On-Page SEO: A Quick Action Plan

This article is a quick action plan so that you can check if you're doing the things right in terms of SEO On-Page. We're currently working on a more in-depth guide on this topic.

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Search engines change how they work on a constant basis with Google quotes they make daily updates to their search algorithm. Googles goal is to consistently improve the search experience for their users ensuring that only the very best results are displayed. As a result, there is a constant requirement for webmasters to monitor and improve their website’s pages.

Here’re eight tips to improve your business on-page SEO irrespective of Googles algorithm updates:

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8 On-Page SEO Tips

1. Site Speed

It is vital that you understand the importance of site speed when it comes to every page of your website. Buyers will not stay on your site if a single page takes too long to load, and even a few seconds can make all the difference. Site speed is not the most important factor for on-page SEO, but it is essential that you factor loading time into your page design.

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2. Page URLs

Ideally, you want your page URL to be short, and your use of keywords is important to have in here:

• Have a standardized format for your site pages, with your root domain at the start
• Indicate where on your site the page is (is it on the blog or the product descriptions?)
• Make it relevant to the content
• Separate words with hyphens for easier readability
• Avoid pronouns

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3. Page Titles

Page titles should be your first port of call. Every single page and post across your website will need its own specific and unique title. Those titles should make use of your researched keywords. To write the most SEO perfected page titles, you should always:

• Consider title length: Search engines will usually show between 50 and 60 words. Aim to keep your titles under 60 words, because if you make it too long, then your title will get lost with an ellipsis, and that means your keywords may not show up.
• Be careful with keywords: With longer titles, you might be tempted to keyword stuff. Avoid this. Not only will search engines recognize what you are doing, but it harms your title’s readability. 
• Avoid repetition: Each title for every page will need to be unique, so use data-driven titles for every single page. Search engines reward unique content with higher result rankings, and they start by looking at your titles.
• Use your brand: Put the name of your brand at the start of your page titles for important pages like Home, but put your brand at the end of your titles for other, less-important pages.
• Consider the user: You run the risk of being overlooked by customers if you’re not writing page titles that appeal to humans.

Top Tip: review your competitors’ meta titles, plus top Google Ad headlines for meta title best practice for your target keywords.

4. Meta Descriptions

Also called a ‘snippet,’ your on-page meta description will be the text that resides in the HTML code. It will be a description of the content of that page and appears beneath your page titles on search engines. It is also the lines of text that will appear on social media when your users share those pages, so it’s vital to get it right. Make sure that you:

• Use your most important keywords
• Your text is easy to read and not overstuffed with keywords
• Consider your meta description as a teaser for your content
• Keep it short - around 140 characters is ideal
• Make them unique
  

Top Tip: include calls to action, plus review your competitors’ meta descriptions, plus top Google Ad body text for best practice for your target keywords.

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5. Headings

Use well-written headings to break up the content on your page. While this makes your content easier to read, by using keyword rich headlines and subheaders you will stand out on search engines as you will be breaking down the most valuable elements of each page. 

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6. High-Quality Content

Before even getting into the writing of your article, you need to analyze the keyword you're aiming to rank for and your competitors. Many people find it difficult to decide whether they should or not focus on a keyword according to its monthly search volume. In this detailed guide you will find out what's a good keyword search volume and it will help you determine what to do.

On the side, it is often overlooked by SEOs, but all your sites pages need to be well written, engaging for the visitors providing the information they are looking for. If people read your pages and spend time on them, this it today a huge ranking factor in the search engines. From more information on how to write great copy see this article on copywriting.

7. Image SEO

Images are instrumental when it comes to boosting your SEO. Search engines now return as many image results as they do written ones, so it’s imperative that you pay close attention to the alt-text tags on your images. When adding alt-text descriptions to images, remember to:

• Describe the image specifically
• Use both subject and context to add a richer description
• Stay under 125 characters to avoid alt-text being cut off
• Avoid phrases like ‘a picture of…’ since Google will already know that it is an image

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8. Internal Links

While backlinks (links on other sites that lead back to your website) are an effective SEO technique, internal links should always be a priority too. That's because they:

• Make site navigation easier
• Give your overall website a more consistent architecture
• Boost page authority internally
  

Search engines use bots called ‘spiders’ to crawl through millions of websites, and internal links on a web page mean that they have a clearer path to follow. 

As well as your SEO performance, you can also use internal links to keep users on your website for longer. When it comes to internal links, make sure that you:

• Have plenty of content - consider revitalizing your content marketing strategy
• Use anchor text in a natural and organic way
• Avoid internal links that lead directly to your homepage or contact pages
• Make your links relevant to the user
• Avoid distracting your readers with too many internal links
  

To improve your websites organic traffic, your visitors’ experience, and inquiries and sales, in 2019 on-page optimization is vital.