Knowledgebase: SEO and Content
Yoast SEO Page Optimization Guide
Posted by Sam Harvison on 23 January 2025 02:22 PM

To help clients effectively use Yoast SEO to optimize their website pages, improving their chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

1. Introduction to Yoast SEO

  • What is Yoast SEO?: Yoast SEO is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to optimize on-page SEO elements such as meta descriptions, titles, keywords, and readability.
  • Why It’s Important: Proper on-page optimization signals search engines about the relevance of your content, making it easier for them to rank your page higher.

2. Setting Focus Keyphrases

  • How to Choose a Focus Keyphrase:
    • Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to find relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition.
    • Choose keywords that match the search intent of your audience.
  • How to Set the Keyphrase in Yoast:
    • In the Yoast SEO box (found below your content editor), enter your primary focus keyword in the “Focus Keyphrase” field.
    • Ensure the keyphrase appears naturally in the title, meta description, first paragraph, and at least one subheading.

3. Optimizing Meta Descriptions and Titles

  • Why They Matter: Meta titles and descriptions are your first impression in search results. Well-optimized descriptions improve click-through rates.
  • How to Optimize Using Yoast:
    • Write a concise meta description (120-155 characters) with the focus keyword.
    • Create compelling, keyword-rich titles under 60 characters.
    • Use Yoast’s SEO preview tool to see how your title and description will appear on Google.

4. Improving Content Readability

  • Yoast Readability Analysis: Yoast’s readability tool checks for sentence length, passive voice, transition words, subheading distribution, and paragraph length.
  • How to Improve Readability:
    • Use short paragraphs (no more than 2-3 sentences).
    • Break content into sections with headings.
    • Limit the use of passive voice and include more transition words (e.g., “in addition,” “however”).

5. Internal Linking Suggestions

  • Importance of Internal Links: Internal links help distribute page authority and guide users to relevant content.
  • Using Yoast for Internal Linking:
    • Yoast suggests internal links automatically. Add 2-3 internal links to each page where relevant.
    • Link to older, authoritative content that aligns with the current page topic.

6. Page Analysis Breakdown

  • Understanding Yoast’s Traffic Light System:
    • Green: All good, you’ve followed the best SEO practices.
    • Orange: Some aspects need improvement.
    • Red: Critical issues that must be addressed (e.g., missing meta description, no internal links, keyword not present).
  • How to Use It: Follow Yoast’s recommendations until the SEO traffic light turns green.

 

(0 vote(s))
Helpful
Not helpful

Comments (0)
Post a new comment
 
 
Full Name:
Email:
Comments: