{"id":1044,"date":"2026-01-20T12:32:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T17:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/?page_id=1044"},"modified":"2026-01-20T13:03:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:03:57","slug":"yoast","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/standards\/yoast\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoast SEO Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-yoast-as-a-supporting-tool\">Yoast as a Supporting Tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Citadel uses the Yoast SEO plugin in WordPress to support editors in applying basic SEO best practices and structuring content in a way search engines and AI tools can understand. The Yoast tool is found at the bottom of the webpage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yoast is <strong>required on all public-facing pages<\/strong> and should be reviewed before publishing or updating content. Yoast provides guidance, it does not replace Citadel web standards or editorial judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-required-yoast-fields\">Required Yoast Fields<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Editors must review and complete the following Yoast fields when applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-focus-keyphrase\">Focus Keyphrase<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The focus keyphrase represents the primary topic of the page.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a clear, natural phrase that reflects the page content\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Example: <em>Charleston MBA program<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-1024x680.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of the Yoast fields on a WordPress page editor. With a green box highlighting the Yoast block and another green box around the Focus Keyphrase input field.\" class=\"wp-image-1058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-1024x680.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-1536x1019.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-2048x1359.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-slug-url\">Slug (URL)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Slugs should follow Citadel <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/standards\/content\/title-url\/\">Page Titles &amp; URLs<\/a><\/strong> standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changing an existing slug may impact SEO and should be reviewed carefully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-seo-title\">SEO Title<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The SEO title controls how the page appears in search results and browser tabs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SEO titles should:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clearly describe the page content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use natural language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay under approximately 60 characters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-1024x655.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of the Yoast fields on a WordPress page editor. With green boxes highlighting the SEO Title, Slug, Meta description, and Add Related Keyphrase blocks.  \" class=\"wp-image-1062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-1024x655.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-768x491.png 768w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-1536x983.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-fields-2048x1310.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-meta-description\">Meta Description<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The meta description summarizes the page for users viewing search results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meta descriptions:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Should be written in clear, complete sentences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typically stay under 160 characters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Example: The Citadel\u2019s MBA program prepares leaders through flexible coursework, real-world experience and a nationally recognized curriculum.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-keywords\">Related Keywords<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Yoast allows editors to include related terms.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use related keywords naturally if they appear in the content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-check-yoast-seo-analysis\">Check Yoast SEO Analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yoast indicators provide general guidance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Green<\/strong>: Content generally follows best practices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yellow\/Orange<\/strong>: Improvements may be suggested<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Red<\/strong>: Important elements may be missing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Please note: This is a guidance tool; a green score is not required for publication and a yellow score does not indicate poor content.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-1024x654.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of the Yoast fields on a WordPress page editor. With green box highlighting the Premium SEO Analysis dropdown section. \" class=\"wp-image-1060\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-1024x654.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-768x491.png 768w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-1536x982.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-analysis-2048x1309.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yoast as a Supporting Tool The Citadel uses the Yoast SEO plugin in WordPress to support editors in applying basic SEO best practices and structuring content in a way search engines and AI tools can understand. The Yoast tool is found at the bottom of the webpage. Yoast is required on all public-facing pages and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":694,"featured_media":0,"parent":465,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1044","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.8 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Yoast SEO Requirements - The Citadel&#039;s Website<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Requirements for using the Yoast SEO plugin on Citadel webpages, including required fields, guidance on scores and best practices.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Yoast SEO Requirements\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Requirements for using the Yoast SEO plugin on Citadel webpages, including required fields, guidance on scores and best practices.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/standards\/yoast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Citadel&#039;s Website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-20T18:03:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/yoast-scaled.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1699\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.citadel.edu\\\/web\\\/standards\\\/yoast\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.citadel.edu\\\/web\\\/standards\\\/yoast\\\/\",\"name\":\"Yoast SEO Requirements - 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