How to get a green SEO and readability score on Yoast

Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin that helps users optimise their content for search engines and improve readability. The plugin provides a colour-coded system to indicate how well your content is optimised for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and readability. Green indicates good optimisation, while red and orange indicate areas that need improvement.

Here are some tips to help you achieve a green SEO and readability score on Yoast:

Green SEO Score:

1. Focus Keyword:
   Choose a relevant and specific focus keyword for your content. Ensure the focus keyword is present in the title, meta description, and within the content.
2. Content Quality:
   Write high-quality, informative content that adds value to your audience. Aim for a sufficient word count. Long-form content tends to perform well in search engines.
3. Readability:
   Use short sentences and paragraphs to enhance readability. Utilise subheadings (H2, H3) to break down content into manageable sections. Include bullet points and numbered lists to make content scannable.
4. Internal and External Links:
   Include relevant internal links to other pages on your website. Add external links to authoritative sources to support your content.
5. Images:
   Optimise images by adding descriptive alt text. Ensure images are relevant to the content.
6. Meta Tags:
   Craft compelling meta titles and meta descriptions. Include your focus keyword.
7. Social Media Integration:
   Make it easy for readers to share your content on social media by integrating sharing buttons.
8. Mobile-Friendly:
   Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as mobile responsiveness is a factor in SEO.

Green Readability Score:

1. Sentence and Paragraph Length:
   Keep sentences and paragraphs short and easy to understand.
2. Subheadings:
   Use subheadings to break up content into sections. This helps readers navigate and understand the structure of your content.
3. Transition Words:
   Use transition words to improve the flow of your content.
4. Passive Voice:
   Minimise the use of passive voice. Opt for active voice to make your writing more engaging.
5. Flesch Reading Ease:
   Aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60-70. This ensures your content is easy to understand.
6. Consecutive Sentences:
   Avoid consecutive sentences starting with the same word.
7. Use of Heading Tags:
   Use heading tags (H2, H3) appropriately to structure your content.
8. Cheque for Typos and Grammar:
   Proofread your content for typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation.

Implementing these tips can help improve both your SEO and readability scores on Yoast. Remember that while the plugin provides valuable guidance, it’s also important to use your judgement and ensure that your content is valuable and relevant to your audience.