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Configuring the Yoast Wordpress SEO Plugin
Yoast's WordPress SEO plugin provides many features for optimizing websites for search engines. The plugin has good default settings but often needs tweaking to individual sites' needs. Key areas the plugin addresses include titles and metas, variables, XML sitemaps, permalinks, and on-page SEO elements. The plugin saves significant time through features like importing/exporting settings and editing files. Proper configuration requires understanding different sections, uniquely identifying pages, and applying "noindex, follow" appropriately.
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Configuring the Yoast Wordpress SEO Plugin
- 1. Yoast’s WordPress SEOPlugin October 9, 2014 Scott Hendison
- 2. Scott Hendison •Started selling software online in 1997. • Went to my first Pubcon in 2004. •• SSttaarrtteedd UUssiinngg WWoorrddPPrreessss iinn 22000055.. • Used All in One SEO & Headspace • 400th user of YWPSEO, and haven‘t looked back
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- 7. Dashboard • Notmuch to change there • Default settings are fine • You can reset all defaults after config •• DDeecciiddee iiff eeddiittoorrss aanndd aauutthhoorrss sshhoouulldd hhaavvee access to the advanced plugin features for their content • I wish we could input Google Analytics
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- 11. Titles and Metas • This is the meat of the plugin • Set global preferences • Not bad out of the box • I prefer a lot of changes • Different sites have different needs
- 14. •• RReeaallllyy SSiimmpplleeDDiissccoovveerryy • Windows Live Writer • Shortlink for posts are pointless • Hide RSS only if you have no blog
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- 17. Variables • Definesectional page characteristics •• DDiiffffeerreenntt ccrriitteerriiaa // ddiiffffeerreenntt sseeccttiioonnss • Mix and Match - Be creative • No definitive ‘right‘ or ‘wrong‘ • The goal is to be 100% unique sitewide
- 18. Variables Are Listedin Help
- 19. Variables Are Listedin Help
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- 24. • Enter variablesfor every different type of content. (Varies by site) •• UUssee ‘‘nnooiinnddeexx,, ffoollllooww‘‘ ffoorr ppaaggeess yyoouu don‘t want to be indexed, but still want to get the benefit of any inbound links.
- 26. • Taxonomies arefor sectional structure • Categories, tags, format (?) •• UUssee %%%%ppaaggee%%%% ttoo uunniiqquuiiffyy • Fill out all sections completely • Use noindex, follow where applicable • There‘s no absolute right or wrong
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- 34. • Oddly namedsitemap_index.xml • Creates multiple xml sitemaps • Delete your old sitemap.xml file • SSuubbmmiitt ssiitteemmaapp__iinnddeexx..xxmmll ttoo GGWWMMTT • Disable author map for single authors • No need to submit the others
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- 39. • Permalinks arestill set normally • Plugin supplements WP settings •• MMoosstt ssiitteess bbeesstt sseerrvveedd bbyy %%ppoossttnnaammee%% • News sites need dates for Google news • Don‘t choose to redirect ugly URLs
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- 43. • Breadcrumbs aregood for users • Breacrumbs are good for crawlers •• TThheeyy uussuuaallllyy ggoo aabboovvee tthhee ccoonntteenntt • Won‘t work w/o a theme edit • Default settings are usually fine • LOOK to ensure they make sense
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- 47. RSS • Scraperswill steal your content • Cane from his old plugin ‘RSS footer‘ •• AAlllloowwss yyoouu ttoo pprreeppeenndd oorr aappppeenndd ppoossttss • Sites that scrape you, then give you links • Might not be a good thing anymore?
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- 50. • Time thissaves is astounding • Imports info from other SEO plugins •• EExxppoorrtt sseettttiinnggss ffoorr uussee eellsseewwhheerree • Include or exclude taxonomy data • Check your settings after an import!
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- 54. • Change titles • Change descriptions • Does not pull in defaults ;( •• SSttiillll sseemmii uusseeffuull ffoorr ttiittllee ttaaggss • Better off doing them at page level
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- 58. • An oftenused feature • Another huge time saver • Edit the robots.txt file •• EEddiitt tthhee ..hhttaacccceessss ffiillee • Be careful / make a backup - one misplaced .htaccess character can kill your site ;(
- 59. • An oftenused feature • Another huge time saver • Edit the robots.txt file •• EEddiitt tthhee ..hhttaacccceessss ffiillee • Be careful / make a backup - one misplaced .htaccess character can kill your site ;(
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- 64. • Scroll beneathany content • Box should be visible for admins •• FFoouurr ttaabbss ooff iinnffoo aanndd ttoooollss • Can‘t see it? Check your screen options • Page Analysis requires a ‘focus keyword‘ • Use it to improve the on page SEO, & more.
- 65. Every Page /Post Offers More:
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- 67. Type in aFocus KW to see the magic
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- 77. Take Aways •Out of the box configuration needs tweaking • Use %%page%% to uniquify everything •• NNooiinnddeexx,, bbuutt ‘‘ffoollllooww‘‘ wwhheerree aapppprroopprriiaattee • Export your settings for easy use elsewhere • Import my config file at SearchCommander.com
- 78. Thank You ScottHendison scott@SearchCommander.com