Overview: I am seeking an experienced WordPress designer and SEO specialist to redesign and optimize my blog, WesternNYPolitics.com, which focuses on politics in Western New York, particularly congressional representatives from NY-23, NY-24, NY-25, and NY-26. The goal is to create a modern, engaging design that enhances searchability, user experience, and content visibility on search engines like Google and Bing. Additionally, the comments and reply section should be more prominent to encourage reader interaction. Scope of Work: 1. Website Redesign & Layout:       •   Develop a clean, professional, and user-friendly design.       •   Ensure a structured layout for intuitive navigation.       •   Design and implement a cohesive header & footer.       •   Ensure the site is fully responsive across all devices. 2. Page Setup & Essentials:       •   404 Page       •   Biography/About Page       •   SEO Page (detailing site policies and optimization information)       •   Site Schema Implementation for improved SEO       •   Set up blog post templates for consistent formatting.       •   Enhance the comments & reply section for better visibility and user engagement. 3. SEO & Optimization:       •   Review the current website and suggest improvements for better rankings.       •   Optimize the site for Google and Bing search rankings.       •   Implement on-page SEO best practices (including meta tags, schema markup, and sitemaps).       •   Set up and optimize Google Search Console & Google Analytics.       •   Enhance site speed and mobile performance. 4. Additional Considerations:       •   Provide recommendations to increase traffic and audience engagement.       •   Suggest features or optimizations to improve content discoverability.       •   Develop strategies to ensure blog posts rank higher in search results. Budget, Timeline, & Payment Terms:    •   Budget: Maximum $5,000 (non-negotiable).    •   Hourly Rate: $30-$50 per hour, based on experience.    •   Timeline: Must be completed within 4-5 weeks.    •   On-Time & Within Budget Guarantee: The freelancer must ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget.    •   No upfront payments. Payments will be managed through a secure milestone system or upon satisfactory project completion via a trusted platform. Requirements:    •   Proven experience in WordPress development & SEO, with proficiency in Elementor.    •   Portfolio required—preferably showcasing political, news, or opinion blogs.    •   Strong knowledge of Google rankings, SEO, Search Console, and Analytics.    •   Experience in optimizing websites for search engine visibility and user engagement.    •   Ability to review the current site and provide a general action plan—not detailed strategies.    •   NO backlink selling—focus on genuine SEO and content optimization.    •   Full admin access must be maintained at all times.    •   Comfortable with the client posting blogs during the redesign process.    •   Preferred candidates: Women from the U.S., UK, Australia, or New Zealand, with English as their first language. To Apply: If interested, please provide: 1. Your portfolio (with links to relevant blogs or news sites you’ve worked on). 2. A brief review of WesternNYPolitics.com, outlining general improvements you would recommend (no free detailed strategies). 3. A short outline of your process for this type of redesign. Looking forward to collaborating with an expert to elevate this blog to the next level!