What is On-Page SEO?

SEO

What is On-Page SEO?

Shanda Watts
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On-page SEO is optimizing a web page’s content to improve your ranking in search engine result pages (SERPs). On-page SEO includes optimizing elements such as the title tag, meta description, header tags, and keywords throughout your web page. 

The benefit of on-page SEO is that it can help search engines comprehend the content and relevance of your web page, which can lead to higher rankings and more visibility for your website. On-page SEO can help improve the user experience, making it easier for visitors to navigate and find the information they want. 

Here are some examples of how you can improve your On-page SEO:

Page Titles

Page titles, also known as “title tags,” are the text in the browser’s tab or title bar when a web page is open. They are also the text that appears as a clickable headline for web pages in search engine results pages (SERPs). Page titles are one of the most important on-page SEO improvements you can make. They should be unique to each page, accurately describe the page’s content, and include relevant keywords that you want the page to rank, but not at the expense of readability or user experience. Search Engines will display the first 50-60 characters of a title tag in the SERP, so it’s essential to keep the titles concise and to the point. 

Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions are short summaries of the content of your web page. They are typically displayed in the SERPs below the page title and the website address. They are designed to give your users an idea of what your web page is about and what information they can expect to find on it. Meta descriptions are an essential part of on-page SEO because they can influence how likely users are to click on a search engine result. A well-written meta description that accurately describes the content of your page and includes relevant keywords can improve your web page’s click-through rate (CTR) and drive more users to your website. Meta descriptions should be individual to each page and be around 155-160 characters. 

Headings (H1, H2, H3 etc.)

Website headings, also known as headlines, are the text at the top of your web page that summarizes the content of your web page. They are essential because they give users a quick idea of what your web page is about and can help them decide to read further. Headlines play a critical role in SEO as search engines often use them to determine the content of your page and how it should be indexed. Ideally, each page should only have one H1 Tag. 

Content

Website content has a significant impact on SEO. Search engines prioritize websites that provide relevant and high-quality content. You can improve your chances of ranking your website well in SERPs by creating valuable and informative content for users. Using relevant keywords throughout your content can help search engines understand the topic of your web page and how it should be indexed. However, just like page titles, it’s critical to use keywords naturally and not stuff them excessively, as this can be penalized by search engines. We recommend working with a content writer with experience in SEO when creating your page content.

Website Speed

Website speed can significantly impact search engines and overall user experience. Google, for example, takes website speed into account when ranking websites in search results. Faster websites rank higher than slower ones, providing a better user experience. Website speed on mobile is becoming increasingly important as more users access the internet on phones and tablets. Google provides a tool called PageSpeed Insights that allows website developers and SEO experts to check the speed of their websites and receive suggestions for improvement. A website that scores well on this tool is more likely to rank well in search engine results. In the fall of 2022, Google released an algorithm that significantly dropped slower websites from appearing in Google for their targeted keywords, impacting the website’s CTR. If you think your website may have been affected, please get in touch with us for a website audit. Websites older than two years should be reviewed and sped up. 

Don’t miss out on potential website traffic and higher search engine rankings. See the results for yourself! Start an on-page SEO audit today and optimize your website for search engines.