Curriculum
- 8 Sections
- 44 Lessons
- Lifetime
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- Introduction to SEO and YoastObjective: To give beginners a foundational understanding of what SEO is, how it works, and how the Yoast SEO plugin can help improve website visibility.4
- Initial Yoast SEO Plugin SetupObjective: Guide users through the step-by-step configuration of the Yoast SEO plugin so their site is ready for SEO success.6
- 2.1Lesson 2.1: Using the Yoast Configuration Wizard
- 2.2Lesson 2.2: Setting Site Type & SEO Goals
- 2.3Lesson 2.3: Personalizing Site Info (Organization/Person)
- 2.4Lesson 2.4: Search Engine Visibility Settings
- 2.5Lesson 2.5: Enabling SEO Tools (Readability, Analysis, etc.)
- 2.6Lesson 2.6: Connecting Webmaster Tools (Google, Bing, etc.)
- Optimizing Content with YoastObjective: Teach users how to optimize each post and page using the Yoast SEO tools, including focus keywords, titles, descriptions, readability, and linking — all within the free plugin.6
- 3.1Lesson 3.1: Introduction to the Yoast SEO Meta Box
- 3.2Lesson 3.2: Setting SEO Titles and Meta Descriptions
- 3.3Lesson 3.3: Creating Effective Slugs (URLs)
- 3.4Lesson 3.4: Focus Keyphrases – How and Why to Use Them
- 3.5Lesson 3.5: Understanding SEO Analysis (Green Light Tips)
- 3.6Lesson 3.6: Readability Checker – Write for Humans + Google
- Managing Site Structure for SEOObjective: Help beginners improve search visibility by organizing their site using categories, internal linking, breadcrumbs, and cornerstone content — all while guided by the Yoast SEO plugin.5
- Technical SEO Basics with YoastObjective: Equip users with the knowledge to handle essential technical SEO tasks like indexing, sitemaps, noindex settings, and social sharing previews using only the free version of Yoast.6
- 5.1Lesson 5.1: What Is Technical SEO (And Why Should You Care)?
- 5.2Lesson 5.2: Managing Indexing Settings in Yoast
- 5.3Lesson 5.3: Submitting a Sitemap to Google Search Console
- 5.4Lesson 5.4: Using Canonical URLs to Avoid Duplicate Content
- 5.5Lesson 5.5: Controlling Search Appearance Settings in Yoast
- 5.6Lesson 5.6: Social Previews with the Free Yoast Plugin
- SEO Best Practices with Yoast (Free Version)Objective: Teach beginners essential SEO best practices to create content that ranks well, focusing on keyword use, content quality, user experience, and ongoing SEO maintenance using Yoast.5
- Monitoring and Improving SEO PerformanceObjective: Teach beginners how to monitor their website’s SEO health using free tools like Google Search Console and Yoast insights, plus how to use that data to improve rankings over time.5
- Bonus Lesson: How to Rank Your Site on Google Using the Yoast SEO Plugin (Free Version)Objective: Help beginners learn how to use Yoast SEO (free) to improve their Google rankings.7
- 8.1Step 1: Focus on a Single Keyword or Phrase per Page
- 8.2Step 2: Optimize On-Page Content with Yoast’s Green Lights
- 8.3Step 3: Improve Readability for Users (and Google)
- 8.4Step 4: Set an Eye-Catching Meta Title and Description
- 8.5Step 5: Create and Submit Your XML Sitemap
- 8.6Step 6: Avoid Thin Content & Duplicate Pages
- 8.7Step 7: Keep Publishing & Updating Your Content
Step 3: Improve Readability for Users (and Google)
Yoast’s Readability Analysis helps make your writing easier to understand — and that improves rankings.
Focus on:
- Short sentences (under 20 words where possible)
- Short paragraphs (2–4 lines)
- Subheadings every 300 words
- Transition words: however, therefore, because, as a result, etc.
- Active voice: “We grow tomatoes” vs “Tomatoes are grown by us.”
Why it matters: Google rewards user-friendly, readable content.