=== Ladder SEO ===
Contributors: priteshgupta, digitaldreamstech  
Tags: WordPress seo, seo using AI, advanced search engine optimization, keyword research, best seo plugin 
Requires at least: 5.6  
Tested up to: 6.8  
Requires PHP: 7.2
Stable tag: 1.0.0  
License: GPLv2 or later  
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html  
Plugin URI: https://ladder-seo.com  
Author URI: https://digitaldreamstech.com  

Ladder SEO is a powerful all-in-one SEO automation plugin designed to simplify search engine optimization for WordPress.

== Description ==

**Ladder SEO** is the ultimate SEO solution for WordPress users who want results without complexity. Whether you're a blogger, business owner, or marketer, this plugin makes it effortless to improve your website's search engine visibility using AI-powered automation and smart optimization features.

It’s SEO, made easy—no coding, no guesswork, just better rankings.

== A SEO plugin designed specifically for non tech users ==

Ladder SEO is not just another SEO plugin — it's your AI-powered marketing assistant.

Most SEO plugins expect you to know SEO. They give you dozens of settings, red and green dots, and leave it to you to figure out meta titles, keywords, and content strategies.

Ladder SEO is different.

It uses smart automation and artificial intelligence to take the complexity out of SEO. Whether you're a blogger, business owner, or agency, you’ll love how easy and hands-off it is to get real results.

🧠 No SEO Expertise Needed
Let AI handle the hard stuff. Ladder SEO can write your meta titles, descriptions, product SEO, and even your entire blog post — all tailored for your niche.

📈 Smarter, Not Harder
Instead of guessing which keywords to use or how to fix technical issues, Ladder SEO gives you clear, actionable AI suggestions — or does it for you.

📝 Create High-Quality Content Instantly
Generate blog outlines, product descriptions, and FAQs with one click. AI tools help you write faster and better while staying SEO-friendly.

🧰 All-in-One Dashboard
From keyword research to image sourcing (via Pixabay), everything is in one clean, user-friendly interface — no need to jump between tools.

💡 Perfect for Beginners and Non-Tech Users
You don’t need to understand SEO terms like “schema,” “canonical URLs,” or “open graph.” Ladder SEO takes care of those behind the scenes.

🔁 Bulk Editing + AI = Huge Time Savings
Edit hundreds of SEO titles or descriptions in seconds — and let AI suggest what works best.

🚀 Future-Proof SEO
As search engines evolve, Ladder SEO stays ahead by continuously integrating AI enhancements and smart automation.

### 🌟 Key Features:

- ✅ **AI-Generated Meta Titles & Descriptions**  
  Automatically generate optimized meta tags for every page/post with OpenAI integration.

- ✅ **AI Writing Assistant**  
  Generate high-quality, SEO-friendly content or repurpose existing articles with just a few clicks.

- ✅ **Keyword Research Tool**  
  Discover high-traffic keywords and long-tail keyword ideas using AI suggestions.

- ✅ **Bulk SEO Editor**  
  Save time by editing meta titles, descriptions, indexing settings, and schema for multiple posts or taxonomies at once.

- ✅ **Advanced Schema Markup**  
  Add structured data for rich results. Choose from multiple schema types per post or site-wide.

- ✅ **Social Sharing Settings**  
  Customize Facebook & Twitter images and metadata for each post or default post type.

- ✅ **Sitemap Generator**  
  Generate and manage your XML sitemap automatically for better indexing.

- ✅ **Redirection Manager + 404 Logs**  
  Set up 301, 302, 307, and 410 redirects, track 404 errors, and improve link structure.

- ✅ **Webmaster & Analytics Integration**  
  Add verification codes and analytics app IDs for Google, Bing, Yandex, Baidu, Pinterest, and Mixpanel.

- ✅ **Optimization Tweaks**  
  Clean up WordPress head tags, reduce crawl waste, and disable unnecessary features like REST API, shortlinks, and generator meta tags.

- ✅ **Free & Premium Versions**  
  Try our powerful free features or upgrade to unlock advanced AI-based tools and automation. 

**Premium Features:**

- 🔹 **Advanced Keyword Research Tools**: Find the most valuable keywords with low competition.
- 🔹 **W3C Markup Validation & Optimization**: Automatically fix HTML/CSS validation issues.
- 🔹 **Bulk Edit SEO Metadata**: Mass-edit titles, meta descriptions, slugs, and more.
- 🔹 **AI-Powered Content Generation & Scheduling**: Let AI write and schedule blog posts and descriptions.
- 🔹 **Automated AI SEO Tasks**: Perform internal linking, keyword checks, and meta writing with AI.
- 🔹 **AI Writing Assistant in Post/Page Editor**: Generate headlines, paragraphs, and intros directly in the editor.
- 🔹 **Rewrite/Spin Existing Content**: Refresh old content in one click.
- 🔹 **Generate Meta Titles & Descriptions Using AI**: Create optimized snippets automatically.
- 🔹 **Built-in Resource Library (Pixabay API)**: Instantly insert royalty-free images and videos into your posts.


