[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video el_width=”90″ align=”center” link=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/294639375″][vc_column_text]Yoast SEO is a robust on-page Search Engine Optimization Tool that allows editors and content managers to fine tune their SEO efforts based on focus keywords. Once you set your focus keyword, your content including page titles, page URLs and on-page content are scanned for the focus keyword set. You are then given a score or ranking based on keyword presence, using a Red, Yellow and Green scale:
- Red is Poor
- Yellow is OK
- Green is Good
Yoast SEO settings are located underneath the WYSIWYG editor on each Page or Post and made up of 3 sections.
General Settings >>
In this section you set your Snippet Editor, Focus Keyword and Content Analysis.
Focus Keyword >>
This is a word or phrase you want your content to be associated with in search results.
Example: moms blog, events for kids, cloth diapering, potty training, family photographers, kids eat free
Once you set this keyword you will notice that in the “Your focus keyword was found in:” section a “Yes (#)” or “No” will dynamically update depending on whether your focus keyword is present in these 5 areas:
- Article Heading
- Page Title
- Page URL
- Content
- Meta Description
If you see a No you will want to add your focus keyword to that particular section. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your focus keyword appears AT LEAST once in all 5 areas above.
To set more than one focus keyword, click on the little “+” sign next to the “Content” tab.
SEO Title >>
To edit the SEO Title, click on the Title in the Snippet Editor in order to change the text.
- Short and to the point
– Example: Dallas Family Photographers | Dallas Moms Blog
– Example: Kids Eat Free In Dallas Guide | Dallas Moms Blog - Character limit is 68
Meta Description >>
To edit the Meta Description, click on the Description in the Snippet Editor in order to change the text.
- Brief overview of your business or page content
– Example: {City} Moms Blog is a local moms blog connecting suburban moms through stories, events and promoting local mommy-based businesses.
– Example: A complete guide to family, children and newborn photographers in the Dallas area from Dallas Moms Blog. - Page descriptions should be unique for every page/post on your site
- Character limit is 160
Page Analysis >>
Once you have set your SEO Title, Meta Description and Focus Keyword, you can view your Page Analysis. This section will give you an overview of why your SEO rates Poor, OK or Good based on a variety of factors.
The color coded analysis provides a quick glance overview of things to change or tweak in order to improve your ranking. In the above example, the SEO ranking was 90% based on the 5 areas:
- Article Heading
- Page Title
- Page URL
- Content
- Meta Description
Advanced Settings >>
You won’t likely do too much in this Advanced settings box, however this is where you would set your Nofollow rules if your content is sponsored in any capacity and/or Indexing rules.
To set a post Nofollow simply select the Nofollow radio button in the Meta Robots Follow section.
If you would like a post to NOT be indexed (a.k.a. turn up in search results), simply select the noindex option from the drop down.
Social Settings >>
One of the best features about this particular plugin is you can set specific Titles, Descriptions and Images to be pulled by both Facebook and Twitter.
In this section set the content to be pulled by social media outlets when this post is shared. Titles, Descriptions and Images can all be different than your SEO Meta Data and your featured image. If you do NOT fill out this section, then the defaults will be pulled by social channels.
How To Check SEO Rank >>
You can also quickly check your content for your SEO Rank in two different areas:
1) In your Publish box to the right of your main content area on the post editor screen.
{SEO = Green, Yellow or Red}
2) In your black toolbar at the top of your page when you are on any Page or Post.
{SEO = Green, Yellow or Red}
If you have any questions or run into any issues, please email Kelli at [email protected]!
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