This is a complete guide to on-site SEO in 2024. Explore the factors that can make or break your SEO success.
Note: Reliable Blogger is a top-notch blog dedicated to blogging. We offer easy to follow step by step guides, tutorials and software advice to help you jump-start and grow your profitable blog, learn how to make money blogging, and be a successful blogger. We are 100% supported by our readers (YOU).
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on our blog are affiliate links (e.g. Bluehost). If you click on those affiliate links and purchase the products, we may earn a commission. It comes at no extra cost to you, but it supports us in running this blog and creating even more useful content free of charge to you.
In this new on-site SEO guide you’ll learn how to:
- Create original and helpful content
- Optimize your content for search engines
- Write Keyword-Rich Title Tags
- Write click-worthy meta descriptions
- Use headings and subheadings to structure your page
- Optimize Your URLs for SEO
- Add internal links
- Add external links
- Include and optimize images
- Optimize for Page Speed
- Target Featured Snippets
- Add Schema Markup
Let’s get started!
Chapter 1: On-Site SEO Basics
Welcome to the foundation of your on-site SEO journey!
In this chapter, we’ll demystify why on-site SEO remains a linchpin for digital success in 2024.
So if you’re looking for the key to enhancing visibility and user experience, this section is for you.
What Is On-Site SEO?
On-site SEO (also known as “on-page SEO”) is the process of optimizing webpages and their content for both search engines and users.
On-site SEO can help rank your website and its content higher on search engines like Google and drive more organic traffic.
Common on-site SEO techniques include optimizing for search intent, internal links, title tags, and URLs.
This is different from off-site SEO, which is optimizing for signals that happen off of your website, for example, backlinks.
Other off-site SEO examples include social media marketing, guest posting, and public relations.
On-Site SEO vs Off-Site SEO
| On-Site SEO | Off-Site SEO | |
| Definition | Strategies performed on a website to boost its rankings | Strategies performed outside the website to boost authority and visibility |
| Goal | Enhance individual page visibility and relevance | Boost overall website authority and trustworthiness |
| Examples | Internal LinkingKeyword OptimizationSchema Mark-upMeta TagsFeatured SnippetsImagesPage Speed | Link BuildingGuest PostingLocal SEOInfluencer MarketingSocial MediaPublic RelationsBrand Mentions |
| Tools Used | On-page analysis toolsContent optimization toolsPage speed insightsWebsite crawlersAnalytics toolsAI | Backlink analysis toolsGoogle Business Profile Social media analytics and platformsOutreach management tools |
Below, we’ll cover on-site SEO different techniques for optimizing your website for on-site concerns.
But first, let’s understand what on-site SEO is:
On-site SEOcovers anything you can do on webpages and their content to boost your website rankings.
As we mentioned above, off-site SEO covers anything you can do outside of your website to improve your rankings. Backlinks are arguably the biggest off-site SEO factor.
Both off-site SEO and on-site SEO are important components of any good SEO strategy.
But you have more control over on-site SEO factors. So focusing on those is the best place to start.
Why Is On-Site SEO Important?
Search engines like Google use keywords and other on-site SEO elements to check whether a web page matches a user’s search intent.
And if the web page is relevant and useful, a search engine serves it to the user.
In other words:
Search engines pays attention to on-site SEO signals when ranking web pages.
The Google algorithm is always changing, but Google continues to prioritize user experience. Google recommends focusing on “people-first content.”
Meaning creating valuable, credible, and useful content that matches user intent is more important than ever.
To rank your website content in 2024, you also need to optimize your website content for:
- User experience
- Page loading speed
- Search Intent
- Bounce Rate and Dwell Time
- Click-through-rate
So, in the grand scheme of things, on-site SEO isn’t just a checklist; it’s your secret weapon for standing out and making both algorithms and people love your website content.
How To Do On-Page SEO
On-page SEO has changed A LOT over the last few years. Back in the day, you only needed to do four or five basic things to optimize your web page. And you were pretty much done.
Today? Optimizing your website’s content is much more involved. There are more steps. And those steps are more complex than before.
But there are ways to make it simple to create high quality content that helps you rank for your target keywords.
Semrush’s On-Page SEO Checker can help you analyze your website content and provide actionable insights you can implement in minutes.
