If you utilize WordPress as your website or blog platform, it is likely you have encountered the Yoast SEO plugin. Yoast SEO is an excellent resource for improving your site’s on-page SEO. Among its many features is a traffic light system that rates the level of optimization for your content: red for requiring improvement, orange for satisfactory, and green for favorable. Naturally, the goal is to achieve a green rating in Yoast SEO, and in this article, we will demonstrate how to accomplish this.
1. Start with keyword research
Before you get started writing your post, you need to do thorough keyword research. Your primary keyword should be a phrase that your target audience would use to find the content you’re providing. This is the keyword that you want to rank for, and is crucial to making Yoast SEO green.
2. Input your keyword in the Yoast SEO tool
After conducting the keyword research, input your chosen keyword in the focus keyphrase section of the Yoast SEO tool. This will enable Yoast to analyse how well your content is optimized for this specific keyword.
3. Write high-quality, relevant content
Once you have your keyword, start crafting your content around it. However, remember that creating high-quality, relevant content is more important than stuffing your article with keywords. Use synonyms and related keywords to avoid repetition and ensure the text reads naturally.
4. Use your keyword strategically
Include your keyword in crucial places such as the page title, the first paragraph of content, and the meta description. This will help Yoast SEO, and search engines, understand what your page is about and hence increase your chances of getting a green light.
5. Optimize your images
If your post includes images, make sure to include your keyword in the image file name, alt text, and description. This will ensure that your images contribute to your page’s overall SEO.
6. Use internal and external links
Linking to other relevant content on your site (internal links) and to other authoritative sites (external links) can help improve the SEO of your page. Yoast SEO takes into consideration the use of such links when determining your page’s SEO score.
7. Use short and clear URLs
URLs should be short and contain your focus keyword. Using a clear and concise URL is another factor that can help you achieve the coveted green light on Yoast SEO.
Remember, the ultimate goal of SEO is to provide useful content to your audience in a way that search engines can easily understand. The Yoast SEO green light is a great tool to help you achieve this, but it is not an end in itself. Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content and the green light will follow.
