The Basics of On-Page SEO

On-page search engine optimization (SEO) is an integral process of optimizing the content within the page.

Unlike off-page SEO, on-page SEO happens within your website. It covers all the content on your website as well as its technical components, including sitemaps, robot.txt. file, meta data and so on.

In this post, we will take you through the basics of on-page SEO. Take note that even a working knowledge of your website builder is enough to start optimizing your site.

Why is on-page SEO important?

On-page SEO is an indispensable component of SEO. This way, your audience will find your pages navigable, engaging, and easy to find.

The best thing about on-page SEO is that you have complete control over it. What you get out of it is directly impacted by what you put in.

On-page SEO factors

On-page SEO is composed of various steps as well as 12 factors that will affect your page’s ranking, both directly and indirectly.

These factors include your site’s architecture, how easy it is to crawl, how many links point to your site, whether it is mobile friendly and whether it as an SSL certificate. It also includes your site’s CTR, how easy it is to read and how optimized your images and content are.

Also, if there’s one thing we can consider the lifeblood of on-page SEO, it would be keyword optimization. You have to optimize your keywords as naturally as possible. You have to satisfy these factors on your pages to increase your website’s success in ranking higher.

How often should you do on-page SEO

The answer to this depends on what SEO factor you have in mind. Factors like using an SSL certificate and page structure can be done at once and then automated for the rest of your website’s life.

On the other hand, some factors have to be done regularly, especially in terms of updating your content. Also, you should include on-page SEO as part of your yearly site audit to maintain its health.

Should I perform on-page SEO?

Even if you have a top ranking website, you should still perform on-page SEO. This way, you can maintain your footing on the SERPs. Even if you’re not an SEO expert, you can perform most of the on-page steps needed to satisfy the factors mentioned above.

Any website owner should dedicate their time to on-page SEO and not just off-page SEO. If you really want to rank and have the utmost exposure, you should exhaust all possible means of impressing search engines.

Take note that some on-page SEO factors are also major ranking factors in Google. Some of these include website security (the use of SSL certificate etc.) and website speed.

However, even if the other factors aren’t major ranking determinants, you should still pay close attention to it. Such factors can still affect your ranking one way or the other.

Final words

On-page SEO is always as important as its off-page counterpart. It ensures that your website is well -optimized for your visitors. Through that, your efforts to drive traffic to your pages (off-page SEO) will become more fruitful in terms of conversion.