Semrush lets you know if you have your keyword in all the key locations like the H1 and body content but also offers suggestions for improvement and provides valuable information on semantic keywords to enhance your content.
This tool also offers a suite of other tools that make it the all-in-one companion for on-site SEO.
But tools aren’t the only way to simplify your SEO process.
My on-page SEO checklist helps you keep track of all the little things that you need to do to optimize your content.
You can use this checklist to make sure that you’re checking off all of the boxes that Google and other search engines want to see.
In fact, I personally use this on-page SEO checklist to keep track of things. Otherwise, I’ll forget something small like adding my keyword in an H2 tag and in meta descriptions.
Chapter 2: Create Original And Helpful Content
One of the most important on-site SEO steps you should take is to create high-quality content that matches your users’ search intent.
To rank your website content in 2024, your website content needs to be:
- Unique
- Insanely Valuable
- Optimized for search intent
Start by performing keyword research to find relevant topics and target keywords.
In the meantime, here are a few on-site SEO best practices to create valuable, credible, and useful content:
- Incorporate keywords naturally into your content and avoid keyword stuffing
- Include visual content
- Write unique and content that offers something your competitors don’t have.
- Fully answer the query—your content should be useful to readers
- Make sure your content matches the search intent of your target keyword
Publishing website content that’s unique is a good starting point.
But it’s not enough.
So, for your website content to stand out and get noticed, it needs to be insanely valuable.
Here are a few ways that you can make your website content SUPER valuable:
- Accurate: Provide trustworthy, up-to-date information for your audience.
- Detailed: Screenshots, images, and steps make it easy for readers to put your content into practice.
- Crisp writing: Strong copywriting will make your website content more engaging.
- Expert authors: Content from someone with first-hand experience is almost always more valuable than something written by a random freelance writer.
Unique, valuable content can get you to the first page of search engines like Google.
But if you want to stay there, your web page has to satisfy Search Intent.
In simple words:
Your web page has to be EXACTLY what a Google searcher wants.
Otherwise, your web page will likely be buried on the 3rd page.
And now it’s time for the next chapter…
Chapter 3: Optimize Your Content for SEO
Embarking on the journey of on-site SEO involves more than just the art of crafting compelling content.
It’s about strategically placing your target keywords your content.
Search engines scans your website content to see what a page is about—and users will likely do the same.
So you should include your target keywords in these key places:
- Title Tags and Meta Description
- Heading(H1) & Subheadings( H2s, H3s, etc.)
- Alt Text
- First paragraph
- URLs
This will help Search engines gain context about the topic of your web page. And users will be able to quickly tell whether the web page matches their search intent.
The Semrush on-site SEO Checker can provide you with a comprehensive list of recommendations to let you know if your keywords are in these key areas.
Chapter 4: Write Keyword-Rich Title Tags
Title tags are pieces of HTML code that indicate what the title of a web page is. And display that title in search engines, and browser tabs.
Additionally, they can influence whether a user decides to click on your web page.
Here are a few top tips to follow when writing your title tags:
- Include your target keyword. This helps both Search engines and users determine what your page is about.
- Keep it brief. We recommend keeping title tags between 50 and 60 characters so a Search engine doesn’t cut them off.
- Be unique. Avoid duplicate title tags so that each individual page’s purpose is clear to Search engines (and users know what they’re clicking on).
Chapter 5: Write Click-Worthy Meta Descriptions
A meta description tag is an HTML element on a website that provides a brief summary of the web page. And search engines may use it to generate a snippet.
It usually shows up on the SERP below your page’s title.
But, like title tags, they can be a deciding factor between a user clicking on your page or another one. This means they can encourage more search traffic.
And if your meta description doesn’t match the user’s search intent, search engines may choose its own description for the SERP.
So it’s best to follow these best SEO practices to make your meta descriptions click-worthy:
- Be Concise: Keep your meta description under 160 characters to ensure it displays fully in search results.
- Add a call to action (CTA). Entice readers to click with CTA phrases (like “try for free,” or “find out more”).
- Unique Descriptions: Craft distinctive meta descriptions for each web page to avoid duplication and enhance click-through rates.
