On-page SEO (sometimes also called “on-site” or “on-page optimization”) is the process of optimizing various elements on your website in order to rank higher in search results and drive more traffic to your site.
It is essentially the way you structure your web page so that Google can easily understand what it is about. This way, whenever people search for keywords associated with that topic, the site will appear as a top result.
(Well, hopefully.)
Which on-page SEO ranking factors should I optimize for?
There are over 200 ranking factors that Google takes into account when determining where to rank a website.
However, some are more important than others, like:
- title tags,
- header tags,
- internal links,
- keyword density,
- and meta descriptions.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is whether or not your website is providing value to searchers.
If it is, then you’re doing something right and you’re likely to rank in Google over time. If not… well, then no amount of on-page SEO will help you.
Why is On-Page SEO Important?
On-page SEO (optimizing your website for specific ranking factors) is important because it gives your website the best chance to rank in search engines for the right keywords.
And why is it important to rank for the right keywords?
First, if you’re not ranking for the right keywords, you’re missing out on valuable traffic that could be coming to your site.
Second, if you’re not getting enough organic traffic, you’re likely missing out on potential customers and sales.
And third, if you’re not ranking for the right keywords, you’re at a disadvantage when compared to your competitors who are ranking for those same keywords.
In short, ranking for the right keywords and getting more organic traffic can give you a significant competitive advantage by attracting more visitors, increasing your brand awareness, and boosting your bottom line.
What would be an example of a company doing on-page SEO?
Company X is a web design company.
They want to rank higher for the keyword “web design services”. Here are three things they could do:
1) Add the keyword to the title tags. Title tags are one of the most important on-page ranking factors. If Company X wants to rank for “web design services”, they have to make sure that phrase is in their title tag.
2) Add the keyword to the H1 (header) tag. Just like title tag, H1 tag is another critical on-page ranking factor. So if company X wants to rank for “men’s dress shirts,” they’ll have to make sure that phrase is in their H1 tag as well.
3) Use the keyword throughout the page: in the copy, in the image ALT tags, and in subheaders. In addition to using your keyword in your title tag and H1 tag, it’s also important to use it throughout the rest of article.
By doing all of this, they’re giving themselves the best chance possible to rank higher in the SERPs for “web design services”.
