What does On-Page SEO mean? How can you improve your website in 2024 through On-Page Optimization?
What is on-page SEO? – On-page SEO is a way to make a webpage rank higher in search results by making changes directly on the page. These changes focus on the page’s content and source code. They involve things like creating good content, adding keywords, enhancing page speed, and more.
If you own a business website, you probably know the basics of SEO, which stands for search engine optimization. But are you familiar with on-page SEO and how to use on-site improvements to increase your visibility on search engines?
In this blog, we will focus on explaining SEO, specifically on-page SEO.
Here is a brief summary of what we will talk about: If you want to talk to an expert about on-page SEO services for your website, feel free to reach out to us online!
What is on-page SEO?
On-page SEO involves making improvements to things on your website, such as page speed and keyword usage, rather than focusing on external factors like backlinks. The goal is to enhance a site’s ranking and visibility in search engines.
What is difference between On-page SEO vs. off-page SEO:
On-page SEO is distinct from off-page SEO, another term you’ll probably come across while aiming to improve your online rankings.
How do on-page and off-page SEO differ?
On-page SEO involves making changes directly on your website, such as improving your content and making navigation easier, to improve your search rankings.
Off-page SEO involves activities outside your website, like getting backlinks from other trusted sites, to enhance your search rankings.
Effective SEO needs a good mix of both on-page and off-page strategies. If you’re interested in learning more about off-page SEO, check out our guide!
Why do on-page SEO?
Engaging in on-page SEO boosts your search rankings, drives more traffic to your site, and enhances conversion rates. While the outcomes of on-page SEO may take time, once your strategy gains momentum, it can significantly elevate your online rankings and increase sales.
Which on-page SEO factors should I focus on for better rankings?
On-page SEO involves various ranking factors that you should optimize. By dedicating time to enhance each of these factors, you can elevate your rankings in search results, making your website more competitive and challenging to surpass.
Factors to concentrate on for on-page optimization:
- URL
- Title tag
- Meta description
- Heading tags
- Alt tags
- Keywords
- Content
- Speed
- Internal linking
- Images
- Mobile-friendliness
Here are a few on-page SEO tasks you can do:
- Improve your title tags and meta descriptions
- Create high-quality, detailed content
- Tidy up your site’s code
- Simplify your site’s navigation
- Increase your website’s speed
Continue reading to discover how to optimize each of these on-page SEO factors!
How to enhance on-page SEO:
Now that you understand the factors affecting your on-page SEO, you can begin optimizing them. Keep in mind that on-site SEO and its results take time. Nevertheless, by adhering to best practices for these factors, you can build a website that can withstand algorithm updates.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
What is a URL? Think of it as an internet page’s address, similar to a street address.
Your website’s page URLs should provide a brief description of the page’s topic.
For instance, if you have a page about dog daycares in Daytona Beach, a suitable URL would be www.yoursite.com/eye-daycares-in-daytona. If you have multiple locations, you might use a format like www.yoursite.com/locations/california/eye-daycare.
By including your keyword in the URL instead of a long string of numbers, your site becomes easier to navigate, and people get a clearer idea of your page topics.
Consider these two URLs:
- https://www.durgtech.com/2024/02/local-seo.html
- https://www.durgtech.com/125typu4f5ww56fifl6639j875fe.html
Opt for clean, organized URLs, like the first example, to enhance your site’s structure and improve your chances of ranking higher in relevant search results.
Title Tag
What is a title tag? Think of it as your page’s title, but it’s visible only in search results.
For your website to appear in search engine results pages (SERPs), it’s essential for Google to understand what each page is about. Including specific keywords in the title tag of each page (between <title> and </title>) helps search engine crawlers comprehend your website.
For instance, if you’re focusing on the keyword “dog daycare Daytona Beach,” you might craft the following title tag: “Top Eye Daycare in Daytona Beach | Company Name.” For optimal results, keep your title tag under 55 characters to avoid Google truncating it in search results, and place your targeted keyword at the beginning.
Meta Description
What is a meta description? Think of it as a summary of your page, and it shows up in search engine results pages (SERPs).
A meta description doesn’t directly impact your on-page optimization. Instead, it serves as a feature that helps users get more information about your web page. Another reason to optimize your meta description for on-page SEO is that Google highlights user search terms found in it.
For best results, include your main and related keywords in your meta description. For example, a meta description for a page about kids eye doctor near me could be: “Searching for kids eye doctor near me? kids eye doctor near me, treatment, hospital and more!” Keep your meta description within 150 to 160 characters for the best results.
Heading Tags
What is a heading tag? It’s a way to organize content using H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6, enhancing the readability of the text.
When dealing with heading tags, it’s important to consider both search engines and users. Incorporate heading tags throughout your content to break it into sections, making it easier for users to read and skim. You can also insert your main or related keywords to offer search engines additional context about your page.