- Include your target keyword. This helps users determine if your web page matches their search intent. Search engine also bolds keywords and synonyms of keywords that match the user’s search query. This stands out visually and could boost clicks.
- Avoid Clickbait: Ensure your meta description aligns with your content to build trust with users.
- Focus on Value: Highlight the unique selling points or key information that sets your web page apart.
- Use active voice. Active voice saves space and communicates your message more clearly.
- Clarity is Key: Communicate the content and purpose of your page to manage user expectations.
- Front-Load Important Information: Place critical details near the beginning to ensure visibility and impact.
Chapter 6: Use Headings and Subheadings to Structure Your Page
H1 tags and subsequent headings allow readers to easily skim your page. And help search engines understand the hierarchy of your page.
Headings also help search engine better understand your page’s structure and determine whether your page matches a user’s search intent. Which can help you rank higher for relevant keywords.
You can use keywords and keyword variations in headings to give Search engine more contexts about the structure of your page and what information you cover.
Use the H1 as your page title or headline. And include H2s to cover subtopics.
If you need to cover content in further detail, use H3s, H4s, and H5s.
Chapter 7: Optimize Your URLs for SEO
Search engine like Google recommends using simple URLS that don’t look “cryptic” or intimidating. In other words:
Use words that are relevant to your content so users can tell what your page is about.
And not random numbers, publish dates, or full sentences. Website themes will often use these by default, so it’s important to update your URL before publishing.
Using your target keyword in your URL is a good way to ensure your URL matches the topic of your content.
The more context search engine has about a particular page, the better it can understand it. And if search engine understands what a page is about, it’s able to match it with relevant search queries.
Chapter 8: Strategically Add Internal Links
Internal links are hyperlinks that point to different pages on the same website. Here is what internal links look like on my blog website:
- How to Buy a Domain Name
- How to Buy Web Hosting
- How to Start a Blogging Business
- How to Start Affiliate Marketing
- How to Create a Website
- How to Start a Profitable Blog
Internal links are crucial part of on-site SEO optimization. Here’s why:
- They help search engines understand your website’s structure and how pages are related to each other.
- They signal to search engines that the linked-to page is valuable.
- They allow search engine crawlers to discover and navigate to new pages.
- They help users navigate through your website and keep them on your website longer.
Chapter 9: Use External Links
External links are links on your website that point to other relevant websites. They’re important because they enhance user experience and build trust with your readers.
Google has said that adding links to authoritative external sources is a great way to provide value to your audience.
And providing solid user experience is always a good thing.
Here are a few best SEO practices for you to follow:
- Only link to authoritative and trustworthy websites related to the topic and your niche.
- Balance the number and placement of external links to avoid looking spammy.
- Use descriptive and natural anchor text to show your readers what to expect when they click.
Chapter 10: Include and Optimize Images
Including images in your content increases your chances of ranking in Google Images. This is a great way to get more traffic to your website.
The best place to start optimizing your images is by writing descriptive alt text for them.
Alt text (alternative text) is text included in HTML code that describes an image on a webpage.
It has two main purposes:
- It allows users using screen readers to hear descriptions of images
- It provides context for search engine crawlers
Here are some tips for writing good alternative text:
- Include a target keyword. Include your target keyword for context.
- Keep it brief. Screen readers stop reading alt text after about 125 characters.
- Don’t include “image of” or “picture of.” Alt text implies that it’s describing an image, so there’s no need to waste characters on these phrases.
- Don’t add alt text to decorative images. Graphics like horizontal page breaks, a magnifying glass in a search bar, etc., don’t require further explanation.
Aside from adding optimized alt text, here are a few of key ways to optimize your images:
- Write descriptive file names to help search engines understand what your image is about.
- Use lazy loading, which tells web browsers to wait to load images until the user scrolls to them.
- Use free tools like ImageOptim to compress images for faster load times..
Chapter 11: Optimize for Page Speed
I may never know every Google ranking factor. But I do know that page speed is one of the Google ranking factors.
So it’s good to optimize for page speed.
You can use Google’s free PageSpeed Insights tool to get an overall performance score for both desktop and mobile, in addition to actionable suggestions for improvement.
This tool assesses Google’s Core Web Vitals, which are factors that impact page experience.
