plugin should not be used alone.4. Main Admin PagesStella SEO primarily works from these admin screens:Stella SEO: main sitemap and core settings pageIntegrations & Tools: technical settings, robots, schema baseline, diagnostics, bulk editing, import/export, and morePro Advanced Tools: Pro-only advanced controls such as schema builder and extended technical tools5. Main Stella SEO PageThe main Stella SEO page focuses on sitemap and core SEO settings.Sitemap SettingsExclude Post IDsUse this field to exclude specific posts or pages from sitemap output. Enter IDs separated by commas.Example: 123, 456, 789Sitemap Post TypesSelect which post types should be included in the main WordPress sitemap output managed by Stella SEO.Typical options include:PostsPagesAny public custom post types registered on the siteSitemap TaxonomiesSelect which taxonomies should be included in the sitemap. Typical examples:CategoriesTagsCustom taxonomiesMain Sitemap FieldsThese options control which optional fields are added to the main sitemap URLs.lastmod: Adds the last modified date for URLs.changefreq: Adds a change frequency hint.priority: Adds a priority hint.Note: Search engines may ignore some sitemap hints such as changefreq and priority, but the fields are available if you want to include them.Change Frequency MapIf changefreq is enabled, you can define different values for:HomePostTaxonomyPriority MapIf priority is enabled, you can define different values for:HomePostTaxonomyMain XML Sitemap LinkThe page also shows the main sitemap URL so you can open and verify it quickly.Data CleanupThis option controls whether Stella SEO removes its saved data when the plugin is uninstalled.Enabled: plugin data is deleted during uninstallDisabled: plugin data is preservedWhen Pro is active: the uninstall behavior should respect the plugin split, so free and Pro data can be managed independently.6. Pro Sitemap BuilderWhen Pro is active, additional sitemap controls are shown in the Stella SEO interface.Product SitemapCreates a sitemap for WooCommerce or product-type content.Optional fields may include:lastmodimagetitlecaptionImage SitemapCreates a sitemap for images found in eligible content.Optional fields may include:lastmodtitlecaptionVideo SitemapCreates a video sitemap using required video fields for search engine compatibility.Required fields are always included when video sitemap output is enabled.Date SitemapCreates a date-based sitemap structure. This can help organize sitemap output by publication date.User / Author SitemapCreates a user or author-based sitemap when enabled in Pro.This is separate from the default WordPress user-related sitemap behavior and should only appear when the Pro feature is active.News SitemapCreates a Google News style sitemap for eligible posts.You can restrict this to selected categories so only news-eligible content appears.Sitemap LinksOnly enabled sitemap links should be shown in the UI. Disabled sitemap modules should not display public links.7. Integrations & Tools PageThis page combines core technical features and utility tools.Basic Site SchemaEnables baseline JSON-LD schema for:OrganizationWebSiteWhen Pro is active, advanced organization details can be overridden in the Pro schema tools.Robots.txt EditorLets you manage custom robots.txt content where supported by the plugin workflow.Use this carefully. A bad robots rule can block important content from crawling.Auto Submit SitemapsWhen enabled, Stella SEO can notify supported services when new content is published and sitemap-related signals need refreshing.IndexNowIndexNow support can notify supported search engines about updated URLs. This typically requires an API key.The plugin should explain where the key is needed and what the feature does.LLMs.txt and LLMs-full.txtThese features help publish machine-readable guidance for AI systems and crawlers.llms.txt: concise, curated summary or index of important site contentllms-full.txt: broader URL inventory, often with more links and configurable limitsllms.txtUsually includes a concise intro and selected important URLs or content summaries.llms-full.txtUsually includes a much broader inventory. Related fields should only appear when the feature is enabled.8. SEO DiagnosticsStella SEO includes diagnostics to help identify optimization gaps.Typical ChecksPosts/pages missing SEO TitlePosts/pages missing Meta DescriptionDuplicate SEO titlesDuplicate meta descriptionsBroken canonical URLsOrphan pages/postsView Posts / Quick EditFor supported diagnostics, clicking the related action should