Unlock the secrets of enhancing your SEO strategy with this step-by-step guide to adding meta keywords in Yoast SEO!
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Table of Contents
Welcome to a beginner’s guide on how to add meta keywords using the Yoast SEO plugin. In this guide, we will explain in simple terms what meta keywords are and why they are essential for optimizing your website for search engines. If you’re unfamiliar with SEO or how to use Yoast SEO, don’t worry! We’ll walk you through each step to make it easy and understandable.
What Are Meta Keywords?
Meta keywords are special words hidden within a webpage that provide additional information to search engines about the content of the page. By including relevant keywords, you can help search engines understand what your page is about and improve its chances of appearing in search results.
Why Use Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO is a popular tool that helps website owners optimize their content for search engines. It provides valuable insights and suggestions to improve your SEO, making it easier for your website to rank higher in search results. With Yoast SEO, you can easily manage meta keywords and other essential SEO elements to enhance your website’s visibility online.
Getting Started with Yoast SEO
How to Install Yoast SEO
To begin using Yoast SEO, first, you need to install the plugin on your WordPress website. Installing Yoast SEO is easy. Simply log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to the “Plugins” section, click on “Add New,” search for “Yoast SEO,” and then click “Install Now.” Once the plugin is installed, remember to click “Activate” to make it active on your site.
Activating the Plugin
After installing the Yoast SEO plugin, don’t forget to activate it. To activate the plugin, go to the “Installed Plugins” section in your WordPress dashboard. Find Yoast SEO from the list of plugins and click on the “Activate” button next to it. Now, you’re all set to start optimizing your website for search engines with Yoast SEO.
Accessing Meta Keywords Settings
When you want to add meta keywords to your website using Yoast SEO, the first step is to access the meta keywords settings within the plugin. This allows you to tell search engines what your page is about and improve its visibility online. Here’s how you can access the meta keywords settings in Yoast SEO:
Navigating to Yoast SEO Settings
To begin, log in to your WordPress dashboard. Once you’re logged in, scroll down the menu on the left side of the dashboard until you find the “SEO” option. Click on “SEO” to expand the menu and then select “General” from the options that appear. This will take you to the main settings page for Yoast SEO.
Finding the Meta Keywords Option
On the Yoast SEO settings page, look for the “Feature toggles” tab. Click on this tab to reveal additional settings options. Within the feature toggles, you should see an option for “Advanced settings pages.” Click on this option to expand it and reveal the “Meta keywords” setting.
Once you’ve found the “Meta keywords” setting, you can enable it by toggling the switch to “On.” This will activate the meta keywords functionality within Yoast SEO, allowing you to add meta keywords to your pages and improve their search engine optimization.
Adding Meta Keywords to a Page
So, you have decided on the perfect keywords to help search engines understand what your page is all about. Now it’s time to add them to your page or post. To begin, log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the page or post you want to edit.
Using the Yoast SEO Box
Once you are on the editing page, scroll down until you find the Yoast SEO box. This is where the magic happens! Look for the “Focus keyphrase” section and enter your chosen meta keywords there. Make sure to separate each keyword or keyphrase with a comma.
Congratulations! You have successfully added meta keywords to your page or post. Now, whenever someone searches for those keywords, your page will have a better chance of appearing in the search results.
Choosing the Right Meta Keywords
Choosing the right meta keywords is essential for helping search engines understand what your webpage is about. One simple strategy to brainstorm relevant keywords is to think about words that directly relate to the topic of your page. For example, if you are writing about cute puppies, some relevant keywords could be “adorable dogs,” “playful puppies,” or “pet care.” These keywords should accurately reflect the content on your page to attract the right audience.
Using Keyword Tools
If you’re having trouble coming up with keywords on your own, there are basic tools available that can help you find good keywords. These tools can provide suggestions based on the topic of your page and show you how often people search for those terms. Some popular keyword research tools include Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Moz Keyword Explorer. By using these tools, you can discover relevant keywords that will improve the visibility of your webpage in search engine results.