The Core Web Vitals include:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): amount of time it takes for the main piece of content to load
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): amount your webpage shifts (or “moves down”) as more content (e.g., banners, images) loads
- First Input Delay (FID): amount of time it takes for your website to respond to the first interaction from a user (like a click on a link)
Chapter 12: Target Featured Snippets
Because featured snippets appear in “position zero” above other organic results, they can help boost your CTR (click-through rate).
There are different forms of featured snippets, including:
- Definitions
- Lists
- Tables
- Videos
If you want better rankings, update or create your own page following on-site SEO best practices.
Some ways to target a featured snippet include:
- Answering the query in a concise, user-friendly way
- Formatting the answer accordingly—could be a quick one- or two-sentence answer, a table, a video, etc.
- Understanding the user’s search intent
Chapter 13: Add Schema Markup
Schema markup allows search engines to better understand information on your website.
It adds code to a page that better communicates the page topic. So you can convey to search engines that your page is about a blog, contains a recipe, etc. And the SERP result can reflect that.
In addition to taking up more valuable space on the SERP, schema markup also can improve your page’s organic CTR.
Common types of schema include:
- Products
- Reviews
- Local businesses
- Events
- People
And more.
You can find information on every type at Schema.org.
Now that you know what on-site SEO is, it’s time for you to take action.
Execute on the on-site SEO techniques mentioned earlier, and you’ll be on your way to better rankings and traffic.
Best On-site SEO Tools
In this section, I’m going to share my picks for on-site SEO tools that’ll help you dethrone competitors as your content climbs the search engine rankings.
What are On-site SEO Tools?
On-site SEO tools are software products that analyze your website content and provide recommendations to help it rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
The best tools make hard SEO tasks as easy as clicking a button. And they can help you plan and write useful content that gets more conversions.
In this section, I’m going to focus on WordPress plugins but I’ll include a few online SEO tools too.
To help you whittle down the options, here’s my curated list of quality on-site SEO tools.
- Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a well-known, all-purpose SEO plugin.
It provides the standard on-site SEO tips for title tag and meta description length, as well as focus keyphrase (keyword) usage.
You’ll need to upgrade to Yoast’s Premium SEO plugin to get recommendations on how to use your focus keyphrase to optimize your content for SEO.
But this is a comprehensive SEO plugin with a strong track record. It will appeal to small businesses or bloggers interested in ease-of-use and results.
Yoast SEO Features:
- Schema markup for rich snippets
- Emoji-based SEO score
- Semrush integration to find related keywords
Yoast SEO Pricing: Starts at $99/year.
- Rank Math
Like Yoast SEO, Rank Math provides snippet previews for your content and meta-tag analysis. But the display of title tags seems a bit nerdy to me: it includes bits of code called Regex. Beginners may wonder, “What do I do with this?”
Rank Math’s setup wizard is simpler than Yoast SEO’s.
A unique feature of Rank Math is its “Content AI” tool, which provides recommendations to help your website content rank higher.
I think Rank Math is a unique and versatile SEO plugin, but the Content AI tool needs work.
This plugin is a good fit for those who know Regex or aren’t afraid to learn how to use it. Like Yoast SEO, Rank Math is suitable for bloggers and small businesses.
Rank Math Features:
- Schema markup tool
- On-site SEO recommendations
- Content AI
Rank Math Pricing: Starts at $59/year
- Ahrefs
Ahrefs is an online tool designed to help you improve your search engine rankings.
Ahrefs Features:
- keyword research tool
- Technical SEO website audit
- Position tracking
- Content Explorer
- Backlinks analysis
Ahrefs Pricing: $99-$999 per month
- Semrush
Semrush is a standalone analysis tool for conducting keyword research and running website audits.
It’s similar to Ahrefs, and both are highly rated and mostly used by content marketing professionals.
Both Ahrefs and Semrush will show you the keyword difficulty and search volume for a term. And you can use either Ahrefs or Semrush to find long-tail, low-volume search terms that can help you win traffic that converts.
Like Ahrefs, Semrush has a free WordPress plugin, but it’s very different. The Semrush plugin is a “writing assistant” that makes suggestions for improving blog posts.
The Semrush plugin is free. Full access to the online Semrush platform starts at $99.95/month.