open an inline management section so you can review items without leaving the page.This view may include:IDTitleSEO TitleMeta DescriptionQuick-edit style controlsPaginationOrphan Pages / PostsAn orphan page or post is content that exists on your site but is not well linked internally from other important pages.This can affect SEO because search engines and users may have a harder time discovering it through normal site navigation.Why It MattersWeaker internal link signalsLower discoverabilityPoorer crawl efficiencyMissed ranking opportunities for useful contentHow to Fix Orphan ContentAdd internal links from related pages or postsInclude content in menus, hub pages, or category pagesLink from cornerstone or high-authority pagesReview whether low-value orphan pages should stay indexed9. AI Visibility ChecklistThis checklist summarizes key signals that help search engines and AI systems understand your content.Typical Signals ReviewedSEO title coverageMeta description coverageStructured data baselineSitemap discoverabilityRobots safetyAI optimization pipelineFast indexing signalsAdvanced structured data coverageSpecialized sitemap coverageMultilingual context signalsStatuses may include:PASSWARNINGNEEDS WORK10. Bulk EditorThe bulk editor is designed to help you review and update SEO metadata across many posts or pages from one screen.Typical FieldsPost IDTitleSEO TitleMeta DescriptionFocus KeywordRobots settingsClickable IDs and titles may be available to open the original post/page editor directly.PaginationThe bulk editor should use pagination or soft-pagination style controls so large datasets remain manageable.11. CSV Import and ExportPro includes CSV export and import workflows for bulk SEO updates.Export SEO DataExports metadata fields such as:post_idtitleseo_titleseo_descriptionfocus_keywordnoindexnofollownoarchivenosnippetImport SEO DataThe import flow should analyze the CSV before applying changes.Expected Review StatesNew: no matching current SEO data foundConflict: current SEO data differs from CSV dataDuplicate: same content already existsID Mismatch: title matches but CSV ID does not match the current system IDSkipped: invalid or non-importable rowRecommended WorkflowUpload CSVAnalyze CSVReview conflictsImport safe rows only, or choose override options for conflictsConflict review tables should clearly separate:Current SEOCSV SEODifferences should be easy to compare line by line.12. Redirect RulesPro includes a redirect manager for mapping outdated URLs to new targets.Common FieldsSource URLTarget URLStatus codeEnable/disable stateTypical UsesFix broken internal linksRedirect deleted or renamed pagesConsolidate duplicate content pathsPreserve SEO signals after URL changesFor usability, redirect lists should support:PaginationAdd row / empty row handlingEdit and delete actions13. Schema Builder (Pro Advanced Tools)The Schema Builder lets you control advanced structured data output.Organization Name OverrideOverrides the default site name used in Organization schema.Organization Logo OverrideLets you choose a logo specifically for schema output. If not set, the plugin may fall back to the site icon or custom logo if supported.LocalBusiness SchemaWhen enabled, Stella SEO can generate LocalBusiness schema from collected fields rather than requiring raw JSON input.Common LocalBusiness FieldsBusiness NameBusiness TypePhoneURLStreet AddressCityRegion / StatePostal CodeCountryLatitudeLongitudeOpening HoursImportant: If LocalBusiness schema is enabled, required fields such as the business name should be validated and the UI should clearly show any missing required field.14. Post/Page SEO MetaboxThe metabox is where editors manage per-post or per-page SEO settings.TabsGeneralAdvancedSocialFAQ Schema (Pro)HowTo Schema (Pro)General TabGenerate SEO with AIWhen AI SEO Generation is enabled in Pro, editors can generate metadata suggestions from AI directly in the metabox.SEO TitleThe SEO title used for search snippets and document title output.Meta DescriptionThe short search snippet description shown to search engines and social fallbacks.Focus KeywordA reference keyword used to guide optimization and editorial focus.Advanced TabNoindexNofollowNoarchiveNosnippetCanonical URL OverrideMax SnippetMax Image PreviewMax Video PreviewCanonical URL OverrideUse this only when you intentionally want search engines to treat another URL as the canonical version.Max SnippetControls snippet length hints. Use -1 for no limit.Max Image PreviewTypical values: none, standard, large.Max Video PreviewMaximum video preview