Adding meta keywords to your content using Yoast SEO is relatively straightforward. However, it should be noted that Yoast SEO no longer supports the Meta Keywords feature as it’s considered outdated and most search engines, including Google, no longer use it to rank web pages. Despite this, if you still decide to add meta keywords, you’ll need to use custom code or install a plugin that reintroduces this functionality to Yoast SEO. Within the context of Yoast SEO’s interface, you focus primarily on crafting your keyphrase, SEO title, slug, and meta description—each element crafted to align harmoniously with modern SEO practices.
Understanding the Shift Away From Meta Keywords
Meta keywords were once a critical component of SEO strategy. They allowed webmasters to tell search engines what their pages were about by listing relevant keywords in the HTML of a web page. However, over time, search engines evolved, and meta keywords became less important. The primary reason for this change was the overuse and manipulation of meta keywords, which resulted in unhelpful and low-quality search results. Consequently, search engines shifted their focus to more sophisticated algorithms that consider a wide array of on-page content and external factors to determine the relevance and quality of a webpage.
Why Focus on Yoast’s SEO Features?
Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin designed to guide website owners and content creators in optimizing their content for search engines without the need for technical SEO knowledge. The plugin no longer includes a field for meta keywords because search engines like Google no longer use them as a ranking factor. Said plainly, filling out a meta keywords field is virtually a waste of time. Instead, Yoast SEO emphasizes the importance of creating high-quality, keyword-rich content and optimized meta descriptions, which hold far more value in today’s SEO landscape.
Structuring Your SEO Effort with Yoast’s Features
To maximize your SEO effort using Yoast, focus on the following features, which align with current SEO best practices:
Focus Keyphrase
The focus keyphrase is the main keyword or phrase that you want your post or page to rank for in the search results. Yoast SEO allows you to enter a focus keyphrase for each piece of content you write. The plugin then analyzes your content to ensure that the keyphrase is used effectively throughout, recommending improvements where necessary.
SEO Title
Your SEO title is the title that will be displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs). Yoast SEO provides an SEO title field, which automatically populates with the title of your post or page. You can customize this title for better search engine visibility, ensuring that your focus keyphrase is included towards the beginning of the title.
Slug
The slug is the part of the URL that identifies a particular page on your website in an easy-to-read form. With Yoast SEO, you can modify the slug to include your focus keyphrase, which can contribute to a minor SEO boost and improve the clarity of your URLs.
Meta Description
The meta description is a brief summary of the page content that appears below the SEO title in search results. Though it does not directly influence your ranking position, a well-crafted meta description can impact the click-through rate (CTR) by attracting more clicks from users. Yoast SEO has a meta description field allowing you to write compelling descriptions that incorporate your focus keyphrase.
Content Analysis and Readability
Beyond the aforementioned elements, Yoast SEO analyzes the overall content and readability of your post. It checks for the presence of your focus keyphrase in critical areas like the introduction, headings, and image alt attributes. It also evaluates the text for readability, based on factors such as sentence length, paragraph length, and the use of transition words.
Custom Coding to Add Meta Keywords
For those who are still eager to add meta keywords, you can do so by custom coding or employing additional plugins that integrate with Yoast SEO. Be cautious, as this can add unnecessary bloat to your website and might not contribute any real value to your SEO efforts.
Custom Function to Add Meta Keywords
By adding a custom function to your theme’s functions.php file, you can insert meta keywords into the head section of your HTML. This requires a fundamental knowledge of PHP and WordPress theme development to avoid any potential site issues.
Using Additional Plugins
If coding isn’t within your skillset, you could explore third-party plugins that extend the functionality of Yoast SEO by reintroducing meta keywords. Keep in mind that these plugins may not always be up-to-date with the latest WordPress or Yoast SEO updates and can pose a security risk if not properly maintained.
Best Practices for Modern SEO
Modern SEO is about much more than just keywords. It involves optimizing the user experience, creating high-quality content, ensuring your site is technically sound, and obtaining high-quality backlinks, among other factors.
