On-page SEO, also known as on-site SEO, means making parts of your web pages better so that they appear higher on SERPs and more people can find them.
This involves improving on-page factors on your web pages, like the words you use, the titles you give them, and even the links inside. Search engines like Google pay attention to these factors to determine if your page is what someone is looking for on the web.
If the search engine thinks your page is helpful, it will show it near the top of the search results.
Let’s look at how to improve your web pages with on-page SEO tips.
Difference Between On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO
On-page SEO means optimizing your website (internally) to make it better for search engines. This can be anything from how your webpage looks to what words are used. It’s like decorating your room to impress others.
Off-page SEO is about doing things outside of your website to get more attention on your website. This can include getting other websites to talk about you or using social media to tell people about it.
It’s like having friends tell everyone how cool your room is.
Both on-page and off-page SEO are essential for making your website more popular. But you have more control over on-page SEO because it’s like decorating your room.
So, when planning to optimize your website, start by looking at your stuff first. Use SEO strategies very carefully by making sure they help people first. You can also hire an SEO specialist to optimize your articles with the latest SEO trends.
Search Engines show websites more likely made for people rather than search engines.
How Important is On-Page SEO?
Search engines like Google use special words called keywords and consider other factors on a page to see if it’s what a person is looking for. If the page is helpful and fits the person’s wants, Google shows it to them.
Google aims to provide the most unique and user-centric content that helps people.
This means that Google looks at the essential SEO factors on a page to decide how high it should be in the results list.
Google’s algorithms change occasionally, but it still cares a lot about how people feel. Google wants pages that are good for people. Google says it’s important to make content that people like.
So, the key is to create content that helps people just like they want. Let’s see how you can improve your content using these ideas.
How to Optimize your content for SEO best practices?
On-page SEO isn’t just about throwing keywords onto your web pages. It’s like giving your website a boost to shine in search results. Here’s how it all works, explained in simple terms:
Imagine Google as an explorer. It goes around the web, looking at websites. This process is called “crawling.”
Once Google looks at a webpage, it decides to remember it. This is called “indexing.” It uses a bunch of stuff, including on-site SEO factors, to figure out what the page is all about and how good it is.
When Google indexes a page, it adds it to its big list. This means people can find the page when they search on Google.
But wait, not all pages make it to the list. Some stay hidden. Google doesn’t promise to show everything it finds.
That’s where the magic of on-page SEO comes in. You can use some cool tricks to tell Google what your page is about. This helps Google put your page in front of people looking for stuff like yours.
So, let’s dive into these tricks and make your website a superstar in search results. Get ready to shine!
Creating Awesome, Unique Content for Better SEO
One of the really important things you should do for your website to appear well in search engines is write great stuff people want to read.
When planning your articles, consider other things related to your main topic. This helps you develop more ideas and cover everything people might be interested in.
Let’s break down how to do it in simple steps.
Step 1: Find the Right Keywords that has some volume
Start by finding out what words people use to search for things online. We’ll use a tool called Semrush’s Keyword Magic, Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, and Google Keyword Planner to help us.
For example, let’s say we want to write about a “Free SEO Guide.”
Step 2: With the keyword research tool
The keywords research tool gives us a list of words that are connected to the “free SEO guide.” It shows us how many times people search for these words. Some words are searched for a lot, but they might need to be harder to rank. Other terms are searched for less, but they’re easier to rank for.
Step 3: Pick the Right Words
Choose words that match what you want to talk about. It’s a good idea to pick words that are easier to rank for, even if they’re searched for a bit less. The tool also helps group similar words together.
Step 4: Write Your Content
Once you’ve got your words, it’s time to write your article. Use the words naturally in your writing. Don’t stuff them in too much. Make sure what you write answers what people are looking for when they search.
Step 5: Make It Special for Readers
Make your article stand out. Write something that other websites don’t have. People like unique stuff. And remember to add pictures or other cool things that make your article more attractive.
Use Target Keywords Wisely
Now that you have the important words you want to focus on let’s place them where they matter. Google looks at your content to determine what your page is about, and people reading your content do the same.
To make sure everyone understands your page’s topic, it’s a good idea to include your special words in these spots:
- The main title (also known as H1)
- The very first paragraph or the first 10% of your article
- Other headings on the page (like H2s, H3s, and more)
This helps Google figure out what your page is talking about and helps people quickly decide if your page matches what they’re looking for.
If you’re wondering how well you’re doing, Semrush’s On-Page SEO Checker can lend a hand.
Make Your Title Tags Optimized
Title tags are like labels for web pages. They tell everyone what the page is about. You’ll see them in search results, social media, and even your browser tabs.
But here’s the exciting part: title tags also affect how well your page appears in searches. They can even decide if someone clicks on your page or not.
