Not knowing how to do proper on-page optimization is to blame for many SEO blunders.
Seemingly, tiny on-page SEO factors (like image Alt text or page titles) can completely sabotage your attempts to rank higher in Google, especially if your competitors are paying close attention to their SEO.
This article will provide everything you need to know about how to do on-page SEO optimization for your business website.
What Is On-page SEO?
On-page SEO is all about optimizing the structure of individual web pages to rank higher in search engines.
In essence, on-page SEO makes it easier for search engine bots to crawl and index your page by optimizing structural elements like page titles and meta descriptions.
The good news is this: on-page SEO is completely within your control.
If you master the eight optimization factors described below, you will be able to rise through search engine rankings with ease.
How to Do On-page Optimization in SEO
1. Body Text
Try to include your target keywords in the body text of your pages and blog posts at least four times.
Google is becoming smarter and more contextual every single day, so you do not need to use the exact keyword string every single time.
If rearranging keywords makes the text flow more naturally, don’t be afraid to do so.
In addition to that, more is not always better.
In fact, overstuffing your page with keywords will hurt both the readability of the page as well as your search engine ranking.
2. Images
Having keywords in the Alt tags of your images is incredibly important for on-page SEO optimization.
The filename of your image matters too.
You should always name your images “yourkeyword.jpg” or some variation of that.
If you are not using images in your content, consider giving it a try.
The extra keywords in image names and tags will help your SEO, as well as make the content more engaging and entertaining for your website visitors.
3. Page Titles
The page title shows up in the tab of your browser.
It will also be displayed in search results, which is why you should make it enticing as well as SEO-optimized.
Your page title should follow the format of “Your target keyword | Your website” for maximum on-page optimization benefits.
4. Meta Descriptions
A meta description is the text that appears under your page title in search results. It should not exceed 156 characters.
Your keyword should always be present in your meta description.
You should also include a call to action to encourage users to click on your site.
5. H1 Tags
To make sure your pages are properly optimized, you need to include your keywords in your H1 tag as well as your page title.
Putting your keywords at the front of the H1 tagged text is ideal.
If you use WordPress, your H1 tag will automatically become your page title.
If you do not want that to happen, you will need to download a separate SEO plugin.
6. URLs
To make the most out of on-page SEO, always include your target keyword in your page or post URL.
Keep the URL under 76 characters. Otherwise, Google may not pick up the keyword at all.
Always use standard characters in your URLs (letters and numbers only), and replace any spaces in your URL with dashes (-).
Additionally, make sure to have as few subfolders in your URLs as possible.
A simple URL that looks like “www.abc.com/blog/keyword” will always perform better than a URL that looks something like “www.abc.com/blog/2019/01/01/keyword”.
7. Rel Canonical Tags
The rel canonical tag is an SEO-friendly way to give credit to the page where the content was originally published.
Keep in mind that there is a difference between directly copying content from another web page and simply referencing it.
The latter does not require the use of a rel canonical tag.
If your content is completely original, set the rel canonical tag to your own content page.
This will tell search engine bots that you are the original author of the content.
If you are a WordPress user, don’t sweat it, as WordPress takes care of the rel canonical tag for you.
8. Internal Linking
Linking to other relevant resources on your site will not only help you take your customers where you want them to go, but will also give your site an SEO boost.
Make sure to include the keyword your page is optimized for in the hyperlink that leads to said page.
This will help both users and search engines to figure out where the link actually leads.
Avoid excessive linking, as it can be seen as manipulative.
However, the same can be said for every other SEO tactic out there.
If you are not sure about the best way to proceed with your on-page optimization, you can always seek the help of professional SEO experts.
How Handmade SEO Can Help
Is your website on-page optimization on point?
If not, our free Digital Marketing Assessment can help.
It includes a full SEO audit to help you understand why your website is not ranking as highly in search engines as it could be.
Want to see how it works?