For instance, a blog post about kids eye doctor might have headings like:
- What does kids eye doctor include?
- How much does kids eye doctor cost?
- How to find the best kids eye doctor?
When writing your heading tags, ensure to include your main keyword in your H1 Heading tag.
Alt Tags
What is an alt tag? Alt tags offer additional details for multimedia, such as images and videos.
Search engines cannot see the multimedia directly, so they rely on alt attributes to understand the content of multimedia.
For example, if you have an image of a mango, your alt tag could describe it as a “yellow delicious mango.” Additionally, assigning descriptive names to the image files can help Google better comprehend your multimedia.
It’s important to consistently include alt tags for your multimedia content. These tags not only assist Google but also benefit users who may be unable to see or interact with your content. The use of alt tags ensures that your content is accessible to all visitors on your site.
Keywords
What are keywords? Keywords are words used in SEO to focus on important user queries.
Each page on your website should have written content that delves into the page’s subject. Even pages that aren’t typically optimized, like the “Contact Us” page, can contribute to your business’s online visibility. Incorporating keywords throughout the page’s text helps Google understand and appropriately rank it.
It’s crucial to research and gather keywords for every page on your site. Tools such as KeywordsFX and Keywordtool.io can aid in identifying keywords related to your products and services. Consider useful metrics like monthly search volume and competition to determine the keywords that provide the most value.
In many instances, smaller businesses focus on long-tail keywords, which typically consist of three to four words. While long-tail keywords may have lower monthly search volumes, they also face less competition. Deciphering the search intent behind long-tail keywords is often easier because they are more specific.
For example, if someone searches for the short-tail term “eye treats,” it’s challenging to pinpoint their specific interest—whether they’re looking for the best treats for small dogs or a dog treat recipe. On the contrary, a search for the long-tail phrase “buy dog treats for puppies” clearly indicates their intent to make a purchase.
Effective SEO strategies incorporate both short and long-tail keywords, and the selection of terms depends on your business and objectives.
Content
What is content? Content offers users solutions and provides search engines with context.
Content plays a crucial role in on-page optimization.
By providing valuable content, you give users a motivation to explore your site.
Whether they’re interested in reading a blog post or checking out a product page, visitors engage with your content. Optimizing your content is essential for helping search engines comprehend and rank your material, ultimately increasing the chances of people discovering your website.
On-page SEO strategies for content include:
- Incorporating keywords into headings and paragraphs
- Organizing content with easy-to-read headings
- Enhancing content with relevant images
- Ensuring correct spelling and grammar in your content
- Establishing trustworthiness and authority in your content
Furthermore, it’s important to consistently introduce new content pages to your website, demonstrating to search engines that you are actively engaged online. Achieve this through methods such as creating fresh blog posts, landing pages, and other strategies that highlight your dedication to serving your customers.
Improving your on-page SEO also involves identifying and eliminating duplicate content.
Duplicate content arises when similar blocks of content appear on multiple pages of your website — and it’s undesirable for two main reasons:
- Google faces difficulty in determining which page to rank: When multiple pages on a site share identical information, search engines struggle to identify the most relevant page for search results.
- Duplicate content creates confusion for site visitors: When users come across repeated content on your site, it can be perplexing, leaving them uncertain about the next course of action. Duplicate content disrupts the flow of information and hinders your audience from making informed decisions.
Avoid duplicate content to maintain good on-page SEO. Regularly inspect your site for any duplicate content and promptly remove it.
Page Speed
What does page speed mean? Page speed indicates how quickly content on a page loads.
With an attention span shorter than that of the common goldfish, 50% of users will leave a page if it takes more than three seconds to load. People crave information and want it instantly!
Search engines, such as Google, consider page speed when determining rankings. Since you can influence your site speed and page speed, optimizing them is crucial. By making your website load faster, you can achieve a higher ranking in search results.
To assess your speed, use PageSpeed Insights.
This tool offers personalized suggestions for accelerating your site. Additionally, you can adopt best practices for page speed, such as compressing images, removing unnecessary website code, and more.
Internal Linking
What does internal linking mean? Internal linking involves creating links between pages within your website.
Internal linking is frequently neglected in on-page SEO. Yet, as your website expands, establishing an internal linking system becomes crucial. This is because internal linking aids in the exploration of your site by search engine crawlers, enabling them to discover new content and comprehend the context of various pages.
Insufficient internal linking on your pages can hinder users from accessing valuable content on your site. The accessibility of content directly influences your conversion rate.
- Utilize internal links to enhance your on-page SEO by:
- Insert links to appropriate existing content in new posts.
- Incorporate links from pertinent existing content to newly created pages.