Creating good title tags is important. Here are some easy tips to help you make the most of them:
- Keep It Short and Sweet: Google likes shorter titles. Stick to around 50 to 60 characters so your title isn’t cut off.
- Use Your Target Keyword: If you put your main keyword in the title tag, Google and people know what your page is about.
- Be One of a Kind: Don’t copy titles from other pages. Each page should have a unique title to show Google and users what’s special about it.
Writing Catchy Meta Descriptions
A meta description is like a little summary that talks about what your webpage is about. It’s a special thing that appears under the title when you search for stuff online. Imagine you’re looking for something; these short descriptions help you decide which link to click.
These mini descriptions don’t directly make your website rank higher on Google. But they play a significant role in whether someone clicks on your link. More people might check out your page if you write a good one.
Sometimes, if your description doesn’t match what someone’s searching for, Google might just come up with its description. To avoid that, it’s a good idea to follow these tips:
- Think about mobile phones. Google only shows around 120 characters on mobile screens. So, keep your description short.
- Use the main word you want to be found for. This helps people know if your page has what they’re looking for. Google even makes these words bold so they stand out.
- Keep it simple with active words. This way, you’re clear about what your page is all about.
- Make it interesting! Add phrases that make people want to click, like “get a free trial” or “learn more.”
So, by writing awesome meta descriptions, you’re making sure that when people search, they’re excited to check out your page!
Make Your Page Easy to Read with Headings and Subheadings
Using headings and subheadings on your page is like giving your readers a map to navigate your content. Imagine trying to understand a page without clear organization – it’s like finding your way in the dark!
Headings, especially the main one (called H1), help people quickly see what each section is about. They also help search engines like Google understand what’s important on your page. It’s like having signposts that guide everyone in the right direction.
Creating a visual hierarchy by using headings is an intelligent move. Just look at the difference between a messy page and an organized one. The organized one is much easier to understand and find what you need.
But it’s not just about humans – Google likes headings too! With headings, Google gets a clearer picture of your page’s structure. This helps them figure out if your page matches what people are searching for. And if it does, your page could appear higher in search results for important keywords.
You can also use headings to give Google hints about what your page is all about. For example, you can use keywords in your headings to show what topics you’re covering.
Start with your main heading, the H1 – it’s like the title of your page. Then, use H2s for subtopics. If you want to go even deeper, you can use H3s, H4s, etc.
So, remember, using headings and subheadings isn’t just about making your page look nice – it’s a clever way to help people and search engines understand your content better.
Optimize URLs for Clarity
Google recommends using simple URLs that make sense. This means using words that relate to your content. Avoid using random numbers or confusing phrases in your URLs.
Many website themes automatically generate URLs, so reviewing and updating them is important before publishing.
Using your main keyword in the URL is a smart move. This way, people and search engines immediately understand what your page is about. For instance, if you’re writing about healthy recipes, your URL could be like “yourwebsite.com/healthy-recipes”.
Add Internal Links in your Article
Internal links take you to other pages within the same website. They serve several purposes:
- They help search engines understand your website’s structure.
- Google can explore and find new pages through these links.
- These links tell Google that the linked page is valuable.
- Users can quickly move around your site and stay engaged.
When you link from one page to another on your site, Google notices the connection. This can help your website appear more relevant to specific search queries, positively affecting your rankings.
Boost Trust with External Links
External links are links that send users to other websites. These links are essential because they improve user experience and build trust with your visitors. While the direct impact on search rankings is debated, Google suggests linking to authoritative sources benefits users.
A good user experience is a priority, and linking to trustworthy websites adds value. When you include external links to credible sources, you show users that you care about providing accurate information.
Remember, linking to your sources is a good practice, and exploring external linking opportunities can also enhance your content.
By following these simple tips, you can enhance your website’s usability, visibility, and credibility, making it a valuable resource for users and search engines.
Use Optimized Images Effectively for Better Online Visibility
When you include images in your content, you increase the chances of showing up in Google Images searches, around 22.6% of all searches. This can bring more visitors to your website. To start making your images work better for you, consider optimizing them in these easy ways.
One helpful step is writing descriptive alt text for your images. Alt text, or alternative text, is a simple way to describe an image in the code of your webpage. There are two main reasons to do this:
- Helping Search Engines: Alt text gives important context to search engines like Google. They use this information to understand what your image is about and how it relates to your content.
- Supporting Accessibility: People who use screen readers to navigate websites rely on alt text. It helps them understand what’s in the images you use.
For example, if you have an image of a fluffy kitten, your alt text could be “Adorable fluffy kitten playing with a ball of yarn.”
Here are tips for writing good alt text for images:
- Keep it short. Alt text should be around 125 characters or less.
- Use your target keyword if it fits naturally. But remember, don’t overdo it.
- Skip decorative images. You don’t need alt text if the image doesn’t add important information, like a fancy divider or a magnifying glass.
- Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of.” Alt text is already understood to be describing an image.
