Yoast SEO for WordPress: Best SEO Plugin Guide in 2025

Key highlights 

• Learn how to install and configure Yoast SEO with ease, even if you’re a beginner. 
• Discover how to optimize posts and pages for better rankings and user experience. 
• Understand how Bluehost’s hosting features enhance your search engine optimization performance. 
• Decide if Yoast SEO WordPress Premium is worth the investment with a detailed comparison. 

Are you looking for an SEO growth solution for your new WordPress website or aiming to boost the visibility of an existing one? Well, the Yoast SEO plugin is likely a familiar name for you. But if you’re not sure how to kickstart your SEO optimization journey with Yoast, we’re here to help you. 

Among the many plugins available for WordPress SEO, Yoast stands out as one of the most popular and user-friendly WordPress SEO plugins. However, despite its automated features, you’ll still need to know the key tricks of the trade. 

In this guide, we’ll address all your questions about the Yoast SEO plugin, leaving no stone unturned as you make your decision. We’ll also share practical, easy-to-implement tips to help your blog climb higher on SERPs. Let’s dive in! 

How to set up and configure Yoast SEO? 

Setting up Yoast SEO is the first step to ensure your WordPress site is primed for search engine success. Let’s take a detailed walkthrough of the installation and configuration steps to guide you every step of the way. 

Step 1: Installing the plugin 

Steps to install the plugin: 

• Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Navigate to Plugins > Add New on the left sidebar. 
• In the search bar, type “Yoast SEO.” The plugin will appear at the top. 

• Click Install Now, then Activate once the installation is complete. You’ll see a new SEO menu item in your dashboard. 

Step 2: Running the configuration wizard   

Steps for running the configuration wizard: 

• After activation, you’ll see a prompt to start the configuration wizard. Alternatively, go to SEO > General > First-time configuration. 

• The wizard guides you through site type (blog, shop, etc) organization or personal details and search engine visibility settings. 
• Complete the wizard by saving your preferences. This ensures Yoast aligns with your site’s goals. 

Step 3: Setting search appearance 

Steps for setting search appearance: 

• Go to SEO > Settings > Content types. Here, you can set templates for posts, pages and other content types. 

• Use variables like %%title%% and %%sep%% to create optimized SEO titles and meta descriptions. 
• Ensure Show in search results is set to “Yes” for content you want indexed. 

Step 4: Connecting to Webmaster Tools 

Steps for connecting to webmaster SEO tools: 

• Go to SEO > Settings > Site connections. 

• Get codes from Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools or others. Paste them into the respective fields. 
• Save the settings to connect to your site. This helps track crawl errors and indexing issues. 

Step 5: Enabling schema markup 

Steps for enabling schema markup: 

• Navigate to SEO > Settings > Site representation. Choose whether your site represents an organization or a person. 

• In the Yoast meta box for each post or page, select the appropriate Page type and Article type under the Schema tab. 
• Yoast automatically applies schema unless you customize it per post. 
• When editing a page, scroll down to the Yoast SEO meta box. Here, you can set your keyword, SEO title, meta description and check content readability. 

With Yoast SEO configured, let’s look at how to optimize your posts and pages to soar in search rankings. 

Also read: WordPress SEO 2024: Everything you Need to Know! Optimization Tips + Best Practices + Plugins 

How to optimize your pages using Yoast SEO WordPress? 

Optimizing your WordPress content by following the proper SEO practices is the cornerstone for ranking higher. The good news is you can easily check your website’s current SEO rankings using our free SEO Score Checker. This will inform you of how your website is performing so that you can build your SEO strategy accordingly 

This section covers seven comprehensive strategies, each with actionable bullet points to help you create SEO friendly content for your WordPress website. 

1. Choose a focus keyword to target search queries 

Choosing a focus keyphrase signals exactly what your content is about and aligns it with the user intent. Yoast’s tools make this process precise, helping you target the right audience with focused optimization. 

