Having a fast site is the first step, but making it “understandable” to search engines is the second. For my portfolio, I didn’t just install a plugin (which doesn’t exist in Astro in the “WordPress” sense), but I built a solid technical SEO structure by writing code, also applying what I studied during my Computer Science coursework at the University of Camerino and my technical diploma from IIS “E. Mattei” in Recanati.
Here are the 3 key implementations I deployed for this site.
1. Dynamic Sitemap and Robots.txt
Instead of writing the sitemap by hand (risking errors), I used the @astrojs/sitemap integration. This script scans my routes (src/pages) at build time and automatically generates the final XML file.
This ensures that every time I publish a new post (like this one), Google knows about it immediately via Google Search Console, without manual intervention.
2. Structured Data (JSON-LD)
To help Google understand that this is a freelance professional’s site, I injected structured data in JSON-LD format into the <head> of every page.
Here is a real snippet of the code generating the Person schema, with a stable @id that any other schema on the page can reference instead of redeclaring the same identity over and over:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Person",
"@id": "https://www.leonardocastignani.it/#person",
"name": "Leonardo Castignani",
"url": "https://www.leonardocastignani.it",
"jobTitle": "Web Developer",
"sameAs": [
"https://github.com/leonardocastignani",
"https://linkedin.com/in/leonardocastignani"
]
}
</script>Alongside the Person schema, I also generate a ProfessionalService schema describing my activity as a Web & Software Developer. Instead of repeating the same personal details, the founder field simply points to the @id declared above: this way Google receives a consistent signal and can tell the two entities are the same identity, strengthening the page’s E-E-A-T.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ProfessionalService",
"@id": "https://www.leonardocastignani.it/#organization",
"name": "Leonardo Castignani - Software & Web Development",
"url": "https://www.leonardocastignani.it",
"founder": { "@id": "https://www.leonardocastignani.it/#person" },
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"addressLocality": "Civitanova Marche",
"addressRegion": "Marche",
"addressCountry": "IT"
},
"priceRange": "$$"
}
</script>3. Canonical Meta Tags and Open Graph
Running a multilingual site (IT/EN), avoiding “duplicate content” penalties is crucial. I use a centralized BaseHead.astro component that dynamically manages:
- Canonical URL: Tells Google which is the “original” version of the current page.
- Open Graph Image: The image that appears when you share the link on WhatsApp or LinkedIn. Instead of a generic image for the whole site, each post has its specific cover defined in the Markdown frontmatter.
Technical SEO isn’t black magic: it’s order, semantics, and adherence to web standards. If you want to dig into every single schema (Person, LocalBusiness, Article, and BreadcrumbList) with the full, commented code, I wrote a dedicated guide to JSON-LD structured data in Astro.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an automated XML Sitemap improve SEO?
A dynamically generated XML sitemap ensures that every time new content is published, Google Search Console is immediately pinged for fast and accurate indexing.
What is structured data (JSON-LD) in SEO?
JSON-LD is code injected into the HTML that clearly explains to Google the nature of a site and its identity (e.g. 'Person' or 'Professional Service'), unlocking rich snippets and strengthening semantic SEO.
Do you offer technical SEO optimization services in the Marche region?
Yes, I implement advanced SEO architectures (from dynamic XML Sitemaps to custom JSON-LD) for e-commerce and business websites throughout the Marche region, as well as for clients elsewhere in Italy.
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