### 🔥 What Makes Ladder SEO Unique?

- 💡 Built-in AI Tools (Meta Tags, Keyword Research, Content Generation)  
- 🔄 Repurpose existing content into optimized blog posts  
- 🧠 Auto-suggestions with Insert Tag + AI generation  
- 📅 Content scheduling for AI-generated posts (premium)  
- 🔥 Bulk editing SEO fields from one screen  
- 👨‍💻 Clean UI, no bloat, no ads  

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins/ladder-seo` directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' screen in WordPress.
3. Go to the Ladder SEO menu to configure the settings.
4. For AI features, connect your API key via the "AI Settings" tab.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does Ladder SEO work with page builders like Elementor or Gutenberg? =  
Yes, it works seamlessly with all major page builders and the native WordPress block editor.

= Is an OpenAI API key required? =  
Only if you wish to use AI-powered features like content generation or meta tag suggestions. Other features work without it.

= Can I use this plugin with other SEO plugins? =  
It’s recommended to use Ladder SEO as your primary SEO plugin to avoid conflict or duplication.

== Screenshots ==
1. Higher conversion rates using ladder seo
2. General Settings
3. Optimization Settings
4. Bulk Settings
5. Sitemap
6. W3C Settings

= 1.0.0 =  
* Initial release with all major features:
  - AI content tools
  - SEO meta editor
  - Bulk editing
  - Schema & sitemap
  - Redirection + 404 logs
  - Optimization settings
  - Webmaster tools
  - keyword research

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =  
Initial public release. Includes all core SEO features plus optional AI integrations for enhanced automation.

== External Services ==
This plugin integrates with several third-party and external services to provide analytics, verification, and AI-powered SEO features. Below is a summary of each external service, what it is used for, what data is sent and when, and a link to the terms of service and privacy policy for each.

Google Analytics
What it is/does: Used to track and report website traffic and user behavior for analytics purposes.

What data is sent and when: Website usage data, visitor interactions, and events are sent every time a tracked page is loaded and on relevant user actions.

Terms of Service: https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/us/

Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google Search Console (Site Verification)
What it is/does: Used to verify site ownership with Google and enable webmaster features within Google Search Console.

What data is sent and when: Your website’s public domain and verification meta/tag only during site verification setup.

Terms of Service: https://policies.google.com/terms

Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Bing Analytics (Microsoft Clarity) & Bing Webmaster
What it is/does: Tracks site analytics, heatmaps, and records visitor interactions for analytics, and enables site verification for Bing Webmaster tools.

What data is sent and when: Usage data and events for analytics; website info during verification.

Terms of Service: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement

Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement

Yandex Metrica & Yandex Webmaster
What it is/does: Collects analytics and metrics about user visits and performance, and enables webmaster features for Yandex search.

What data is sent and when: Website traffic and behavioral data sent on each visit or event; domain info for verification.

Terms of Service: https://yandex.com/legal/metrica_termsofuse/

Privacy Policy: https://yandex.com/legal/confidential/

Baidu Analytics (Tongji) & Baidu Webmaster
What it is/does: Tracks website visitors and their activity for Baidu’s analytics and enables site control features in Baidu search webmaster console.

What data is sent and when: Website usage, page views, and site verification information sent on relevant actions.

Terms of Service: https://ir.baidu.com/terms-service

Privacy Policy: https://ir.baidu.com/privacy-policy

Mixpanel
What it is/does: Provides advanced analytics for user behavior tracking and event analysis on your website.

What data is sent and when: Site usage information, custom events, interactions sent on tracked actions.

Terms of Service: https://mixpanel.com/legal/terms-of-use/

Privacy Policy: https://mixpanel.com/legal/privacy-policy/

Pinterest Verification
What it is/does: Used to verify your site with Pinterest for analytics and site claim purposes.

What data is sent and when: Your domain and verification tag/meta data, only during the verification process.

Terms of Service: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/terms-of-service

Privacy Policy: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy

OpenAI (ChatGPT or other OpenAI APIs)
What it is/does: Used for AI-powered content generation and SEO automation features.

What data is sent and when: User prompts/content are sent to the API each time an AI feature is used. No data is sent unless you activate those features.

Terms of Service: https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use

Privacy Policy: https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy

Google Gemini (formerly known as Bard or Google AI Studio)
What it is/does: Used for AI-based content suggestions and automated SEO tasks.

What data is sent and when: Submitted prompts, keywords, and text are sent to the API only when using AI functions within the plugin.

Terms of Service: https://policies.google.com/terms

Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Note:
Connection to these services happens only after setup and activation by the site owner, and only in relation to the specific feature enabled (such as analytics, verification, or content generation). No information is transmitted until you enter configuration data and use the respective feature.

== Credits ==

Developed by [Pritesh Gupta](https://digitaldreamstech.com)  
Website: [https://ladder-seo.com](https://ladder-seo.com)