Saving and Updating
Once you have carefully selected and added your meta keywords using the Yoast SEO plugin, it’s important to save your changes to ensure they take effect on your website. Saving your work is like securing your progress so that search engines can recognize the keywords you’ve chosen to describe your content.
Updating Keywords Later
As your website evolves and your content grows, it’s crucial to revisit your meta keywords and update them accordingly. This way, you can ensure that your website remains relevant and searchable to your target audience. The process of updating keywords in Yoast SEO is simple and allows you to keep your website optimized for search engines.
Checking Your SEO Performance
After you’ve added your meta keywords using the Yoast SEO plugin, it’s essential to check how well they are helping your website improve its search engine rankings. Checking your SEO performance is crucial to see if your efforts are paying off.
Using Yoast SEO Insights
One way to check your SEO performance is by using the insights provided by the Yoast SEO plugin. Yoast SEO offers valuable tools that can analyze how well your keywords are performing in terms of search engine optimization. You can see if your keywords are helping your website rank higher on search engine results pages.
Google Search Console
Another helpful tool to check your SEO performance is Google Search Console. This free tool provided by Google allows you to monitor your website’s performance in Google’s search results. You can track your website’s visibility, impressions, and clicks based on the keywords you have optimized for. By using Google Search Console, you can gain valuable insights into how well your website is performing in search results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
In the exciting world of SEO, using meta keywords is an important tool to help your website rank higher in search engine results. However, there are some common mistakes that can actually harm your website’s performance. Let’s explore these pitfalls and learn how to steer clear of them.
Keyword Stuffing
One common mistake that many website owners make is keyword stuffing. This means cramming too many keywords into your meta keywords tag in an attempt to manipulate search engines. While it may seem like a good idea to include as many keywords as possible, search engines now penalize websites that engage in this practice. The best approach is to use a few relevant keywords that accurately describe the content of your page.
Irrelevant Keywords
Another mistake to avoid is using irrelevant keywords in your meta keywords tag. It can be tempting to add popular keywords that are unrelated to your content in the hopes of attracting more traffic. However, search engines have become sophisticated at detecting this deceptive tactic and may penalize your website as a result. Make sure to only include keywords that are directly related to the content on your page to ensure that you attract the right audience.
Conclusion
Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the world of meta keywords and how you can leverage the power of Yoast SEO to boost your website’s visibility. Let’s quickly recap what we’ve learned and why it’s crucial for your online success.
Key Takeaways:
Meta keywords are like secret codes that tell search engines what your webpage is all about. With Yoast SEO, a handy tool for optimizing websites, you can easily enhance your site’s SEO performance by adding these essential keywords.
By carefully selecting and strategically placing meta keywords using Yoast SEO, you can improve your website’s chances of showing up higher in search engine results, ultimately attracting more visitors to your site.
Why It Matters:
Effective use of meta keywords can make a significant difference in how easily people can find your website online. It’s like putting up signposts pointing the way to your digital content.
Yoast SEO simplifies the process of adding and managing meta keywords, making it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to boost their online presence and reach a wider audience.
Get Started Today:
Don’t wait any longer to take your website to the next level. Start incorporating meta keywords into your web pages with Yoast SEO and watch your online visibility soar!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I Really Need Meta Keywords?
Meta keywords were once a crucial part of SEO, but search engines like Google now place less emphasis on them. While they are not as important as they used to be, adding meta keywords can still help search engines understand the main topics of your webpage. So, while not mandatory, adding meta keywords in Yoast SEO can be beneficial for your website.
How Many Keywords Should I Add?
When adding meta keywords, it’s essential to strike a balance between having enough keywords to accurately describe your content and not overloading with too many. Aim to add around 5-10 relevant keywords that best represent the content of your page. Avoid stuffing your meta keywords with irrelevant terms, as this can actually harm your SEO efforts. Remember, quality over quantity is key when it comes to adding meta keywords in Yoast SEO.
