As you probably know, Search Engine Optimisation is a minefield and probably the most subjective form of marketing, yet the benefits, when you get it right, can literally transform a business.
We face many challenges when talking to new clients about SEO including what they think it is, how it should work and the timeframe for results but the biggest challenge of all is understanding that the on-page is absolutely key in ranking a site. Whether you believe in back-links or not, without conforming to some basic rules, you’ll always be held back.
To help, we’ve put together our list of the top 10 on-page basics that every business owner should be familiar with.
1. Title Tags
Title tags are a crucial on-page SEO factor as they help search engines understand the content on your website. They should be unique, concise, and accurately describe the content on the page. Title tags should be no longer than 60 characters and should include your target keywords.
2. Meta description
Meta descriptions provide a summary of the content on your website and, if relevant, are displayed in the search engine results. They should be unique, compelling, and include your target keywords. Meta descriptions should be no longer than 155 characters.
3. Headings
Headings, also known as H1, H2, H3 tags, help search engines understand the structure of your content. They should be used to organise your content into sections and should include your target keywords. The H1 tag should be used for the main heading of the page, while H2 and H3 tags can be used for subheadings.
4. Content
The content on your website should be high-quality, relevant, and informative. It should be well-written, easy to read, and include your target keywords. Content should be regularly updated to keep it fresh and relevant.
5. URLs
The URL structure of your website should be clean and easy to understand. URLs should include your target keywords and be no longer than 100 characters. Avoid using special characters and numbers in your URLs.
6. Image Alt Tags
Alt tags are used to describe images on your website. They should be unique and accurately describe the image. Alt tags should include your target keywords and be no longer than 125 characters.
7. Mobile
With the increasing number of people accessing the internet on their mobile devices, it’s crucial to optimise your website for mobile. This includes ensuring that your website is responsive and easy to navigate on a mobile device.
8. Internal Linking
Internal linking helps search engines understand the structure of your website and the relationships between your pages. It also helps visitors navigate your website. Use descriptive anchor text and link to relevant pages on your website.
9. Social Sharing
Make it easy for visitors to share your content on social media. This will increase the visibility of your website and help drive traffic to your site.
10. Speed
Page loading speed is an important on-page SEO factor as it affects the user experience. Visitors will leave your website if it takes too long to load. Optimise images, reduce code bloat, and use a content delivery network (CDN) to improve page loading speed.
Summary
This list may seem obvious but over 90% of websites we look at have either missed or dismissed many of these basics which is then potentially holding them back from ranking well. By focusing on these factors, you’ll be well on your way to improving your website’s search engine ranking and visibility before you even begin to look at some of the more technical elements.
Comments are closed.