Yoast SEO Update 21.3 introduced a new AI-powered feature that can generate titles and meta descriptions for your WordPress content. This feature is designed to save you time and help you create more effective SEO titles and meta descriptions.
In this article, we are going to discuss two other changes that came up with Yoast SEO Update 21.3. It’s all about making your life easier and your website better.
Before the update, every time you saved a post, Yoast SEO would store image metadata. This was a drag for websites with a ton of images, making the saving process slower than a snail on a lazy Sunday.
New Update
The new update improves this by optimizing how the editor handles images, reducing database calls and thereby speeding up post-saving times. The extent of improvement depends on the editor and image blocks you use.
Example
Let’s say you’re running a photography blog, and each post has around 20 to 30 high-res images. Before, saving a post might’ve taken you a minute or so. With the new update, that time could be cut in half, depending on the editor you’re using.
Yoast SEO Premium has always had a feature that flags complex words in your content. But now, it’s gotten smarter.
The word complexity feature now recognizes more plural forms of simple words. This means fewer false positives when you’re trying to make your content easy to read.
Before, the word “universities” might’ve been flagged as complex. Now, it is known that “university” is just the plural of “university,” which isn’t a complex word. So, no more unnecessary red flags.
Introduced in Yoast SEO 21.0, this AI-powered feature helps you quickly generate titles and meta descriptions. Crafting the perfect snippet to attract clicks has always been a struggle for many. But here’s a game-changer for you.
It’s like having a mini content writer who specializes in SEO. It can whip up titles and meta descriptions that are not only catchy but also optimized for search engines.
Let’s say you’re writing a post about “The Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health.” Instead of scratching your head for a good meta description, the AI could generate something like “Discover how yoga can improve your mental well-being. Learn the top poses for stress relief and mental clarity.”
To use the AI title and meta description generator, click the “Use AI” button in the Yoast SEO sidebar. The AI will then generate a few suggestions for titles and meta descriptions. You can choose the one that you like best, or you can edit the suggestions to your liking.
If you’ve been on the fence about updating your Yoast SEO plugin, this feature alone should be enough to tip the scales. The Yoast SEO Update 21.3 is all about making SEO easier and more efficient, and who doesn’t want that?
Updating Yoast SEO is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Plugins,’ find Yoast SEO, and click ‘Update.’ If you’re looking for a more detailed guide, you can check out Yoast’s official help page.
The latest update as of October 3, 2023, is Yoast SEO Update 21.3. It brings AI-driven capabilities for generating titles and meta descriptions, among other features.
Yoast offers an All-around SEO training that covers everything from keyword research to technical SEO. It’s a comprehensive guide to optimizing your website for search engines.
Yoast Premium offers several advanced features like internal linking suggestions, a redirect manager, and 24/7 access to their world-class support team. It costs $99 per year, excluding VAT. If you’re serious about SEO, upgrading could be a wise investment. For more details, you can visit their official page.
Want to learn more about how to use Yoast SEO to improve your website’s SEO? Check out our content ladder