Content Is King
Quality content is the cornerstone of a strong SEO strategy. Creating in-depth, informative, and engaging content that satisfies the needs of your audience is fundamental. Google rewards content that exhibits expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
Site Speed and Mobile Optimization
Your website’s performance on mobile devices and its loading speed are critical factors that affect search engine rankings. Yoast SEO cannot directly improve these, but it’s essential to keep them in mind as part of your overall SEO strategy.
Structured Data and Schema Markup
Structured data helps search engines understand the content on your website and provide rich snippets in search results, such as reviews or events. Yoast SEO provides some structured data capabilities, and you should take full advantage of these features.
Analysis Beyond Yoast
While Yoast SEO is a powerful tool, it’s not the be-all and end-all of SEO. Consider using additional tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush for a more comprehensive analysis of your site’s SEO health.
Finishing Thoughts
Summing up, while Yoast SEO has long moved on from providing support for meta keywords, the platform continues to offer indispensable tools and features that align with modern SEO best practices. Concentrate on developing excellent content, fully utilize all of Yoast’s current features, optimize your website’s technical aspects, and engage with your audience to build a robust SEO foundation that stands the test of time. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, requiring patience, consistency, and adaptability to the ever-changing landscape of search engine algorithms.“`html
Frequently Asked Questions
What are meta keywords in SEO?
Meta keywords are a type of meta tag that appear in the HTML code of a webpage and are used to provide search engines with a list of words and phrases that are relevant to the content of the page. They were historically used to help search engines understand the topic of a page and to rank it appropriately for those terms. However, most search engines, including Google, no longer use meta keywords for ranking purposes.
Does Yoast SEO support meta keywords?
As of the last update of this information, Yoast SEO does not support the use of meta keywords. This decision is in line with the practices of major search engines like Google, which have stated that they do not consider meta keywords to be a ranking signal. Instead, Yoast SEO focuses on other aspects of optimization, such as crafting good content, meta descriptions, and SEO titles.
Can I add meta keywords to my website if I insist on using them?
Yes, if you still want to add meta keywords to your website, you can do so manually by editing the HTML of your pages. However, this would not be through the Yoast SEO plugin as it does not support meta keywords.
<meta name="keywords" content="keyword1, keyword2, keyword3">
How can I optimize my web pages using Yoast SEO without meta keywords?
With Yoast SEO, you can optimize your pages by focusing on the following features:
- SEO Title: Create compelling and concise titles that include your main keyword.
- Slug: Edit the URL slug to be clean, short, and include your primary keyword when relevant.
- Meta Description: Write descriptive and keyword-rich meta descriptions that summarize the content of your page and encourage clicks.
- Focus Keyphrase: Select a focus keyphrase for your content and use it appropriately throughout your text.
- Content Analysis: Use Yoast’s content analysis for recommendations on how to improve the SEO and readability of your content.
How important is it to optimize the meta description as opposed to meta keywords?
Optimizing the meta description is significantly more important than using meta keywords. Meta descriptions provide a summary of what the page is about and can impact click-through rates from search engine results pages (SERPs). A well-crafted meta description can entice users to click on your link, which can indirectly improve your page’s SEO performance. Keep your meta descriptions relevant, concise, and appealing.
Should I focus on other SEO aspects if meta keywords are obsolete?
Yes, instead of focusing on meta keywords, you should concentrate on the following SEO best practices:
- High-quality, relevant content that satisfies user intent
- Proper use of heading tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure content
- Internal linking to help users and search engines discover more of your content
- Mobile-friendly and responsive web design
- Page load speed optimization
- Secure website (HTTPS)
- Structured data markup to enhance SERP listings
- Backlink building from reputable and relevant websites
Where can I learn more about how to use Yoast SEO effectively?
You can learn more about using Yoast SEO effectively by visiting the Yoast SEO academy, reading their blog, or accessing their extensive knowledge base on their official website. Additionally, there are many third-party resources, tutorials, and forums that discuss tips and best practices for using Yoast SEO to enhance your website’s search engine performance.
“`