Are you still trying to pack the right keywords into your blog post to get the green dot of approval on the Yoast SEO plugin?
Forget about it. SEO doesn’t work that way anymore. Hasn’t for a couple of years now.
What does work is laying the proper SEO foundation on your site and then blogging for authority on topic.
And it’s easier to do than you think.
Keyword Stuffing Sucks Big
The Page Analysis tool in the Yoast SEO plugin is a super way to start getting you in the habit of thinking about all the places you could improve your content SEO.
And that’s all it can do.
The Green Dot Myth
Getting a green dot is not an indication that the post will rank well with Google.
A green dot only means that the page is stuffed with keywords.
If you over do it, that may even draw a penalty from Google for trying to game the system.
I’ve had multiple posts get to the front page of Google that have only one or two green dots.
It’s Not About Keywords Anymore
Keywords and phrases have their place. But Google has become smarter. It understand synonyms now too.
Here’s an example.
Let’s say I want to write a post on the benefits of taking WordPress classes. Instead of using the word classes over and over and over, I substitute in the words training and tutorials now and then.
Google will understand that I’m still talking about learning something.
And so will the reader.
It’s About Semantics
Google has changed.
Semantic search is smart and getting smarter.
Google wants to deliver the most relevant search result to the seeker. So, it may highlight synonyms in the Rich Snippet meta description, instead of an exact match.
Google may even change your title or your meta description for relevance.
Don’t worry, that’s a good thing.
Stellar Content Rules
Google wants to serve up the most relevant, authoritative content it has on file for a topic.
Keyword stuffed blog posts are not authoritative or high quality.
In fact, Google prefers that you don’t use the same words and phrases over and over and over.
That bores the reader too.
What both Google and readers want are posts that are good reads.
Your Cracked SEO Foundation
If the Page Analysis tool is all you’re using on the Yoast SEO plugin, you’re missing all the best parts!!!!!!
It’s a super powerful plugin. I love it and use it on every site.
But it has to be configured. All of it.
I see this all the time in site audits.
Folks use the Page Analysis tool in the Yoast SEO plugin and have zero configuration in any of the other sections.
Read my post for the Top Misconfigured Plugin that Kills Your Site
You Have No Authority
If you’re not consistently writing high quality content on a specific topic, then both Google and readers have no idea what you or your site is about.
It’s that simple.
Google wants to deliver the best result for a search.
Readers want that too. And when they find it, they stop looking.
If your content lacks focus, quality, and consistency, then you’re spinning your blogging wheels
Why even bother to write at all if your posts have no purpose and no goals?
You’re Saying No to Free Traffic
I hear a lot of bloggers say they’re doing just fine with Pinterest and Facebook traffic to their blog posts.
All I can say is, wow!!!!
How much free traffic are you turning down by not doing the easy SEO stuff?
6 Steps to Fix Your SEO
It’s a lot easier than you think to get super SEO on the content you’re already creating.
- Configure every element on the Yoast SEO plugin to suit your site’s needs.
- Write quality content that folks want to read and share.
- Input all 11-14 levels of on-page SEO on that content.
- Create a content calendar that meets your site’s goals and builds authority.
- Create content with repurposing in mind – for authority and visibility.
- Ensure Google credits you as the author and your site as the publisher of that content.
It’s not hard to do these steps.
Really.
Every single one of my private training clients can do it.
And they are all non-geeks.
Once you know how to do SEO on content you’re already creating, it just becomes a habit
It also becomes a new way of thinking.
Your mindset shifts.
You start to fully understand how powerful content marketing is.
And you eventually don’t have to blog as often to get good results. Your posts will start performing better on their own.
Generic Tips Are Not Enough
Yeah, I get that the 6 steps above are generic. No matter how much detail I try to go into with a blog post, it still won’t be enough for you to apply them to your site. That’s the difference in blog posts and video tutorials compared to live classes and training.
There simply is no substitute for help that is uniquely tailored to you and your site’s needs.
It’s Simple
So, you can keep:
- kluging together random tips
- spinning your content creation wheels
- striving for that green dot approval
Or, you can:
- get a holistic understanding of how SEO works today
- put a solid SEO foundation under your site
- learn how to easily apply SEO to every piece of content you create
- blog on purpose
- build authority on topic
- reap the free traffic rewards
Up to you.
Creating content takes time. Why not get the most out of it?
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