Here’s how to pick and optimize your keyphrase effectively: 

• Conduct in-depth keyword research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to rank with low competition keyphrases. For example, “vegan chocolate chip cookies” over the generic “cookies.” 
• Use local SEO: Leverage location-based keywords to attract nearby customers. For example, you can use keywords that target specific locations like “cakeshop in Miami”. 
• Analyze search intent: Study top-ranking results to determine if users want informational content (recipes), navigational content (brand pages) or transactional content (product purchases). 
• Use synonyms and variations: Incorporate related terms (for example, “vegan cookies” and “plant-based cookies”) to capture semantic searches. 
• Track performance: Use Google Search Console to monitor impressions, clicks and rankings for your keyphrase, refining your strategy based on data. 

Best practice: Target one primary keyphrase per post, using secondary phrases in subheadings or body text to broaden reach. 

2. Use the Yoast SEO analysis to improve on-page performance 

Yoast’s real-time SEO analysis is like having an expert WordPress editor by your side. It offers instant feedback to polish your content for search engines. Yoast’s traffic-light system (green, orange and red) guides you to optimize every element, ensuring your post is primed for top rankings. 

Follow these steps to fine-tune your on-page SEO: 

• Place keyphrase strategically: Include your keyphrase in the SEO title, meta description, first paragraph, at least one H2/H3 subheading and body text as Yoast recommends. 
• Optimize URL slugs: Use short, keyword-rich permalinks (for example, /vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies/) to enhance crawlability and user clarity. 
• Balance content length: Yoast suggests writing at least 300 words for posts or pages and at least 200 words for product descriptions. Refer to the detailed guide by Yoast for better understanding. 
• Address technical issues: Fix Yoast’s warnings, such as missing alt text, excessive passive voice (over 10%) or paragraphs longer than 150 words. 
• Perfect meta elements: Keep SEO titles under 60 characters and meta descriptions 120–160 characters for optimal SERP display. 

Also read: An In-Depth Guide to SEO for eCommerce for Online Success 

Best practice: Run Yoast’s analysis after major edits to catch issues, targeting a green score for maximum impact. 

3. Improve readability to boost user experience 

Readable content is the heart of user engagement that keeps visitors on your site longer, signaling quality to search engines. Yoast’s readability analysis ensures your text is clear, scannable and enjoyable for all audiences. 

Use these tips to make your content easily readable: 

• Shorten sentences: Keep 80% of sentences under 20 words for clarity, especially for mobile readers who prefer concise text. 
• Use frequent subheadings: Add H2 or H3 tags every 200–300 words to create scannable sections, guiding readers through dense content. 
• Incorporate transition words: Use “for example,” “however,” or “therefore” in 30% of sentences to ensure smooth flow and logical connections. 
• Simplify language: Replace jargon (for example, ameliorate) with clear terms (for example, improve) to target a 6th to 8th-grade reading level. 
• Vary sentence rhythm: Mix short, punchy sentences with longer ones to maintain reader interest and avoid monotony. 

Best practice: Read your post aloud to catch awkward phrasing, aiming for a conversational tone that resonates with your audience. 

4. Craft meta descriptions to improve click-through rates (CTR) 

A meta description is your content’s elevator pitch on the SERPs. Its aim is to convince users with a compelling snapshot of your post’s value to click your page. Yoast’s preview tools help you craft descriptions that captivate and convert, boosting organic traffic. 

Here’s how to write meta descriptions that shine: 

• Include keyphrase: Place your focus keyphrase early, for example, “Learn a vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe in 5 steps.” 
• Add a call-to-action (CTA): Use phrases like “Get the recipe,” “Discover now,” or “Start baking” to spur immediate clicks. 
• Avoid duplicates: Ensure each page has a unique meta description to prevent Google from pulling random text, which can dilute impact. 
• Preview across devices: Use Yoast’s Google Preview to check desktop (600px wide) and mobile displays for consistency and video SEO. 
• Test and refine: Experiment with CTAs or phrasing, tracking click-through rates in Google Search Console to optimize performance. 

Best practice: Match meta descriptions to user intent (for example, informational for tutorials, commercial for products) to align with searcher goals. 

