Search engine optimization (SEO) is inextricably linked to digital marketing. So if you’re interested in the field, it pays to understand the basics of SEO. SEO experts broadly categorize it into on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO.
This article will dive into what on-page SEO is, why it matters, and how to use SEO tools to optimize your pages. If you’re new to SEO or looking to understand on-page SEO better, this guide is for you.
Feel free to use the clickable menu to skip ahead to any section that interests you:
1. First, what is SEO on-page?
The practice of optimizing a webpage for search engine rankings, or “on-page SEO,” helps the page to increase its website traffic. As the name suggests, it involves making adjustments to the HTML and content of the page to improve its potential for search engine ranking. On-page SEO excludes off-page strategies like obtaining backlinks to your website and establishing domain authority since it is page-based exclusively.
2. What is On-page SEO crucial?
Search engines can learn a lot about the organization and content of your website from on-page SEO.
One component of on-page SEO, for instance, is utilizing titles and subheadings that contain your primary keyword. While the subheadings indicate how much of the topic you’ve covered in the post, the title tells search engines that your content is likely to match specific search phrases.
Search engines are reassured by strong on-page SEO that your website contains excellent content that merits a high rating. However, subpar on-page SEO might have a detrimental effect on your site’s ranks. Having said that, it’s imperative to consider SEO when creating content.
2. Why is on-page SEO important?
On-page SEO tells search engines a lot about the structure of your site and the content of your site’s pages. For example, one aspect of on-page SEO is using titles and subheadings that include your main keyword. The title shows search engines that your post is likely to match certain search phrases, while the subheadings indicate how much of the topic you’ve covered in the post. Having good on-page SEO assures search engines that your website has high-quality content that is worth ranking highly. On the other hand, poor on-page SEO can impact your site’s rankings negatively. That said, it’s crucial to create content with SEO in mind.
3. Guidelines for Writing SEO Content
If you’re unfamiliar with the idea, creating SEO content may seem daunting, but once you get the hang of it, it will come naturally to you. To produce material that search engines will find interesting, follow these three steps:
1. Conduct keyword research
The first, non-negotiable step toward creating SEO content is to find out what terms your audience is searching using search engines. That is the essence of keyword research. Keyword research involves using SEO tools to discover which words and phrases your target audience is searching for, how many users search for these keywords every month, and what your competitors have already written on the matter.
2. Match search intent
Even with knowledge of relevant keywords, writers can fall into the trap of writing solely for search engines—without considering their audience. Creating useful content starts with matching search intent.
3. Post and site organization
Subheadings serve purposes beyond aesthetics. If done correctly, they inform search engines about the breadth of your post and can raise your ranks. This also holds true for the arrangement of your website’s pages and content, as well as its categories.
4. Tips for improving your SEO writing
It’s time to start optimizing your SEO content when you’ve written it or have a plan to create it. To make your content search engine optimized, you need to execute the following three things:
Put your keyword here.
Experts concur on one point: your post should contain your keyword, even though there is no set rule for how frequently it should appear. When you write about a subject, it goes without saying that you will likely bring up the theme or other related terms a few times in the essay.
Add internal links
Another under-appreciated on-page SEO best practice is internal linking. This refers to linking to other pieces of content on your site. For example, you’ll notice that many of our blog posts feature related articles in the “further reading” section. That’s an example of internal linking.
Make use of alt-text and pictures
Pictures can be an effective on-page SEO component. They are easier to find than the articles themselves and can rank well in visual searches on search engines. Images can also break up long, text-heavy paragraphs and provide enjoyment to publications. Certain image formats, such as infographics, can increase the popularity of your material and are also simpler to distribute.
Further actions for optimizing images for search engines are:
- Selecting a picture to go with your text
- Using an appropriate image name (ideally include your keyword)
- Image resizing and optimization to speed up website loading (which enhances on-page SEO)
- Including photos in the XML sitemap for your website
- If appropriate, add captions to your images so that viewers may get more use out of them
5. Useful on-page SEO tool
SEO in general requires a few essential tools if you want to do a solid job. On-page SEO is no different.
Google Search Console
This Google tool helps you get your site on Google search engine results pages, monitor traffic, identify serious site issues, and see which keywords bring in the most traffic. You can submit URLs for crawling and submit sitemaps to help your site rank faster.