Hour 2: SEO Optimization Workshop (Yoast/RankMath)
Presenter: [Your Name]
Topic: From Good to Found: A Hands-On Guide to On-Page SEO with Yoast/RankMath
Part 1: Introduction & The SEO Foundation (10 minutes)
(Slide 1: Title Slide)
- Title: From Good to Found: A Hands-On On-Page SEO Workshop
- Subtitle: Mastering Yoast & RankMath to Drive Organic Traffic
(Slide 2: Why On-Page SEO Matters)
- Opening Hook: “You’ve written a brilliant blog post. But if no one can find it on Google, does it even exist? On-page SEO is the bridge between your amazing content and your target audience.”
- The Role of Plugins: “Tools like Yoast SEO and RankMath are our co-pilots. They don’t fly the plane for us, but they give us the checklist and instruments to ensure we’re on the right course for search engine success.”
- Workshop Goal: “By the end of this hour, you will have the practical knowledge to optimize a blog post from top to bottom, following a clear, actionable checklist.”
(Slide 3: Workshop Agenda – Our SEO Checklist)
- The Foundation: Keyword & Readability
- The Hook: Meta Title & Description
- The Structure: Headings & Content
- The Connections: Internal & External Linking
- The Rich Snippets: Schema Markup (The Advanced Touch)
Part 2: The Hands-On Optimization Process (40 minutes)
Activity: We will optimize a live or pre-selected blog post together. Participants can follow along on their own posts if they wish.
Step 1: Keyword & Readability (The Foundation) (10 minutes)
- Action: Open a blog post in the WordPress editor. Look at the Yoast/RankMath sidebar.
- Keyword Focus:
- Concept: Don’t just pick one word. Choose a keyphrase (e.g., “best running shoes for flat feet” instead of “running shoes”).
- Demo: Enter the keyphrase into the “Focus Keyphrase” field.
- Density Myth: Explain that keyword density is a outdated metric. The plugins analyze prominence (is it in the title, first paragraph, headings?) and related terms (LSI keywords) more than a strict percentage. The goal is natural usage.
- Readability Analysis:
- Why it Matters: Google prioritizes content that provides a good user experience. Readable content keeps people on the page.
- Demo: Check the readability analysis.
- Key Tips:
- Short Sentences: Aim for 15-20 words on average.
- Paragraph Length: Keep paragraphs short (2-3 sentences). Use white space.
- Transition Words: Use words like “however,” “additionally,” “for example” to improve flow.
- Passive Voice: Try to use active voice where possible (“The team achieved the goal,” not “The goal was achieved by the team”).
- Goal: Get that green bullet for both SEO and Readability!
Step 2: Meta Title & Description (The Hook) (10 minutes)
- Action: Scroll down to the Yoast/RankMath meta box below the content editor.
- Meta Title:
- Formula: [Primary Keyphrase] – [Secondary Benefit/Brand] | [Brand Name]
- Example: “Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet in 2024 | Comfort & Support | YourBrand”
- Best Practice: Keep it under 60 characters to avoid being cut off in search results.
- Demo: Write a compelling meta title and watch the preview update.
- Meta Description:
- Purpose: This is your ad copy. It needs to entice a user to click.
- Formula: Summarize the post’s value and include a call to action. Naturally include the keyphrase.
- Example: “Struggling with flat feet? Discover our top 5 running shoes for 2024 that offer maximum arch support and comfort. Find your perfect pair today!”
- Best Practice: Keep it under 160 characters.
- Demo: Craft a compelling meta description.
Step 3: Internal & External Linking (The Connections) (10 minutes)
- Internal Linking:
- Why: Keeps users on your site, reduces bounce rate, and helps Google understand your site’s structure and topic authority.
- Demo: Find a relevant phrase in the post (e.g., “proper running form”) and link it to an older, in-depth article you have on that topic. Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”).
- External Linking:
- Why: Linking to high-authority, relevant sites (e.g., a scientific study, a reputable news source) builds trust and shows you’ve done your research.
- Demo: Find a claim that could be backed up (e.g., “According to a study by Harvard Health…”) and link out to the original source. CRITICAL: Set these links to
open in a new tabso you don’t lose the user.
Step 4: Schema Markup – The Advanced Touch (10 minutes)
- Concept: Schema is a code vocabulary you add to your site to help search engines return more informative results (Rich Snippets).
- Examples: Star ratings, FAQs, how-to steps, article author and publish date.
- How Yoast/RankMath Helps: They make this incredibly simple with toggle switches.
- Demo with RankMath (which has excellent built-in schema):
- In the RankMath meta box, go to the “Schema” tab.
- Select the type of content (e.g., “Article”).
- It will auto-generate the necessary code. Show how you can add an FAQ Schema block to the post to potentially get a rich snippet in search results.
- Demo with Yoast (if using): Show how Yoast Premium includes schema blocks, or mention that adding schema typically requires a separate plugin or custom fields in the standard version.
Part 3: Recap, Q&A, and Action Plan (10 minutes)
(Slide 4: The 5-Minute SEO Checklist)
- Quick recap of the 5 steps we covered. Emphasize that this should be the final step before hitting “Publish” on any post.
(Slide 5: Beyond the Blog Post)
- Briefly Mention: “While we focused on a single post, remember SEO is broader: Site speed, mobile-friendliness, and a clean site structure (via silos) are also critical.”
Q&A Session (8 minutes)
- Anticipated Questions:
- Yoast vs. RankMath? (Answer: RankMath often has more features for free; Yoast is more established. Both are excellent. It’s a matter of preference.)
- What if I can’t get the green bullet? (Answer: The green bullet is a guide, not a dictator. Aim for it, but don’t sacrifice natural writing to force it. Orange is often fine.)
- How many internal links should I use? (Answer: There’s no magic number. Link naturally wherever it provides value to the reader, typically 3-5 relevant links for a 1000-word post.)
Conclusion & Call to Action (2 minutes)
- Final Thought: “SEO isn’t a one-time task; it’s a habit. By making this 5-step checklist part of your publishing workflow, you systematically increase your chances of being found.”
- Action: “Your homework: Pick one blog post from our archive—especially one that’s not getting traffic—and re-optimize it using the steps we practiced today.”
Materials & Preparation Needed:
- A WordPress Website: With either Yoast SEO or RankMath installed and configured.
- A Demo Blog Post: A pre-written, un-optimized blog post of about 500-800 words to use for the live demo.
- Slides: A concise slide deck to guide the session.
- Screen Sharing: Ability to share your screen so participants can see the plugin interfaces clearly.
