What is On-Page SEO

What does Google’s search algorithm change regularly? In 2020, Google conducted over 600,000 tests and updated its algorithm more than 4,500 times. The goal of Google is to produce the world’s best search engine, and they’re off to a great start.

Despite the constant changes, it is still not perfect. Google search engine still needs help in understanding new content. That is where on-page SEO comes in as it helps Google better understand your website. As a result, your rankings improve, resulting in more organic traffic.

This blog post will discuss what on-page SEO is and how you can use it to improve your website’s ranking in search results!

What is On-Page Search Engine Optimization?

On-page SEO is the technique of optimizing web pages so that your website will rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. On-page optimization refers to both the content and HTML source code of a page that can be optimized instead of off-page SEO, which refers to links and other external signals.

What is an example of On-page SEO?

Here are the examples of some on-page SEO action:

• Optimizing the title tags and meta descriptions of your website
• Writing quality and in-depth content
• Cleaning the website code
• Speeding up your website
• Internal linking
• Optimizing images
• Using keyword research

What does on-page SEO include?

Many different factors go into on-page SEO and here are a few of those:

Title tags: The title tag is the HTML element that specifies the title of a web page. It is also one of the most crucial things to complete On-page SEO optimization. A good title tag should be descriptive and include your target keyword.

Meta descriptions: A meta description is an HTML attribute that briefly summarizes a web page’s content. Search engines often use it to display results in search listings. A good meta description should be around 155 characters long and include your target keyword.

Header tags: Header tags are HTML elements that specify the headings for web page sections. There are six different header tags, from H0 to Hx. The most important header tag is Hx, as it specifies the main heading for a web page. All of your header tags should include your target keyword.

Content: Content is king when it comes to on-page SEO. Your content must be high quality and informative if you rank higher in search results. Additionally, you should use your target keyword throughout your content, including the title, meta description, and header tags.

Images: Whenever possible, you should include images on your web pages. Not only do they help break up the text and make your pages look more attractive, but they also provide another opportunity to include your target keyword. You should always include alt text for your images, and make sure to use your target keyword in the alt text.

Internal links: These are the links from one page of your web to another page. They are important for two reasons: (i) they help Google understand your website’s structure, and (ii) they help boost your site’s authority. You should include internal links whenever possible, and make sure to use your target keywords as the anchor text.

How do you do on-page SEO?

Let’s have a look at the best practices of on-page SEO:

1. Focus On URLs

Google has acknowledged that URLs aid in comprehending a website’s content. So, how can you improve your URLs?

Add focus keywords:  Your focus keywords should be included in your URL. This will help Google understand the topic of your page.

Make them short and simple: Your URLs should be easy to read and remember. Shorter URLs are also better for SEO.

Remove unnecessary parameters: If you’re not using any Parameters, remove them from your URLs (e.g., &utm_term=foo). They can slow down your website and negatively affect your SEO efforts.

Use sub-directories instead of subdomains: Subdomains are treated as separate websites by Google. So, it’s better to use sub-directories when possible.

Use hyphens to separate words: Hyphens are a great way to make your URLs more readable. They also help Google understand the words in your URL.

2. Title tags and meta descriptions

Meta tags are among the essential on-page SEO elements, particularly page titles. A title tag appears in search results as a headline on each page. The meta description is a brief description of the page that appears beneath the title in search results. Both are crucial to assist search engines and users in understanding the purpose of a site’s content. Keep in mind that title tag is a direct SEO ranking factor, whereas meta descriptions are not.

Your ad’s title and meta description are critical in determining whether someone clicks on it in the search results. It improves the Click-Through Rate (CTR) by improving the title and meta description, which suggests more visitors.

Unfortunately, Google updated its title tag policy in August 2021. After the update, Google may modify page titles based on other on-page elements, such as headings and even anchor text from inbound links. Even though this change doesn’t affect rankings, it can significantly influence CTR if the new title isn’t excellent.

3. Focus on On-page SEO for meta tags

The first step in your on-page SEO analysis should be your title and meta description. Here are the steps you must follow:

1- Keep the title length around 50-60 characters, so the search results don’t cut off.

2- Make sure your title is relevant to the page’s content and uses your focus keyword.

3- Your meta description should be around 150-160 characters long.

4- Use rich snippets to improve your CTR by adding additional information, such as ratings or prices, to your listing in the search results.

5- You can use Google’s structured data testing tool to check if your rich snippets are working correctly.

6- Always place primary keywords at the beginning of the title tag.

7- Always use a unique page name to avoid cannibalization issues.

8- Consider how you might use your meta description to entice people to click. Use it as an advertisement and modify it to make people click.

4. Headers improve on-page SEO

Headers are a great way to improve your content’s readability and help with on-page SEO. There are six header tags (H tags) that you can use: From H1-H6, depending on your content.

The use of several headers (H1 tag, H2, H3, and so on) on your pages have several advantages for SEO. First and foremost, it makes it much simpler for people to consume your material. If visitors come upon a wall of text on a page, they are far less likely to read it and will often leave the site.

Second, it tells the search engine what the page is about and where it should rank in the SERPs. When you have a clear hierarchy of information on your pages, Google will find it much easier to understand what your pages are about and will be more likely to rank them higher.

Here are some tips for using headers:

Use Header tags sparingly: You don’t need to use all six header tags on every page. Too many headers tags can hurt your SEO efforts. Use them only when needed to improve readability or convey the hierarchy of your content.