duration in seconds. Use -1 for no limit.Social TabSync social title/description from SEO fieldsSocial TitleSocial DescriptionSocial Image URLTwitter CreatorWhen sync is enabled, changes to SEO title and meta description should automatically update the corresponding social fields.Preview PanelsThe metabox also includes previews for:Google snippet previewFacebook previewX/Twitter previewLinkedIn preview15. FAQ Schema Tab (Pro)The FAQ Schema tab is used to add FAQPage schema to individual posts or pages.ModesBuilder: guided field entryJSON: manual JSON entryBuilder ModeUse one line per item in the format:Question || AnswerExample:What does Stella SEO Pro do? || It adds advanced SEO tools like schema, redirects, diagnostics, and specialized sitemaps. Do I need technical skills to use it? || No. Most features are available through guided settings and editor controls.JSON ModeFor advanced users, you can provide raw FAQ schema JSON.16. HowTo Schema Tab (Pro)The HowTo Schema tab is used to add HowTo schema to individual posts or pages.ModesBuilderJSONBuilder Mode FieldsHowTo NameDescriptionTotal TimeStepsSteps can be entered one line at a time, for example:Write SEO title || Add a clear title with the main keyword near the beginning. Write meta description || Summarize the page clearly and match search intent. Review output || Check the snippet and social preview before publishing.JSON ModeAdvanced users can paste manual HowTo schema JSON directly.17. AI SEO Generation (Pro)AI SEO Generation allows the plugin to connect to supported AI providers for generating metadata suggestions.Typical WorkflowEnable AI SEO Generation in Pro settingsSelect providerAdd API keyFetch modelsSelect a modelCheck connectionUse Generate SEO with AI in the metaboxTypical Provider SupportOpenAIClaudeGeminiOpenRouterThe plugin should clearly explain what provider is selected, where to add the API key, how to fetch models, and how to verify the connection.18. User Guide / HelpStella SEO can include a help panel or contextual documentation in the admin interface. This is useful for explaining each field directly where users need it.A good help section should explain:What each setting doesWhen to enable or disable itWhether the field is optional or requiredWhether the feature is free or Pro19. Common TroubleshootingMy meta description did not change on the frontendCheck whether the SEO Meta Description field in the metabox already has a saved value. If it does, that value overrides fallback content such as the excerpt or post content.My social description is not syncingIf sync is enabled, editing the SEO title and meta description should update the social title and description automatically. If it does not, check that the sync option is enabled and that the metabox JavaScript is loading correctly.Why does a sitemap link return 404?Make sure the sitemap type is enabled. Disabled sitemap modules should not be expected to resolve. If needed, refresh permalinks in WordPress.Why is a logo not appearing in schema?The plugin uses available logo sources such as schema override, site icon, or custom logo depending on the configuration. If no valid logo URL is found, the logo field should be omitted from schema.Why are some values not showing in import conflict review?Check whether the imported row is a duplicate, conflict, or ID mismatch. ID mismatch rows should compare against the current system post even if the CSV post ID is different.20. Best PracticesWrite unique SEO titles for important landing pagesWrite meaningful meta descriptions instead of relying on auto-generated excerptsUse noindex carefully; do not noindex valuable pages by mistakeKeep your sitemap focused on indexable, useful URLsUse redirects when changing permanent URLsAdd FAQ or HowTo schema only when the page genuinely contains that contentUse LocalBusiness schema only when it accurately describes your organizationReview diagnostics regularly to catch missing metadata and orphan content21. Support WorkflowWhen troubleshooting Stella SEO, start with this order:Check plugin settingsCheck the post/page metabox fieldsCheck generated source outputCheck sitemap URLsCheck diagnostics and bulk toolsClear site and browser cache if output appears stale22. Final NotesStella SEO is designed so that the free plugin provides the shared core SEO experience, while the Pro plugin extends the same admin workflow with advanced tools. This keeps the interface familiar while allowing you to scale from simple on-page SEO to more advanced sitemap, schema, AI, redirect, and bulk SEO workflows.