- To find out if you’ve missed any alt text on your site, check the “Issues” report in the Site Audit tool. If you’ve got many issues, search for “alt attributes” in the search bar to see them all.
Beyond alt text, here are a couple more ways to make your images even better for your content:
Use Descriptive File Names: Instead of generic names like IMG353.jpg, use names that describe what’s in the image, like white-dress-pants.jpg. Google takes cues from file names to help your content get noticed.
Make Images Load Faster: Compress your images using tools like TinyPNG to speed up your website. You can also use lazy loading, which tells the browser to wait until a user scrolls to an image before loading it.
Making Users Love Your Page
Did you know that Google might like your page more if people stay on it longer? If folks leave quickly or don’t do what you want them to, Google might think your page could be better.
Terms like “dwell time” and “bounce rate” might sound fancy, but they’re important to Google. They look at “interaction data” to determine if a search result matches what people want. This helps Google learn and get better.
Here’s a smart trick: Put the important stuff at the top of the page so people see it first without scrolling.
If the first thing users see is an ad or a big picture, it’s not so great.
Writing in a way that’s easy to skim is also excellent. People don’t always read everything. They like to skip around to find what they want. Use headings to help them:
Short paragraphs are good, too:
And lists are super helpful:
Don’t forget to add helpful pictures and stuff with your writing.
You can also get people interested by putting things like “CTAs” in your content. Let’s say someone reads about on-page SEO (like this). The next step could be to check their own content using the tool.
So, to make users happy and Google impressed, make your page easy to read, put important stuff up top, and guide them to the next cool thing.
Making Your Website Faster
We might not know all the secrets that Google uses to rank websites, but one thing is sure: how fast your page loads matters a lot.
That’s why making your website load quickly is more important than ever. You can use a tool from Google called PageSpeed Insights to see how well your website performs on both phones and computers. This tool also gives you helpful tips on how to make your website even better.
PageSpeed Insights checks something called Core Web Vitals. These are things that affect how people feel when they visit your website:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): How long does it take for the main part of your page to show up?
- First Input Delay (FID): How long it takes for your website to react when someone clicks on something.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): How much your webpage moves around as things load.
Getting started is easy. Just type in your website’s address and click “Analyze.” The tool will show you a report that looks like this:
It also lists any problems that might be slowing your website down:
There’s another report called “Opportunities” that gives you suggestions for making things better. For even more detailed information about technical issues, you can use the Semrush Site Audit Tool.
Find “Core Web Vitals” under “Thematic Reports” and click “View details.” You’ll see how your pages have been doing over time.
In this report, you’ll also see technical details, like LCP and CLS. The Core Web Vitals report also gives you a measure called Total Blocking Time (TBT), which is almost the same as FID.
For each column, there are top suggestions to help you fix things. Click on the underlined suggestions to learn more about the problem and how to solve it.
Run this report about once a month to keep up with any issues. You can also set up automatic reports for yourself or clients in the Semrush dashboard.
Aim for Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are like getting the first prize in a search result. They show up at the very top and get a lot of attention.
There are different types of featured snippets. Some show definitions; others use tables, lists, or even videos. To check if a keyword has a featured snippet, use the Semrush Keyword Overview tool. For example, type in “How to use ChatGpt.”
You’ll see information about the keyword, like how many people search for it and how hard it is to rank for it.
Scroll down to where it says “SERP Analysis.” To the right, you’ll find a link that says “View SERP.” Click it to see the search results for that keyword without any personal stuff affecting them.
You’ll see that “How to use ChatGpt” has a featured snippet. You can see which pages show up underneath it.
If you want to be in that top spot, make sure your page follows good on-page SEO rules. Some ways to get a featured snippet are:
- Give a short and clear answer.
- Understand what the searcher is looking for.
- Make your answer easy to read, like in a short sentence, a table, or a video.
- Add Schema Markup
Schema markup is like speaking a special language to search engines. It helps them understand your website better. When you use schema markup, search engines know more about what’s on your page. This can make your search results look better, too.
Schema markup adds a code to your page. Schema tells search engines what your page is about. For example, if it’s about an event or a recipe. The search result might show this extra information.
Using schema markup can also make your search result bigger and more noticeable. Here’s an example:
You can use different types of schema markup. Some are for reviews, products, events, people, and more. You can find information on all these types at Schema.org.
Let’s see an example. Type “New York events near me” into Google. At the top, you’ll see some events:
To have your event show up like this, use the “Event” schema markup. This helps Google understand your event’s date, address, and location. Google might show your event because it’s helpful to users.
You can use our Site Audit tool to check if you’ve used schema markup correctly. Set up a Site Audit project and run it. Click “View details” to see more.
If Site Audit finds any issues with your markup, check them using Schema.org’s markup validator. It will tell you if you’ve done it right.
One Response
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.