Yoast SEO 20.1: Mastodon and inclusive language improvements

After successfully introducing a new settings interface in Yoast SEO 20.0, we have more exciting news! We have built an integration with Mastodon, the decentralized and open-source social network. Yoast SEO Premium users can now verify the link in their Mastodon profile with this integration. We’re also adding your profile to the structured data we generate for your site. Plus, we’re improving our inclusive language analysis in Yoast SEO 20.1.

Mastodon is picking up steam

Since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, many people have moved to the popular open-source alternative, Mastodon.

Mastodon is part of the fediverse (a combination of the words federated and universe). Unlike Twitter, it’s a decentralized network of communities and platforms, powered by open-source communication software. This provides an alternative to centralized social media, giving users more control over their privacy and data. It also provides more options for people to join communities based on common interests and values.

Introducing a Mastodon integration to Yoast SEO 20.1

The Mastodon integration in Yoast SEO Premium does two things:

1. It helps you verify the link to your site in your Mastodon profile
2. It adds your Mastodon profile to the sameAs structured data we output for your site

The integration allows users to verify the links on their Mastodon profile quickly and easily. Simply switch on the Mastodon integration, add the URL of your profile in Yoast SEO, and add a link to your site on Mastodon itself. After that, refresh your Mastodon page, which should show a green verified link in your profile.

The Schema structured data for Mastodon works automatically. After adding your Mastodon profile in the Yoast SEO settings, we add that link to the structured data graph we generate for your site. We use the same sameAs links for other platforms. This makes it easy for search engines to identify all the other platforms you are active on.

This integration is part of our ongoing commitment to making content creation and distribution as seamless as possible for our users. Our values align with Mastodon’s focus on the open web, user privacy, free speech, and community building. So we’re excited to offer this integration to our users. Try it now!

Also, an Easy Digital Downloads integration

In addition to the Mastodon integration, we’ve added an integration for the popular Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) WordPress plugin. We improved Easy Digital Download’s Schema output for this integration and tied it into the Yoast SEO schema graph. This makes the combination much more robust. You can activate it in the Integrations section of Yoast SEO.

Improvements to the inclusive language analysis

Over the past months, we’ve worked hard on making our inclusive language analysis as helpful as possible. In Yoast SEO 20.1, we are releasing an improved version of our inclusive language analysis. This latest addition to our collection of SEO tools emphasizes the importance of using language that is inclusive, respectful, and free of bias.

Language is one of the most powerful tools for creating a more inclusive world. With the inclusive language analysis, we want to empower our users to make a positive impact through their writing.

Creating content that resonates with all audiences is essential in today’s rapidly changing and diverse digital landscape. The inclusive language analysis provides real-time feedback on the language used in your content and offers suggestions to help you create more inclusive content.

If you haven’t started using the new and improved inclusive language analysis, try it out now! Help create a more inclusive and respectful digital community for all.

Upgrade now to Yoast SEO 20.1

Two weeks ago, we successfully launched the new settings interface in Yoast SEO 20.0. Reactions have been really positive! Roger Montti of Search Engine Journal said, “I’ve been practicing SEO for almost 25 years, and this version of Yoast is the easiest-to-use SEO plugin I’ve used to date.”

After releasing that first piece of the puzzle, we are excited to present you with more shortly. But for now, we’re introducing Yoast SEO 20.1 with a new Mastodon integration and improvements to the inclusive language analyses.

Happy updating!