Don’t stuff keywords: Using too many keywords in your headers will not only make your content difficult to read but can also get you penalized by Google. Only use keywords when they naturally fit into the header.

Make sure headers are relevant: The content of your headers should be relevant to the rest of the page. Using irrelevant or inaccurate headers will only hurt your SEO efforts.

5. SEO copywriting for better rankings

SEO Copywriting is the art of writing the copy that easily converts whatever you are selling. And while most people think of copywriting as something used in advertising or marketing, it can also be used to improve your on-page SEO.

When you’re optimizing your content for SEO, it’s important to keep the following tips in mind:

Include LSI keywords: Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords are words and phrases that are related to your focus keyword. When you include them in your content, it helps Google understand what your page is about. better on-page optimization

Use keywords throughout your content: Use your focus keyword in the title, meta description, headers, and body of your text. 

Make sure your content is relevant: The content on your page should be relevant to the rest of the site and should address the needs of your target audience.

Keep it readable: Use short paragraphs and catchy headlines to engage your readers.

6. Use the target keyword early

When it comes to SEO, one of the most important things is that you can use your target keyword early and often. This tells Google that your page is about that particular topic and helps to ensure that your content will rank high in the search results.

There are a few ways to include your target keyword in your content:

In the title tag: The title tag is one of the most important elements for on-page SEO. Make sure to include your focus keyword at the beginning of the tag.

In the meta description: The meta description isn’t as important as the title tag, but it’s still worth including your focus keyword if possible.

In the headers: Headers are a great way to help people understand your content and help with on-page SEO. Make sure to use your target keyword in at least one header.

In the body of the text: The body of your text is the most important place to include your target keyword. Try to include it as often as possible without making your content sound unnatural.

By following these tips, you can create compelling content that will rank high in the search engines and help improve your website’s visibility.

What is on-page SEO and off-page SEO?

On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing your website’s content and structure to improve its ranking in the search engines.

On-page SEO includes the followings:

• Title tag optimization
• Meta description optimization
• Header tags
• Keyword placement and density
• Internal linking
• Content optimization

On the other hand, Off-page SEO is the process of improving your website’s reputation and authority online. 

Off-page SEO includes the followings:

• Link building
• Social media engagement
• Content marketing
• Local SEO

What is an SEO keywords example?

SEO keywords are words and phrases that you include on your website to help improve your ranking in the search engines.

The words that are the most relevant, authoritative, and popular are what you should focus on in your SEO strategy. Regarding relevance, authority, and popularity, the best keywords for your SEO effort would be the degree of competition you’re up against.

For instance, a post about a dog daycare center may use the following keywords:

• What does dog daycare include?
• How to find the best dog daycare?
• What is the best daycare center in NYC?
• How much does dog daycare cost?

Well, these are some long-tail keywords, you can also use short keywords like ‘Dog daycare NYC, dog daycare cost’, etc. 

What are the benefits of on-page SEO?

Here are a few of the benefits of using on-page SEO techniques:

Ranking Higher In The SERPs:  On-page SEO is one of the most important factors determining your website’s ranking.

Increased Visibility: By optimizing your content and structure, you can make your website more visible to search engines and potential customers.

More Engaged Visitors: When your website ranks high in the search results, it brings more traffic to your site. And when that traffic is engaged and interested in what you have to offer, it leads to better conversion rates.

Improved ROI: The better your on-page SEO is, the higher your website will rank and the more traffic you’ll get. This increased visibility leads to a better return on investment for your online marketing efforts.

Advanced Crawl Rate: Sites that rank high in the search engines are crawled more often by the bots, resulting in a better crawl rate for your website.

Greater Brand Awareness: Being visible in the search engines leads to greater brand awareness and can help you build a stronger online presence.

Improved Local Search: Optimizing your website for local search can help you find potential customers in your area.

Boosting Organic Traffic: All of the benefits of on-page SEO lead to one thing – more organic traffic and we all know it is the best kind of traffic.

Enhanced Click-Through Rate (CTR): When your website ranks high in the search engine results, it leads to a higher click-through rate.

Better User Experience: Finally, on-page SEO techniques lead to a better user experience, which is essential for keeping visitors engaged and coming back for more.

Final Thoughts

On-page SEO is important for ranking high in the search engines, increasing visibility, and improving ROI. By optimizing your website’s content and structure and using the right keywords, you can improve your website’s ranking and bring in more traffic. And when that traffic is engaged and interested in what you have to offer, it leads to better conversion rates. So if you’re not already using on-page SEO techniques, now is the time to start.

Sources & External Links

Pages that search results are linking to (excluding internal links):

moz.com

• Does Organic CTR Impact SEO Rankings? [New Data]
• Alt Text

webmasters.googleblog.com

• Using site speed in web search ranking  |  Google Search Central Blog  |  Google Developers
• Using page speed in mobile search ranking  |  Google Search Central Blog  |  Google Developers

support.google.com

• SEO Starter Guide: The Basics
• Keep a simple URL structure

search.google.com

• Schema Markup Testing Tool | Google Search Central  |  Google Developers
• Mobile-Friendly Test – Google Search Console

hubspot.com

• Blog Ideas Generator
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): 8 Ways To Get Started

blog.hubspot.com

• The Ultimate List of Free Content Creation Tools & Resources
• 50 Visual Content Marketing Statistics You Should Know in 2021

ahrefs.com

• Ahrefs – SEO Tools & Resources To Grow Your Search Traffic