On-page SEO is central to your success online. It refers to everything on your website (so kind of important, right?) The phrase on-page SEO is nothing to fear because you probably already have on-page SEO. If you have ever posted any content on a website, you can be discovered online.
The next important thing is to ensure that we are making the right choices, optimizing our websites and using the keywords that align with what our ideal customer is typing into the search engines to find us. That’s what this post covers.
Each page needs a few essential elements:
Quality content that is relevant to your audience: This can include text, images and videos.
Title tag: This tells the search engine what your main topic is.
Slug: The slug will show up in your URL, which is the address of your page or post on the Internet.
Meta description: Unless the search engine chooses to show something directly related to the searcher’s query, your meta description will show up on the search results whenever the page appears. Write a description that will entice people to click.
Header tags: Your website pages and posts should include header tags that describe the hierarchical importance of headlines and subheadings. There are six levels of header tags, but you may only need two or three on your website. There should only be one H1 tag on each page or post, but you can have multiple H2 and H3 tags. Use keywords and secondary keywords in your headings.
Image tags: When you upload an image to your website, you should always specify what the image depicts. An alt tag is what screen readers use to describe the image to visually impaired people. Only include your keywords if they align with this goal. However, you can also add a title and caption in most cases.
Internal links: Add links to your most important content. Every page and blog post should have a few links to your product or service offerings, your About page and other useful content.
Creating Quality Content for On-Page SEO
Your content should align with what your ideal target market is typing into the search bar. If you don’t know, try entering your search term into keyword research tools such as Ubersuggest. Many keyword research tools have free plans in addition to paid upgrades. Most small businesses and solopreneurs will only need the free plan.
When starting, look for keywords with low competition and high volume to increase your chances of ranking. Once your traffic is consistent, start aiming for the medium competition keywords.
Although keywords are necessary, use them in moderation. Overusing keywords is called “keyword stuffing” and can harm your search engine results. Don’t be afraid to mix up the order of words in your long-tail keywords because today’s search engines are smart enough to understand syntax. For example, “Vancouver hair salon” can be “hair salon in Vancouver.”
Be Original
Make sure that your content is high quality and shows a little personality. The more original and valuable your content, the more Google will see you as an expert. Lack of originality is one of the problems with using AI content to write copy. The results are often bland and lacking in human interest. Visitors are less likely to stick around or subscribe. Use AI to get ideas, but write your own copy or find a copywriter/blogger to help you.
Some ways to stand out from the crowd are to:
- State your personal opinions (like I just did on the subject of AI)
- Write in the first person
- Use personal anecdotes
- Use case studies and examples from your business
Blogging is about creating community through connection. Keep that spirit in mind when writing content for your website.
Use Long-tail Keywords
A long-tail keyword is a more specific keyword. These generally have less competition. Longer keywords are also more likely to reveal the searcher’s intent whether it’s looking for basic how-to information or comparing products before making a purchase decision.
Short-tail keyword:
Oil change
Long-tail keywords:
- How to change your oil
- Oil change near me
- Cheap oil change in Vancouver
As you can see, the person entering the first keyword plans to change their own oil. The second person is ready to buy and will make a decision from the local business results that come up. The third searcher will shop around but plans to make a decision soon.
Use Google to Find Keywords
Another way to find out what people are searching for is to observe what comes up on Google when you type in your search term.
Autocomplete: Clear your cache and slowly start typing your keyword into the search bar. You will see a variety of suggestions come up.
People Also Ask: Enter your keyword and scroll down to the People Also Ask section. These are things that people type into the search bar when they have questions about your topic. These can make good blog post topics or questions for your FAQ page.
You may also see related queries at the bottom of the page. These are keywords that are not necessarily in the form of a question. Choose which ones are relevant to you.
Update Existing Content
If you have been online for a long time, you may have lots of content that may or may not generate traffic. Look for content that is ranking but isn’t yet on the first page of Google. Update this content with some highly targeted keywords.
Continue to add content: Regularly refreshing and adding new content helps to keep your site at the top of Google. A regular blog post schedule is a great way to stay current with your SEO.
Are you interested in getting more consistent and ranking higher in the search engines without breaking the bank on ad spending? Book a call to discuss your content strategy.
Shella Gardezi is a marketing, PR and SEO specialist with experience doubling website traffic and sales and getting features in national publications and on the airwaves.