5. Add internal and external links for robust site structure 

Links are the backbone of your website and building a robust website structure will go a long way. Guiding users, distributing authority and signaling credibility to search engines helps maintain a good structure. Linking tools, especially in Premium Yoast, make linking strategic and efficient, enhancing both SEO and user experience. 

Use these tips to strengthen your site’s link framework: 

• Add internal links: Link to 3–5 related posts or pages per 1,000 words, using descriptive anchor text like “vegan baking tips” to a recipe category. 
• Include external links: Cite 2–3 reputable sources, for example, a nutrition study or culinary institute, to boost credibility. 
• Optimize anchor text: Use keyword-rich, natural phrases (for example, “plant-based desserts” instead of generic “click here”) for SEO benefits. 
• Avoid broken links: Run a monthly scan with Screaming Frog to catch 404 errors and fix them using Yoast’s Premium redirect manager. 
• Create content hubs: Link related posts (for example, a cookie recipe to other desserts) to encourage deeper site exploration and longer sessions. 

Best practice: Balance link distribution to avoid overloading readers, aiming for a natural flow that enhances navigation. 

Also read: Mastering Internal Links: Essential Strategies for SEO 

6. Optimize images to enhance accessibility and load speed 

Images bring your content to life, but unoptimized ones can slow your site and harm SEO. Yoast’s image analysis ensures your visuals are accessible, search-friendly and quick to load. 

Follow these tips to optimize images effectively: 

• Write descriptive alt text: Include the focus keyphrase in concise alt text (for example, “vegan chocolate chip cookies fresh from oven”) for SEO and screen reader accessibility. 
• Compress images: Use TinyPNG or ShortPixel to shrink file sizes by 60–80%, keeping images under 100KB without losing quality. 
• Choose optimal formats: Use JPEG for photos, PNG for transparent graphics and WebP for modern browsers supporting smaller, high-quality files. 
• Add keyword-rich captions: Include captions like “Vegan chocolate chip cookies in 20 minutes” to boost engagement and context. 
• Use descriptive file names: Rename images before uploading, for example, vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies.jpg instead of IMG_1234.jpg. 

Best practice: Crosscheck images across multiple devices like desktop, phone and tablet to ensure that the images are responsive. 

Also read: How to Optimize Images: Bitmapped Graphics and Resizing 

7. Customize schema and social previews to maximize visibility 

Schema markup and social previews help your content stand out in search results and on social media with eye-catching, clickable displays. Yoast’s advanced tools let you craft tailored outputs that drive traffic and engagement. 

Following these steps will maximize your content’s visibility: 

• Set precise schema types: In the Yoast meta box, choose Page type (for example, Article, Recipe, FAQ) and Article type (for example, Blog post, Tutorial) to align with content goals. 
• Customize social previews: Under the Social tab, set titles (under 60 characters), descriptions (120–160 characters) and images (1200x630px for Facebook, 1200x675px for Twitter). 
• Test schema output: Run URLs through Google’s Rich Results Test and Schema Markup Validator to confirm eligibility for star ratings, FAQs or product snippets. 
• Optimize for social sharing: Create vibrant images with text overlays using tools like Canva. Include relevant hashtags in your description to increase the chances of your content going viral.    
• Support voice search: Add speech schema for FAQs or tutorials to improve your chances of being featured by voice assistants Google Assistant or Alexa. 

Best practice: Refresh schema and social previews quarterly for high-traffic posts to align with related keywords or campaigns. 

The seven content optimization tips discussed above will help your website rank higher in SERP results. They’ll also increase the chances of getting more clicks to your page.  

However, if you think you’ll prefer to get ranked without breaking a sweat, Bluehost is here to help you. Our experts with advanced SEO skills can help you get your website ranked while you focus on things that matter like running your business.  

Now that we’ve learned the tips and tricks for content optimization, let’s explore whether you can benefit from upgrading to Yoast SEO Premium. 

Is Yoast SEO Premium worth it? 

Yoast SEO’s free plugin version is a powerhouse, but Premium unlocks advanced tools for users aiming to dominate SEO. Here we’ll offer a detailed comparison, exploring features, benefits and drawbacks to guide your decision. 

