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How to use focus keyword correctly in WordPress?

When you are creating a website, one of the key factors to think about is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – the process of optimizing your site for search engines. In SEO, it is important to use keywords, also known as “focus keywords,” which help search engines understand what your site is focused on. This article focuses on how to properly use the “focus keyword” in WordPress.

Introduction to "focus keyword"

Let’s start with a definition. A “focus keyword” is a phrase that best describes the content of your post or page. This is what you type into a search engine to find a specific page or post. An example would be “apple tart” if you run a baking blog.

Using the Yoast SEO plugin

Yoast SEO plugin

The most popular SEO plugin for WordPress is Yoast SEO. Here's how you can use it for focus keyword optimization:

Once you have installed and activated the Yoast SEO plugin, you will find the Yoast SEO panel below the post editor. In the “Focus keyword” field, enter your keyword. Yoast SEO will automatically analyze your page for keyword usage, giving you tips on how to improve your keyword usage.

Keyword analysis in Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO offers an “SEO analysis” feature that evaluates how well a keyword phrase is used on a page. This includes checking if the keyword phrase appears in the right places, such as the post title, meta description, first paragraph, and so on.

Using the Rank Math SEO plugin

Rank Math SEO plugin

Another popular plugin is Rank Math SEO. Like Yoast, Rank Math offers the ability to enter a “focus keyword” and perform SEO analysis. In the case of Rank Math, you can also add multiple keyword phrases, which is especially useful for pages with a wide range of topics.

PHP Snippets

Using PHP snippets to enter "focus keyword"

If you are more technically advanced, you can use PHP to apply the “focus keyword” directly to your WordPress code. It is important to emphasize that this requires advanced knowledge of PHP and WordPress:

function set_focus_keyword() { global $post; $focus_keyword = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_yoast_wpseo_focuskw', true); echo ' '; } add_action('wp_head', 'set_focus_keyword');

This function uses 'get_post_meta' to retrieve the 'focus keyword' set by Yoast SEO and places it in the page's meta tags.

In conclusion, optimal use of the “focus keyword” in WordPress is essential for effective SEO. Remember that the keyword phrase should reflect the main idea of your page or post. Always try to place it in strategic places, such as titles, headings, and first paragraphs. Plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math SEO are great tools for this purpose, but for more advanced users, there is also the option of using PHP code. Remember that SEO optimization is an ongoing process - it is always worth testing and adjusting your strategy.

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