How-To: On-Page SEO Checklist

How-To: On-Page SEO Checklist
by
Christina Carson

Having a website is no longer enough to guarantee success. To truly engage with customers, businesses must understand and use the tools available for optimizing their websites to rank on search engines. This is where on-page search engine optimization comes in.  

But what exactly is on-page SEO or on-site SEO? On-page search engine optimization is where you optimize pages on your website so they rank higher on search engines and therefore get more traffic. Now, there are quite a few things on each page that you should ensure you update properly and effectively.  

We know optimizing your website can be overwhelming and even be a foreign language for many business owners out there. Well, worry not! Our SEO experts have created a checklist for you to refer to when optimizing your web pages. Read now & save it for later to refer back to!

Harness On-Page SEO Strategies to Skyrocket Rankings

Make sure your website is optimized for search engines and user experience. Follow this checklist to boost your page ranking and ensure maximum visibility.

#1. Utilize Short URLs

A short URL is much more user-friendly since it is easy to remember and type. We highly suggest that you keep your URLs concise and relevant because this ensures that search engines will have an easier time crawling and indexing them.  

#2. Including Keywords in URLs

Including keywords in your URL helps search engines understand what the page’s content is. Be sure to include relevant keywords that accurately describe the page's content.  

Avoid what we call “keyword stuffing” in your content and URLs as it can end up negatively impacting your website's ranking.

#3. Embedding Title Tag Modifiers

Title tags provide a brief description of the page's content on the search engine’s results page (SERP). Utilizing these modifiers in your page’s title tag can help you rank for long-tail keywords and can be a simple way to broaden your content’s reach.  

Here are some examples of title tag modifiers:  


  • Guide
  • Reviews
  • Best
  • Easy
  • Fast
  • Simple
  • Checklist
  • Course
  • Boost

 

#4. Using H1 H2 and H3 Tags

Headers (H1, H2, H3) help search engines and users understand the hierarchy and structure of your content. It is essential to use your article headers correctly and in a logical order. The H1 title should be used for the page's main heading, and the subsequent headers (H2, H3) should be used to break down the content into subtopics. Using headers correctly improves the user experience and makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content.


Struggling with title tags or headers? Ask yourself, “What is the intention of my content?” You’ll find your answer since each should reflect its purpose.


#5. Optimizing Images

Websites will generally see better results when they have more photo content but if they’re not properly optimized, they can bog down your website and negatively impact your SEO results. Luckily there are a few simple changes you can make when uploading photos to your site.  

Easy ways to optimize your webpage’s images include:  

  • Use smaller file sizes without compromising the image’s quality
  • Name your image files with relevant and descriptive words before uploading them
  • Use alt-text describing the image in more detail than the file name
  • Include more unique images than common stock images  

Photos and video content greatly impact your search engine optimization results so taking advantage of these steps will strengthen their influence.  

Optimizing for Mobile is SO Important > Read our Guide!


#6. Using External and Internal Links

For a website to thrive, it is crucial to have both external and internal links. External links refer to links that direct users to other websites, while internal links refer to links that direct users to other pages within your website. These links are critical pieces in providing context and value to your website.

External links assist search engines in comprehending the relevance of your content to other websites, while internal links enable users to navigate your website and discover related content. It is important to ensure that your links are pertinent and valuable to your content.

Read More > The Essentials of SEO

Boost Website Traffic with Effective SEO Strategies

By implementing our experts’ on-page search engine optimization checklist, you will improve your website's ranking, user experience, and ultimately drive more traffic to your site.  

Remember to measure the results of your efforts, so you can adjust as needed. And don't forget: SEO is an ongoing process. And we are just a phone call or email away to help!  

At Charisma Communications, we specialize in providing effective SEO solutions for businesses of all sizes. Reach out to us today for a comprehensive marketing evaluation of your business!