BEFORE YOU YOAST

TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION INTERNET AND SEO CONCEPT

Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that improves your web page content for search engine optimization (SEO). Yoast works by giving you feedback about your keyword optimization and your page structure so that Google can better understand the information in your post. This plugin is a great tool that we regularly use at Woodchuck Arts for SEO development. However, there are things to consider before you start working with this tool on your website. With that, we have compiled a list of three things you should examine before you Yoast.

1. RESEARCH YOUR KEYWORDS

The search terms (keywords) you integrate into your page with Yoast will have an immense impact on your SEO efforts’ success. You should review your keywords before you dedicate several hours incorporating them into your page with the Yoast plugin. The reason behind this is that not all keywords have the same opportunity for search engine ranking. Several online tools, such as Moz.com, SEMrush.com, or Ahrefs.com, can help you analyze potential for first-page ranking. Landing on the first page of search results is critical for SEO success. Backlinko.com states that “0.78% of Google searchers click on results from the 2nd page.” So, if you are going to put time into optimizing your content, ensure that you have the opportunity to land on the first page.

2. CHECK THE COMPETITION

If you have a keyword in mind for your content, it is worth doing a quick Google search before you start working it into your page. For example, if you plan on using “dog grooming tips” for your keywords, add that phrase to the Google search bar. You can see the results from this keyword search below:

In this case, there is a fair amount of competition for your keywords. By reviewing the site search results, you will see that most are from larger websites with a high Domain Authority. According to Moz.com, “Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). A Domain Authority score ranges from one to 100, with higher scores corresponding to a greater ability to rank. Domain Authority is calculated by evaluating multiple factors, including linking root domains and the number of total links, into a single DA score. This score can then be used when comparing websites or tracking the “ranking strength” of a website over time.” Although Google does not use Domain Authority as a specific metric to determine search rankings, it is often a strong indicator of how likely a site is to place on the first page. If your keyword search results are full of websites like aspca.org, it may be worth trying alternative keywords for your content. According to Impactbnd.com, “69.7% of search queries contain four words or more.” If you lengthen your search terms, you may find a “sweet spot” where you can land in the top 10 with your content.

3. THINK ABOUT YOUR READER

Driving traffic with SEO is an important marketing strategy, but overall, the most significant thing to consider when creating content is your audience. Write for your reader first. Develop content based on real-life questions, and then determine how it fits with your SEO efforts. If you do an exceptional job offering valuable insight on your topic of expertise, then rewards may follow. You are more likely to get support from others in the form of backlinks or social media shares if your content is highly relevant. The more activity a page receives, the higher Google will place it in the search rankings. Google’s objective is to provide quality resources in response to search queries. That sounds very technical, but in actuality, search queries are just people with questions!

SEO is complicated, and we understand it can be frustrating as well. Using these three techniques before you optimize your page will save you time and hopefully land you a top-ranking spot on Google search results! As always, if you have questions, your Woodchuck Arts team is here to help. Just drop us a message!

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The incredible thing about the internet is that we can work anywhere!
Woodchuck Arts is geo-located in Pickerington, Ohio, but we serve clients all over the United States.

info@woodchuckarts.com
724-910-1871
Cultivate Pickerington Business Center
19 N Center St, Pickerington, OH 43147

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