Feature	Free version	Premium version
Focus keyphrases	1 per post	Up to 5 per post
Internal linking	Manual	AI-driven suggestions
Redirect manager	No	Automated redirects
Social previews	Basic	Fully customizable
AI title/description	No	Generative AI tools
Orphaned content	No	Detects unlinked pages
Support	Forums, FAQs	24/7 email and chat

Let’s take a close look at the pros and cons of Yoast SEO Premium so that you can make an informed decision. 

Pros of upgrading: 

Upgrading to Premium transforms your SEO strategy, offering efficiency, scalability and measurable results for serious site owners. Let’s look at all the advantages of Yoast Premium you can benefit from. 

• AI tools and linking suggestions cut optimization time by up to 50% making it ideal for busy publishers 
• Multiple key phrases boost organic traffic by targeting related queries, increasing impressions and clicks 
• Internal linking and orphaned content detection create a crawler-friendly, cohesive site 
• Redirect management eliminates 404/410 errors, preserving user experience and rankings 
• Advanced previews with focused optimization tips drive higher shares and referral traffic 
• 24/7 assistance resolves technical SEO issues quickly, minimizing downtime or ranking drops 
• Premium supports sites with 100+ pages or 10,000+ monthly visitors, handling complex SEO needs 

Cons to consider: 

Although Yoast SEO Premium boosts your SEO efforts significantly it does come with few catches. Understanding these will help you decide if it aligns with your budget and goals. 

• Features like redirect management or schema customization may overwhelm beginners, requiring time or support to master 
• For sites with under 20 pages or low traffic, the free version’s core features may meet basic needs 
• AI-generated titles or linking suggestions may feel generic, needing manual tweaks to match your brand voice 
• Unlike competitors (for example, Rank Math), Premium licenses are site-specific, raising costs for portfolios or agencies 

Yoast SEO Premium offers transformative tools, but its value depends on how you’re planning to scale your site. However, to see steady SEO improvements, your website needs to meet a few essential criteria. Let’s take a look at how Bluehost helps you start on the right track. 

Also read: Yoast SEO vs All in One SEO: Best WordPress Plugin in 2025? 

How does Bluehost help you get the most out of Yoast SEO? 

Good hosting is the foundation of your website. No amount of SEO optimization will save your website if it’s lacking in speed, uptime or security. Bluehost’s WordPress hosting provides the perfect hosting environment where your website can scale from 100 to 10,000 visitors overnight. Let’s see how.  

• Ultra-fast load times: Bluehost’s NVMe SSD storage and Cloudflare CDN cut page loads to under 1.5 seconds, meeting Google’s Core Web Vitals.
• Free SSL certificates: We provide free SSL with our hosting plans. This enables HTTPS, boosting trust, SEO scores and browser compatibility. 
• 99.99% uptime: Bluehost’s redundant servers ensure near-perfect accessibility, preventing ranking drops from downtime. 
• One-click Yoast install: Yoast SEO integrates with our control panel in one click, streamlining setup for instant optimization. 
• Robust security: We provide daily backups, SiteLock malware scanning and DDoS protection to safeguard your site, so that you can preserve SEO gains. 
• Scalable plans: We support 40,000–400,000 monthly visitors, scaling resources for SEO-driven traffic spikes. If you want to scale further, don’t worry, we have just the right plans for you. 

With Bluehost and Yoast SEO WordPress in sync, your site will climb the SEO ladder in no time. 

Final thoughts 

In 2025, mastering SEO is more achievable than ever with Yoast SEO at your fingertips. Every optimized post, every targeted keyphrase and every second shaved off your site’s load time brings you closer to your goals.  

Whether you’re a blogger or business owner, these tips empower you to climb search results and engage your audience. With a Bluehost hosting plan you can achieve even more with features crucial for a good SEO score.   

Ready to get your website rank soaring? Get started with Bluehost WordPress Hosting today for the perfect foundation for SEO success with Yoast! 

FAQs