Proper on-page SEO is arguably the most crucial factor when it comes to improving your site’s search engine traffic. Google has released several new algorithm updates the past few years and because of that, SEO experts have been forced to modify their on-page SEO tactics in order to keep their rankings the same. I put this article together to share some of that information with all of you. I’m not going to discuss things like keyword density and meta descriptions because that’s pretty common knowledge these days. Instead, I’m going to focus this article on several other important factors that you might not even think of. Continue reading to learn some of the best on-page SEO techniques you can begin using to see more organic traffic from search engines like Google and Bing.
Increase CTR with Schema Markup – Schema markup is the latest evolution in SEO, but it’s rarely being used despite being a powerful ranking signal. According to Searchmetrics, less than 1% of all websites currently use schema markup. That means there are tons of sites out there missing out on boosting their SEO score a bit. What is schema markup? It’s code you put into your website to help search engines return more information for users. In other words, schema markup can offer rich snippets in Google’s search results which in return can boost your SEO and lead to more clicks. Even do a Google search and see ratings below a URL? How about price ranges? All of that information is being collected by Google using the website’s schema markup content.
Use Short, Keyword-Rich URLs – Google and other search engines prefer short URLs over longer ones. Shorter URLs are also preferred from a user experience perspective. Don’t forget to include important keywords in your URLs as well. Keywords in the URL give an indication of what kind of content can be expected for users who see your URL on social media, inside emails..etc.
Include Keyword Synonyms in H1 and H2 Tags – Using the same keywords too often can result in negative SEO. This is especially true if you repeat the keywords in your H1, H2 and H3 tags. Avoid keyword stuffing, but still make sure to use headline tags (H1/H2/H3..etc) appropriately.
Treat Image Alt-Text Like Meta Description – Google, Bing and other search engines can’t see what’s on an image. Instead, they use the filename and alt-text to understand what the image is a picture of. With that in mind, always remember to include your desired keywords in both. To avoid keyword stuffing simply write your alt text like you’d write a meta description. Remember to keep it limited to 156 characters or less!
Fix Website Errors – Perform a website audit using SEMrush or another online source to discover any potential website errors. If you really value the SEO of your site, you should run an audit once each month. SEMrush will even provide tips and information on how to fix any errors that arise. Keeping your website loading quickly without errors is one simple way to have a positive impact on optimization!
Increase “Dwell Time” – When a user clicks the back button immediately after landing on your site then it’s a clear sign of low quality content, and Google is going to penalize you for that. Google and other search engines use Dwell Time to evaluate a site’s content quality. One simple way to decrease dwell time if to publish long, informative content which engages your visitors to stay on the site longer.