Every internal linking plan varies, but for optimal outcomes, ensure that each new page has a minimum of two to three links. If you encounter difficulties identifying suitable pages, refrain from forcing a link. Instead, contemplate developing pillar content.
Evaluate your internal linking status using a free tool such as Screaming Frog or SemRush
Images
What do we mean by images? Images are a type of multimedia that aids in people’s comprehension and quick reading of content.
Images are important for both SEO and user experience. They break up your content and provide context, especially for complex processes or hard-to-explain features. Incorporate various images into your content, ranging from stock photos to custom graphics and screenshots.
When adding images, ensure to compress them. Large multimedia files can slow down your page speed, affecting your rankings. Additionally, don’t forget to include alt text. This extra detail enhances website accessibility and can positively impact rankings in Google Images.
Also, consider usability features like video transcriptions and alternate text for images. These provide another opportunity to include your target keywords and contribute to making your site ADA compliant.
Mobile Friendliness
What does it mean for a website to be mobile-friendly? Mobile-friendliness is about how well your site works and is easy to use on mobile devices.
A mobile-friendly website is crucial because over 50% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t accessible on smartphones and tablets, your search result rankings may drop.
Major search engines like Google use mobile-friendliness or responsiveness as a ranking criterion. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile users, you could miss out on valuable leads and revenue.
Mobile compatibility is no longer just a suggestion; it’s a necessity, especially if you aim for high rankings in search results. Google considers mobile compatibility when determining your website’s rank. Poor compatibility equals a lower rank.
On-page optimization for mobile-friendliness often centers on creating a responsive site. A responsive website involves having a single site, simplifying updates and the addition of new content.
Check your site’s responsiveness using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool! OR Bing Mobile Friendliness Test Tool
How to check your on-page optimization?
Now that you have insights into on-page SEO, it’s time to evaluate your website’s performance. You can either utilize a tool for a comprehensive site audit or manually review individual pages, depending on your preference. If you opt for a manual approach, consider these criteria as a foundation for on-page optimization.
- Are you using keywords on every page? Evaluate whether these keywords are driving traffic. If not, reconsider their relevance and effectiveness.
- Are you interlinking pages within your site? This can enhance user navigation with just a click or two.
- Is your website loading quickly, or are some pages take long time to load? Identify and address any speed-related issues, as both human users and search engine bots prefer fast-loading sites.
- Is your site consistently updated with fresh content? If it has been stagnant for a year or more, assess the relevance of the existing content and consider making updates to maintain user interest and SEO effectiveness.
How to Analyze Competitor’s On-Page SEO Strategy?
To assess a competitor’s on-page SEO, follow these steps:
- Keyword Analysis: Identify the primary keywords your competitor is targeting on their pages. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner can help you discover these keywords.
- Content Examination: Analyze the quality and relevance of their content. Look for well-structured, informative, and engaging material. Assess if they are using multimedia elements like images and videos effectively.
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Check their title tags and meta descriptions. Evaluate how well they incorporate relevant keywords and compel users to click through from search results.
- URL Structure: Examine their URL structure. A clean and descriptive URL can contribute to better SEO. Look for the inclusion of keywords and logical organization.
- Internal Linking: Investigate how they interlink their pages. Internal linking can improve user experience and help search engines understand the structure of the site.
- Mobile-Friendliness: Check if their website is mobile-friendly. Google considers mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor, so assess how well their site caters to users on mobile devices.
- Page Load Speed: Assess the loading speed of their pages. Tools like Google Page Speed Insights and Bing Mobile Friendliness Test Tool can provide insights into the performance of their site.
- Social Media Integration: Look for integration with social media. Assess how well they leverage social platforms to promote their content and engage with their audience.
- Backlink Profile: Analyze their backlink profile. Tools like Ahrefs, SemRush or Moz can help you understand the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to their site.
- User Experience (UX): Evaluate the overall user experience of their site. Factors such as navigation, readability, and clear calls-to-action contribute to a positive user experience.
- Freshness of Content: Check how frequently they update their content. Frequent updates signal relevance to search engines.
- Structured Data: Assess if they use structured data or schema markup. This can enhance how search engines understand and display their content in search results.
By systematically analyzing these aspects, you can gain valuable insights into your competitor’s on-page SEO strategies and identify areas for improvement in your own approach.
Unlock Success: Acquire Expert On-Page SEO Assistance for Your Business
At durgtech.com, we specialize in helping companies achieve growth through on-page SEO. With our extensive experience in the industry, we understand that many businesses simply lack the time to implement these strategies on their own. That’s where we step in.
Our team is well-versed in all the strategies and best practices necessary to ensure that your business appears at the top of relevant search results, driving growth for your company. With our award-winning team of SEO professionals, we aim for excellence to enhance your company’s bottom line.
Contact us today to discover more about our on-page SEO services!
