Building a Full-Stack WordPress Plugin for SEO and Performance Optimization

In the modern web, it's not enough for content to just look good — it needs to perform well and be optimized for search engines.

To address this, I built a custom WordPress plugin that empowers content creators to analyze SEO, and run real-time performance audits powered by Google Lighthouse — all from within the WordPress dashboard.

Not only did I explore plugin development inside WordPress, but I also built a fully functioning Node.js microservice that integrates seamlessly with a PHP application.

This is a solid example of real-world full-stack development involving:

• Server-client communication via REST API

• WordPress PHP development

• JavaScript orchestration on both frontend and backend

• Lighthouse CLI integration for performance benchmarking

What I Built

The plugin provides a seamless workflow for content optimization and performance analysis directly inside WordPress:

SEO Analysis -

• Validates title, meta description, keyword presence

• Analyzes image URLs for SEO relevance

Performance Audits -

• A standalone Node.js server runs Google Lighthouse audits

• Sends performance scores to the WordPress plugin via AJAX

• Enables performance scoring per post or URL

Database Integration -

• Stores audit results in a custom WordPress table

Technologies Used

• WordPress (PHP, MySQL)

• Node.js with Express

• Google Lighthouse CLI

• JavaScript and AJAX

Hosting and Deployment

• The Node.js server is hosted on Render, allowing fast and scalable deployment

• WordPress runs locally during development (can be deployed to any standard host or VPS)

• The plugin is configured to send requests to the Node.js server using dynamic settings or environment variables

Real-World Use Case

This plugin is ideal for:

• Content teams looking for actionable feedback while drafting articles

• Developers interested in real-time performance audits during content creation

• SEO professionals wanting to ensure on-page optimization is enforced before publishing

Plugin Interface

The plugin includes:

• Light and dark mode support

• Clean UI integrated into the WordPress admin dashboard

• One-click audits and results display in context

Final Thoughts

This project demonstrates what’s possible when combining traditional WordPress development with modern JavaScript and Node.js services. By extending the WordPress admin experience to include dynamic tools like Google Lighthouse, it redefines what a plugin can deliver to content creators and site managers alike.
It’s not just a plugin — it’s a complete example of full-stack problem-solving within a real-world content publishing platform.