The Real Problem with Yoast SEO (and What Actually Helped)
Yoast SEO can be frustrating! Here are the exact struggles I faced as a blogger — and how I finally turned every red dot green. When I first started blogging, I thought writing was the hard part. But I was wrong.
The real challenge?
👉 Making Yoast SEO turn all green.
If you’ve ever stared at a bright red “Readability” warning or fought with focus keyword placement, I’m right there with you.
I was frustrated. Every time I updated the blog, Yoast SEO gave me another red dot. So I paused. Then, I re-read everything, looking for patterns. That’s when I realized — I needed transition words and better formatting.
In this post, I’ll share all 15 struggles I personally faced while trying to match Yoast SEO guidelines — and exactly how I fixed each one.
If you’re stuck with red dots in Yoast SEO, this blog will save you hours of frustration.
1. Forgetting to Add the Focus Keyword in the First Paragraph In
Yoast SEO expects your main keyword to show up within the first 100 words.
I didn’t know this in the beginning, so I’d write long intros and still get a red signal.
✅ Fix: I now write my focus keyword in the first or second line.
2. Overusing the Same Sentence Structure
One day, SEO told me:
“You’re starting 3 sentences in a row with the same word.”
I was shocked. I had no idea this even mattered for SEO.
✅ Fix: I rewrote those sentences with variety and transition words like “So,” “Because,” “Then.”
3. Paragraphs Too Long
Yoast SEO flagged my writing for having paragraphs over 150 words.
It looks fine to humans, but Google prefers shorter chunks.
✅ Fix: I break long paragraphs into two, and add white space.
4. Too Few Transition Words
This one haunted me.
Yoast SEO needs 30% of your sentences to include transition words like:
Because, Therefore, After that, So, However, Meanwhile, Instead…
✅ Fix: I started using 5–10 transitions naturally in each blog.
5. Forgetting Image Alt Text
I used to upload beautiful images — but never wrote alt text.
Yoast SEO would show an error like:
“Image alt attribute missing the focus keyword.”
✅ Fix: I now add my focus keyword to at least one image alt tag.
6. No Internal Links
Yoast SEO wants you to link to at least one post on your own site.
✅ Fix: I now add 1 internal link in every blog.
👉 Like this:7 Best Hosting Plans in India for Bloggers
7. No External Links
Yoast SEO also wants one external link to a trusted site.
In the beginning, I thought linking outside would harm my traffic — it doesn’t.
✅ Fix: I now add a source, reference, or helpful blog from Google or Wikipedia.
8. Focus Keyword Not in Meta Description
My SEO description would be cute… but missing the keyword.
✅ Fix: I now write meta descriptions that start with my focus keyword and stay under 160 characters.
Example: SEO can feel confusing, but here’s how I finally turned all signals green in my blog.
9. Focus Keyword Not in Slug
My URL used to look like:
whitebalanceai.com/blogging-journey-start
That’s a miss.
Yoast SEO wants your focus keyword in the slug.
✅ Fix: I changed it to:
whitebalanceai.com/yoast-seo-blogging-issues
10. Missing Focus Keyword in a Subheading
I used headings like:
“What I Learned the Hard Way”
But SEO wants your focus keyword in at least one H2.
✅ Fix: Now I write:
“What I Learned About Blogging with Yoast SEO”
11. Keyword Density Too Low
SEO needs the focus keyword to appear 15 times or ~1% of your total word count.
✅ Fix: I plan my blog around the keyword.
I include it in:
- First paragraph
- Headings
- Image alt
- Meta description
- Throughout the text naturally
12. Too Many Passive Voice Sentences
SEO hates passive voice.
It flagged lines like:
“It was written by me.”
✅ Fix: I now write in active voice:
“I wrote it.”
13. Title Doesn’t Start with Keyword
I love creative titles, but SEO wants:
✅ Keyword at the beginning.
❌ “How I Beat SEO with Yoast”
✅ SEO Tips: How I Got All Green in One Go”
14. No Schema or Breadcrumbs
SEO rewards structure.
✅ Fix: I enable schema and breadcrumbs in Rank Math or Yoast settings, especially for blog, article, or FAQ formats.
15. Feeling Defeated by the Red Dot
Some days, even after all fixes, SEO stays red.
But now I understand — it’s just a tool, not a judgment of my writing.
✅ Fix: I follow the checklist, but I don’t panic if one orange dot remains.
Even though Yoast SEO can feel strict, it taught me a lot. As a result, I now structure my posts more clearly. Because of these changes, my posts are finally green. So if you’re stuck like I was, don’t panic. Instead, take it one step at a time.
What Finally Helped Me Master Yoast SEO Optimization
I created a checklist template inside Notion
I wrote 10–15 blogs back-to-back, fixing errors on the spot
I stopped chasing perfection — and aimed for progress instead.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Yoast SEO Scare You
If you’re like me — juggling a blog, learning SEO, and trying to turn traffic into income — don’t let SEO intimidate you.
It’s a powerful guide, yes.
But the real growth? Comes from writing consistently and learning by doing.
And yes — eventually, every dot can turn green.
FAQ: Real Questions Bloggers Ask About Yoast SEO
You may also like – 7 Transformative Benefits of AHA BHA for Skin – Glow, Acne, Texture & Pores
I struggled with SEO in the beginning. Yoast SEO gave me red signals everywhere, and nothing seemed to work. But when I switched to Rank Math, everything changed. Now I use my focus keyword properly, write clearly, and follow a simple checklist. If you’re tired of Yoast SEO rules, Rank Math is a relief. It helped me fix my blog without being overly strict. I still make sure to use my keyword, add links, format images with alt text, and write short paragraphs — but now the process is smoother.