Category pages, tag archives, and custom taxonomy pages are some of the most visited pages on WordPress sites. And until now, it was nearly impossible to see how well they were optimized.
That changes with AIOSEO 5.0.1. TruSEO now works on taxonomy term pages, so you can see an actual SEO score and optimization checklist for your categories and tags, not just your posts.
And it's included on every AIOSEO Pro plan.
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How the new taxonomy SEO system works
Quick definitions before I go further: In WordPress, a taxonomy is a way of grouping content. Categories and tags are the 2 built-in taxonomies, and a specific category or tag, like “Speakers,” is called a term. So when I say TruSEO now works on taxonomy term pages, I mean your categories, your tags, or any custom taxonomy, your theme or plugin adds.
TruSEO's main purpose hasn't changed. It looks at your content, your focus keyword, and your basic SEO settings, then gives you a real-time score along with specific, actionable fixes. Up to now, that analysis only ran on individual posts and pages.
With 5.0.1, AIOSEO extends that same analysis to taxonomies. When you edit a category, tag, or custom taxonomy term, you now get:
- A live TruSEO score for that term page
- The full basic SEO checklist (title, meta description, keyword usage, slug, and term name)
- A spelling check for your term description, the same one you already use in the post editor
- The same issue-by-issue, Good versus Improvements breakdown you're used to on posts
How to use the TruSEO score for taxonomies
Let's imagine I have a digital electronics e-commerce store. I set up a category called “Speakers.” Right from the main Categories page, I can already see a TruSEO score. This lets me know how well this page is optimized for its focus keyword.
Don't see a TruSEO score? You'll just need to add a focus keyword, as shown below.
Once you've opened a specific category, scroll down to the AIOSEO Settings at the bottom of the editor. Then, navigate to the Optimization tab.
From here, enter the keyword you want this category page to rank for in search results and click you'll click Add Keyword.
Pro tip: Not sure what else to target? There's a “Discover additional keywords” link right in the panel that suggests related terms you can rank for.
Once saved, TruSEO will start scoring your category immediately.
Switch to the Basics tab, and you get the same title and meta description checks as your posts and pages. It also shows a list of Improvements with clear explanations of what to fix.
You can also see what you've done well by expanding the Good section.
Finally, I like how the Spelling tab catches any typos in your term description before they go live. (I admit I've published one too many times with a typo.)
In summary: The TruSEO engine has more capabilities than ever. Term pages now get the same SEO treatment your posts and pages already get. We've also made updates to the scoring algorithm and UX to make it even easier to understand its suggestions and implement AI-powered fixes. You can learn more about TruSEO 2.0 here.
Where it's enabled by default, and why
Taxonomies are enabled out of the box for WooCommerce Product Categories.
Every other taxonomy, your regular post categories, tags, and any custom taxonomies your theme or plugins register, has TruSEO available but turned off by default.
That's a deliberate choice, not an oversight. Most taxonomy archive pages are thin, auto-generated, and not something you'd optimize on their own. But WooCommerce product category pages are different.
On a lot of ecommerce sites, those pages are the actual landing pages people search for and land on, right up there with individual product pages in traffic and conversion value. It made sense to give them full TruSEO support out of the box, while leaving the decision up to you everywhere else.
How to enable TruSEO for other taxonomies
If you want TruSEO scoring on your regular categories, tags, or a custom taxonomy, turning it on takes less than a minute.
Step 1: Open general settings
In your WordPress dashboard, go to All in One SEO » General Settings, then open the Content Optimization tab.
Step 2: Find TruSEO & Content Settings
Under Content Optimization, look for the TruSEO & Content Settings section. Below the main TruSEO toggle, you'll see separate controls for Post Types and Taxonomies. The Taxonomies control is what you want.
Step 3: Enable the taxonomies you want
Check the box for each taxonomy you want scored: categories, tags, WooCommerce product categories, or any custom taxonomy on your site. Check “Include all taxonomies” if you'd rather turn it on everywhere at once.
Step 4: Save and edit a term
Save your settings, and you're done! You can then open any term in that taxonomy to edit it and see its TruSEO score.
Note: If you don't see the TruSEO panel after enabling a taxonomy, double check that the taxonomy is public and that you saved the settings before checking the Content Optimization panel again.
Available on all AIOSEO Pro plans
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to be as enthusiastic about this update as I actually am. Category pages? How much optimizing do they really need? Then I opened my own site's Categories screen and realized I had zero idea how any of them were actually performing. That's exactly the gap this closes.
TruSEO support for taxonomies is included in all AIOSEO Pro plans, starting with Basic. Meaning, if you're already paying for AIOSEO, you already have this. You just need to update the plugin to version 5.0.1.
And if you're on Lite, well, now you've got one more reason to upgrade.
Next step: Go open your Categories page right now and check the score on your top few. I'd bet at least one surprises you.
— Ben Rojas, Presidente do AIOSEO
TruSEO Taxonomies FAQs
Do I need a paid AIOSEO plan to use TruSEO on taxonomy pages?
Yes. TruSEO Analysis requires a paid plan. However, you can be on any plan, including Basic.
Which taxonomies get TruSEO by default?
Only WooCommerce Product Categories are enabled by default. All other taxonomies, including regular categories and tags, need to be turned on manually under Content Optimization.
How do I turn on TruSEO for my regular categories or tags?
Go to All in One SEO » General Settings » Content Optimization, find the TruSEO & Content Settings section, and check the box for the taxonomies you want scored.
Will this slow down my site?
No. TruSEO analysis runs in the WordPress admin while you're editing a term, the same way it does for posts and pages. It doesn't affect how your site loads for visitors.
Do I need to update anything besides the plugin?
No. Once you update to AIOSEO 5.0.1, TruSEO for WooCommerce Product Categories is already active. Enabling it for other taxonomies is a settings change, not an update.