You are well aware of the importance of optimizing your web pages for SEO to ensure they rank on the first page of Google Search results.
You can achieve this by using SEO tools for keyword research and creating top-quality blog content.
The Yoast SEO plugin stands out among the many SEO tools on the market.
It offers the essential features you need to need to optimize your on-page SEO and fix the technical stuff on your WordPress site to boost your chances of getting high rankings in search results.
In this article, I will show you how to use Yoast SEO for content optimization and guide you through the process of setting up the plugin.
How To Use Yoast SEO: Frequently Asked Questions
Before I delve into how to get the most out of this plugin, let’s answer the most popular questions people are asking about this topic.
- How does Yoast SEO work on WordPress?
- Does Yoast SEO really work?
- Can you use Yoast SEO for free?
How Does Yoast SEO Work On WordPress?
The plugin provides suggestions on how to improve your content for better searchability.
You can access this analysis in a meta box added to each individual web page and blog post you create on your WordPress site.
It also helps you optimize the technical SEO aspect of your website.
Does Yoast SEO Really Work?
Yes, it works. Using the plugin to improve your on-page SEO drastically increases your chances of ranking for your target keyword.
The 11 million-plus downloads the platform has garnered on WordPress shows people enjoy using it, and continue to recommend it to new site owners.
Can You Use Yoast SEO For Free?
Yes, there is a robust, free Yoast SEO version that contains all the essential features vital to your SEO needs.
The Yoast SEO premium version gives you access to advanced features.
The plugin remains a popular competitor to Rank Math, another top-quality SEO tool that’s available for free.
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What Is Needed To Use Yoast SEO On WordPress
Here are the tools and resources you will need to use the Yoast WordPress SEO plugin effectively on your website:
- The WordPress CMS: you need to set up your website with self-hosted WordPress.org software to be able to access the WordPress plugin directory. It’s only then that you can download and install Yoast SEO.
- Google Search Console Account: you will need to verify your integration with this platform on Yoast SEO, and it is also where you will upload the XML sitemap you generated with your plugin.
- Social Media Account URLs: you can integrate your Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts with Yoast SEO to tailor the way your content looks on those platforms.
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How To Use Yoast SEO: Step-By-Step Instructions
Here is how to set up Yoast SEO on your WordPress site and start using the plugin to optimize your pages and posts:
- Install the Yoast SEO plugin
- Run the first-time SEO configuration wizard
- Generate a WordPress XML sitemap
- Customize search appearance settings
- Configure social options
- Optimize website content