Help search engines understand your pages with a few simple Yoast SEO updates.
Galactic Ideas configures Yoast SEO when we launch your website. When you add or edit content, review the focus keyphrase, synonyms, SEO title, and meta description using the steps below.
1. Find the Yoast SEO section
Open your page or article in WordPress and scroll below the content editor to Yoast SEO. If you’re using Visual Composer’s frontend editor, return to the standard WordPress editing screen.
Select the SEO tab and expand Search appearance to find the title, slug, and description.
2. Add a focus keyphrase and synonyms
Choose a phrase someone would search for to find this page. Be specific and match the content. Enter one phrase in Focus keyphrase, rather than a list of keywords.
Example for this article: Yoast SEO for beginners
If your site uses Yoast SEO Premium, also complete Keyphrase synonyms with natural alternatives that mean the same thing. Separate multiple phrases with commas.
Example synonyms: Yoast SEO guide for beginners, beginner’s guide to Yoast SEO
Use your keyphrase and variations naturally in the content. These fields guide Yoast’s analysis; they don’t automatically improve your rankings. The separate Add related keyphrase section is for additional topics and is optional.
3. Review the SEO title
The SEO title is the title you suggest for search results. Make it clear, include your keyphrase naturally, and add your business name if useful.
Example: Yoast SEO for Beginners: Easy WordPress Guide
Yoast may already build a title using chips such as Title, Separator, and Site title. Keep them if the preview reads well, or edit the title. Avoid adding your business name twice, and use the length indicator as a guide.
4. Write a meta description
Write a short summary explaining what visitors will find and why they should click. Make it unique to the page and include the keyphrase naturally.
Example: Learn how to use Yoast SEO in WordPress. Follow simple steps to add a focus keyphrase, SEO title, and meta description to your pages and posts.
Aim for roughly 140-155 characters as a starting point and check the preview. Google may display different wording for both the title and description.
5. Check the slug carefully
The slug is the last part of your page’s address, such as yoast-seo-for-beginners.
For a new page, use a short, descriptive slug with hyphens. For an existing published page, leave the slug unchanged unless you’ve discussed redirects with Galactic Ideas.
6. Review Yoast's feedback
Expand SEO analysis or Premium SEO analysis and address useful suggestions. You might clarify the introduction, add an internal link, or improve readability.
Yoast uses traffic light colors to highlight its feedback:
- Green – Good: This check meets Yoast’s recommendations.
- Orange – Needs improvement: Review the suggestion and improve the content where useful.
- Red – Problem: Yoast has identified something missing or needing attention. Read the recommendation and address it where relevant.
You don’t need every indicator to be green. Prioritize helpful content. Only include a keyphrase in image alt text when it accurately describes the image. Leave advanced settings as configured.
Before you save
- Enter a relevant focus keyphrase and synonyms.
- Check the SEO title and meta description.
- Keep an existing page’s slug unchanged.
- Review the preview and useful SEO suggestions.
Choose Save Draft while preparing content. For a published page, Update applies changes to the live website. Search engines need time to reflect updates.
Need help? Contact Galactic Ideas or visit Yoast’s beginner guide.
