WordPress is widely recognised for having one of the best reputations for SEO in the world of websites. And when it comes to SEO plugins, Yoast SEO is the top choice for most. In this guide, we’ll address some of the most common questions beginners have when using Yoast for the first time.
How to install the Yoast SEO plugin
- Access your WordPress dashboard and log in.
- Navigate to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
- Use the plugin search bar to find “Yoast SEO.”
- Click on “Install Now” and then select “Activate” within the Yoast SEO plugin box.
- Congratulations! You’ve installed Yoast SEO on your WordPress site.
The first-time configuration
Once you’ve installed Yoast, you can access the dashboard by clicking the new Yoast SEO tab in the admin area. If you don’t see it right away, head to Yoast SEO > General on your WordPress site’s backend and start the first-time configuration. This step is crucial for helping Google understand your content better and setting the stage for successful SEO.
During this setup, you can provide lots of info about your content and even add your logo, social media profiles, and personal preferences. Once you’re done, you’ll receive a link to go directly to your dashboard. By completing this step, you’re already ahead in terms of website SEO compared to many others!
How to use the Yoast SEO Meta Box or Side Bar
When working with Yoast, the Meta Box or Sidebar (located on the right side of the editor) will be your primary interaction point. Whenever you’re crafting a post or building a page for your website, keep your attention on these four essential elements:
Focus Keyphrase: This is where you insert the phrase you intend for this post or page to rank for in search engines. Pay close attention to Yoast’s feedback, which indicates how well you’ve optimised your content for that keyphrase. This guidance helps you determine if your chosen keyphrase is appropriate. For instance, if your keyphrase is “Blue shoes for toddlers” and you’ve barely used these words in your content, you’ll need to select a different keyphrase or revise your content accordingly.
SEO Analysis: After setting your keyphrases and creating content, it’s time for an SEO analysis—an area where Yoast truly excels. This assessment evaluates how effectively your content is optimised for the chosen keyphrase. It also examines your SEO title, meta description, subheadings, and images. Anything marked in red, or orange requires further attention.
Readability Analysis: This segment stands out as one of Yoast SEO’s most prominent features, often overlooked by other plugins. It assigns a red, orange, or green traffic light to indicate the readability of your content. Readability is crucial for SEO, and this feature holds immense significance. The goal is to have as many green lights as possible.
Google Preview: This feature offers you a preview of how the Yoast plugin presents your page to Google. It’s essential to craft a compelling title and description so that if Google chooses to display your meta description to users, it accurately reflects your content and entices them to click.
By focusing on these four elements within the Meta Box or Sidebar, you can leverage Yoast SEO effectively for optimising your content and enhancing your website’s search engine visibility.
SEO is important. You know that. We know that. Google knows that. So if you’re thinking of upping up your SEO game, take a look at Yoast SEO.
