=== SEO Next ===
Contributors: wpseonext
Tags: seo, meta tags, schema, sitemap, audit
Requires at least: 6.4
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 0.76.3
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

SEO Next helps manage SEO titles, meta descriptions, schema, sitemaps, robots rules, audits, and metadata.

== Description ==

SEO Next is a modular SEO plugin for WordPress. The Free build focuses on practical SEO essentials: metadata, indexing basics, sitemaps, robots helpers, schema checks, content audits, and bulk metadata workflows.

The goal is simple: help you see what needs attention, make safer SEO changes, and avoid getting lost in every possible advanced option at once.

= What you can do with SEO Next Free =

* Set SEO titles and meta descriptions.
* Control canonical URLs and robots meta settings.
* Generate and manage XML sitemap output.
* Review robots.txt and URL rules.
* Run SEO audits and see missing metadata.
* Use bulk metadata tools to find pages that need work.
* Validate schema output and review safe schema fixes.
* Use local helper text inside the plugin admin screens.

= Optional integrations =

Some integrations are available only when you explicitly enable or connect them. The plugin does not send data to third-party services just because it is installed.

== External Services ==

SEO Next can interact with third-party services only when you enable a related feature, connect the service, or trigger the related action.

= Google / Site Kit / Search Console data =

The plugin can read Google-side SEO data when the site is connected through the Google Site Kit workflow or another supported Google connection.

* Service: Google Search Console / Google Site Kit
* Data sent or requested: site URL, property information, and search performance queries for the connected site.
* When it happens: only after the site owner connects Google access and opens or refreshes the related insights screen.
* Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

== Installation ==

1. In WordPress admin, go to Plugins -> Add New Plugin.
2. Click Upload Plugin.
3. Choose the SEO Next ZIP file.
4. Click Install Now.
5. Click Activate Plugin.
6. Open SEO Next from the WordPress admin menu.

If you are new to SEO plugins, start with the dashboard and run one audit before changing many settings.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does SEO Next work without connecting external services? =

Yes. The Free build can manage local SEO metadata, sitemaps, robots settings, schema checks, and audit screens without connecting external services.

= Does the plugin send my content to Google or another service automatically? =

No. External services are opt-in. Data is sent only when you connect the service and use a related feature.

= Can I disable features I do not need? =

Yes. SEO Next is modular. The Free build shows the screens intended for the free product and hides advanced product areas that are not part of the Free package.

= What should I configure first? =

Start with titles, meta descriptions, sitemap status, robots basics, and one SEO audit. Advanced settings can wait until you have a real reason to change them.

= Is this the same as a paid SEO Next plan? =

No. The Free plugin is the public WordPress.org-friendly build. Pro and Agency builds can include deeper workflows, larger module coverage, and additional support or account context.

== Screenshots ==

1. SEO Next dashboard with the recommended next step.
2. Settings screen with local helper text.
3. SEO Audit screen with issue summary.
4. Metadata tools for missing titles and descriptions.
5. Schema Validator screen.

== Changelog ==

= 0.76.3 =

* Free dashboard: added a focused Optimal settings -> audit -> metadata path and reduced quick-action clutter.
* Settings help: refreshed old generic helpers automatically and added richer local guidance for title templates, description templates, and archive overrides.
* Editor sidebar: improved Free guidance for SEO title, meta description, focus keyword, and canonical URL fields.

= 0.76.2 =

* Settings help: restored concrete local guidance for site verification and breadcrumb fields, including Home label, separators, prefixes, display rules, and BreadcrumbList schema.
* WordPress.org cleanup: removed the temporary old settings-slug bridge from the Free candidate.

= 0.76.0 =

* WordPress.org public package rename: changed the Free build name, slug, and text domain to SEO Next / seo-next.
* WordPress.org cleanup: extended centralized admin request handling to remaining Free admin modules and normalized line endings.

= 0.75.98 =

* WordPress.org cleanup: centralized admin request sanitization across the highest-warning Free admin screens.

= 0.75.97 =

* WordPress.org cleanup: documented final diagnostic table-status and admin-only user-meta audit query paths.

= 0.75.96 =

* WordPress.org cleanup: documented early AJAX action reads and remaining controlled sitemap/bulk/index log query paths.

= 0.75.95 =

* WordPress.org cleanup: documented additional controlled custom-table queries and read-only admin context reads without changing SEO behavior.

= 0.75.94 =

* WordPress.org cleanup: documented controlled plugin-owned custom-table SQL and read-only admin filters for Plugin Check.

= 0.75.93 =
* Free submission candidate: prefixed internal SEO meta hooks and documented external WordPress/WPML hooks for Plugin Check.

= 0.75.92 =
* Free submission candidate: removed manual textdomain loading and shortened the WordPress.org short description.

= 0.75.91 =
* Free submission candidate: documented generated SQL placeholder paths and CSV export runtime handling for Plugin Check.

= 0.75.90 =
* Free submission candidate: tightened safe redirects and generated prepared-SQL calls from the latest Plugin Check pass.

= 0.75.89 =
* Free submission candidate: removed remaining nonce-missing and mixed-line-ending warnings from the latest Plugin Check pass.

= 0.75.88 =
* Free submission candidate: reduced additional nonce, unslash, sanitization, and line-ending warnings reported by Plugin Check.

= 0.75.87 =
* Free submission candidate: reduced Plugin Check errors by replacing discouraged helpers, documenting safe prepared SQL paths, and preserving the Free admin surface.

= 0.75.86 =
* Free submission candidate: documented safe JSON/XML output paths and escaped admin helper HTML for cleaner Plugin Check results.

= 0.75.85 =
* Free submission candidate: fixed remaining printed translator notes and ordered placeholders in the bulk tools admin screen.

= 0.75.84 =
* Free submission candidate: removed printed translator notes from settings/admin helper UI.
* Free submission candidate: tightened ordered placeholders in diagnostics, queue, audit, schema validator, snapshots, and term import messages.

= 0.75.83 =
* Free submission candidate: reduced additional Plugin Check issues in diagnostics, sitemap, notifications, branding, settings, and bulk screens.
* Free submission candidate: kept output and database annotations focused without changing SEO behavior.
* Free submission candidate: preserved the ultra-slim Free module surface for WordPress.org review.

= 0.75.82 =
* Free submission candidate: reduced Plugin Check issues in audit, schema, queue, and bulk admin screens.
* Free submission candidate: clarified dynamic database-query annotations without changing SEO behavior.
* Free submission candidate: kept the public Free package focused on Free-safe modules.

= 0.75.81 =
* Free submission candidate: removed additional hidden advanced modules from the Free package.
* Free submission candidate: kept the Free Bulk Editor focused on posts and terms.
* Free submission candidate: removed dormant undo/admin surfaces that depended on non-Free redirect tooling.

= 0.75.80 =
* Free submission candidate: pruned additional dormant non-Free source files from the package.
* Free submission candidate: hardened hidden advanced screen routing so old direct URLs stay blocked.
* Free submission candidate: aligned the plugin header, build constants, and readme stable tag.

= 0.75.79 =
* Free submission candidate: physically removed advanced-only admin modules and assets from the Free package.
* Free submission candidate: kept shared helper and service classes required by Free screens.
* Free submission candidate: tightened the public readme to match the Free package.

= 0.75.78 =
* Free build: cleaned the admin menu so advanced product screens do not appear as Free screens.
* Free build: hardened Settings when optional SERP provider classes are not packaged.
* Free build: hardened the admin bar when optional task queue classes are not packaged.
* Free build: kept local helper UI while removing broken advanced menu paths.

= 0.75.66 =
* Added optimal settings preset workflow.
* Improved setup guidance for common WordPress SEO configurations.

= 0.75.31 =
* Improved dashboard and module flow for the SEO core.
* Added contextual help foundations for admin screens.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 0.75.89 =
Recommended Free build candidate with no remaining Plugin Check error-level issues expected after the compliance pass.
