Configuring Yoast SEO for the first time

Yoast SEO is a powerful plugin that helps optimize your website for search engines. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Install and activate Yoast SEO: If you haven’t already done so, go to the “Plugins” > “Add New” section in your WordPress dashboard and search for “Yoast SEO”. Install and activate the plugin.
2. General settings: Once activated, you’ll see a new “SEO” menu item in your WordPress dashboard. Click on it and go to the “General” tab. Here, you’ll find a configuration wizard that will guide you through the initial setup process. Click on the “Configure Yoast SEO” button to start.
3. Choose website type: In the configuration wizard, you’ll be prompted to select the type of website you have. Choose the option that best represents your website, such as a blog, an online store, or a news website. This selection helps Yoast SEO understand the context of your website and provide tailored recommendations.
4. Search engine visibility: The next step is to configure your website’s visibility in search engines. By default, Yoast SEO sets your website to be visible to search engines. However, if you’re working on a development site or under construction, you can choose to “No, thanks” and hide your website temporarily from search engines. Select the option that suits your situation.
5. Title settings: Yoast SEO allows you to customize how your website’s titles appear in search engine results. In this step, you can choose whether you want to use the site name in the title, set a separator character, and configure the title format. The recommended settings are usually fine, but you can adjust them according to your preference.
6. XML sitemaps: XML sitemaps help search engines discover and index your website’s content. Yoast SEO automatically generates XML sitemaps for your website. Make sure the “Enable XML sitemaps” option is checked. You can also click on the question mark icon to learn more about advanced settings, if needed.
7. Social profiles: Yoast SEO provides options to connect your social media profiles. Enter the URLs of your social media profiles (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to let search engines know about your social presence. This helps with social media integration and improves your website’s visibility.
8. Search console integration: If you have a Google Search Console account, you can integrate it with Yoast SEO. This allows you to access important data and insights about your website directly from within your WordPress dashboard. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your website to Google Search Console.
9. Finish the configuration: After completing the above steps, click on the “Next” button to finish the configuration wizard. Yoast SEO will provide some additional recommendations and offer premium features, but you can choose to skip those for now and continue with the free version.
10. Configure individual posts and pages: Once you’ve completed the initial configuration, you can further optimize individual posts and pages. When creating or editing a post or page, scroll down to the Yoast SEO section. Here, you can set the focus keyword, meta description, and other relevant SEO settings specific to that page.

Remember, Yoast SEO is a powerful tool, and the configuration options may vary depending on your specific needs and website setup. Take your time to explore the various settings and features provided by Yoast SEO and refer to their documentation or support resources if you need more guidance.