What is on-page SEO?

On-page SEO is the optimization of content and structure within the website from the home page to the contact forms. Any measures that can be done within the site to improve search engine rankings. Improving meta descriptions, title tags, or content are some of the examples. On the other hand, off-page SEO is any links or signals coming from outside.

To put it simply, off-page SEO is mainly link building while on-page SEO is more on content and other technical stuff.

Starting on-page SEO

Mastering and implementing all on-page SEO process can take time and requires continuous efforts. The basics in starting an on-page SEO are website SEO analysis, keyword research, and content audit.

Why is it Important?

On-page SEO is a necessary approach not just to maintain traffic to your website but also to improve user experience. It helps search engines like Google to understand properly what your website is all about and what it can offer to people online. Search engines will be able to match your content to a searcher’s query depending on its relevance.

There are a growing focus and interest on semantics and relevance in search engine results pages (SERPs) with the more advanced and sophisticated search engines, Google, for instance, continually change and improve their algorithms. They are now more effective in understanding the user’s wants when they type a query. They deliver to users what meets their intent e.g. shopping, informational, or navigational.

Adjusting to this advancement is crucial, and you can do so by making sure that both your site and its content are accessible to customers on your websites (i.e., images, text, audio or video). This includes the elements that are only accessible by search engines (HTML tags and structured data). Meaning these things must be well-optimized in line with the latest SEO best practices.

In addition, on-page SEO can not be ignored simply because you get more authority when optimizing on-site components – as compared to off-page SEO consisting of external inputs (i.e. backlinks).

If you put your energy into on-page approaches, consequently, you’ll see traffic boosting and your search existence growing.

WHEN to do on-page SEO?

Some areas need a one-time setup like page structure,  website speed optimization, HTTPS when starting a new website. Other activities are required occasionally – every time you release a new blog post, you need to consider on-page optimization.

On-page SEO must be an on-going activity even if your website ranks #1 to establish your position and maintain your lead.

WHO should be doing on-page SEO?

Any blogger, website owner, eCommerce owner, marketer, or SEO specialist. In fact, any person who wants to rank a site in search engines.

WHAT are on-page SEO factors?

Listed below are the 12 crucial on-page SEO elements that have an influence on your rankings.

• Keyword optimization 
• Crawlable website 
• Click-through rate 
• Quality outbound links 
• Site architecture 
• Website speed 
• Mobile-friendliness 
• Use of HTTPS
• Well-targeted content 
• Image optimization
• Readability and UX 
• User-friendly URLs 

Things like HTTPS or page speed are ranking factors that are confirmed. It indicates that they are used directly by Google in its ranking algorithm.

It is a heated debate among SEO experts whether things like CTR or outbound links influence rankings. We are not going into this discussion here.

What is important is whether or not Google uses these elements as a ranking factor, they are valuable because they enhance user experience and give value to visitors to the site.

Though not all of the factors listed in this guide are factors of ranking, nevertheless, they all equate with higher rankings. Above all, it suggests that in these regions of on-page optimization, websites generally ranked high.

Prerequisites: Analysis and Monitoring 

Successful on-page optimization needs multiple variables to be balanced. Research and daily reporting are 2 key things you need to have in place if you want to improve your game in a systematic way. Optimizing a website’s framework or content is of little value if the system is not focused on goal setting. It must be based on a thorough review of the larger issues.

In severe cases, optimization steps that are not focused on a good, evidence-based strategy may have the opposite effect to the intended. I may damage the reliability of keyword rankings or causing a decrease in conversion rates.

Check out the difference between SEO and PPC to help you decide what approach to take.