Semrush Features:
- Website audit
- Keyword recommendations
- SEO content templates
Semrush Pricing: $119.95-$449.95 per month
- WP Rocket
Did you know that optimizing your website speed is a form of On Page SEO?
Search engines like Google reward good user experience and penalize poor user experience. So it’s not surprising that website loading time is a ranking factor.
This is where a website caching plugin like WP Rocket comes in: you can speed up your website in minutes.
Pro Tip: Check your website’s loading time, before and after WP Rocket, in Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
Anyone who cares about increasing their traffic and conversions should make sure their website’s loading as fast as possible.
WP Rocket Features:
- Minifies and combines CSS and JavaScript files
- Browser caching, page caching, and pre-loading
- File compression plus lazy loading of images
WP Rocket Pricing: Starts at $59/year
- MonsterInsights
This plugin takes the guesswork out of analysis by showing you how your SEO actions are impacting your website results.
MonsterInsights connects to Google Analytics and provides simple displays of your website’s most important data, including:
- Which pages, forms, or pop-ups are converting the most people
- Revenue trends
- Average order value and top-selling products
It is a good complementary tool for SEO plugins like Yoast. Once you know what’s working, you can do more of it.
MonsterInsights Features:
- Simple user interface
- Ecommerce tracking
- Track popularity of content, tags, categories and authors
- Integrates with top plugins like EasyDigitalDownloads, WPForms, and WooCommerce
MonsterInsights Pricing
There is a free version available. Paid plan starts at $99.50 per year.
- Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free online tool that supports your SEO strategies.
When launching a new website, one of the first actions you’ll take is to submit your sitemap to Google. And this is where you do that.
Sitemap submission helps Google’s crawlers know when you publish new website content or modify existing website content.
You can also inspect any URL on your website. Add it to the field at the top of Google Search Console to see if the web page is indexed. You can click a button to request indexing.
More importantly, Google Search Console shows you how your website content’s been performing in search results. Specifically, the Search Console Insights page provides
- Your most popular blog posts
- Total clicks for the month
- Which web pages grew the most in traffic
Search Console Insights also shows which search queries are responsible for the most click-throughs to your website.
So, who is Google Search Console for? Every website owner should have a Google Search Console account. It’s indispensable for sitemap submission and website monitoring.
Google Search Console Features:
- Click and search term metrics
- Alerts for sitemap errors or manual penalties
- Insights into content performance
Google Search Console Pricing: Free
- SmashBalloon
This is a beginner-friendly plugin that adds social media feeds to your WordPress website, the right way. The problem with social media feeds is they usually bog your website down.
SmashBalloon stands out because it optimizes all those ultra-high-definition images in your feeds so they load fast. It also minimizes something called “external requests” and that speeds things up too.
SmashBalloon is fast and easy to use.
SmashBalloon Features:
- Boost SEO and CTR with embedded social content
- Increase conversions with social media testimonials
- Display multiple feeds
SmashBalloon Pricing: Starts at $49/year per plugin.
- ScreamingFrog SEO Spider
ScreamingFrog is a website audit tool for intermediate-level or advanced webmasters and do-it-yourselfers. It’s a website crawler that analyzes your website’s URLs to find SEO issues that could affect user experience or ranking.
ScreamingFrog provides dozens of metrics including:
- Duplicate content, including in title tags or meta descriptions
- A complete list of internal and external links on your website
- Identification of broken links and security issues
This tool integrates with Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console to deliver in-depth analysis of page-level performance issues.
Website designers and professional marketers use ScreamingFrog to analyze website structure. And it’s often used by website project managers when migrating a website to a new platform.
ScreamingFrog Features:
- Integration with Majestic, Moz and Ahrefs
- Website architecture visualization
- Structured data validation
- Hreflang attribute auditing
Screaming Frog SEO Spider Pricing: Starts at free.
- Clearscope
Clearscope helps you plan and create useful content that gets more traffic.
You start by adding a target keyword to Clearscope, which runs a report on it.
Using your keyword, Clearscope sifts through real-time Google data to provide clues to searcher intent. This is how the Clearscope report helps you create a blog post that is better organized, more helpful, and more comprehensive than your competitors’.
I think this tool is a good fit for professional content teams that need to scale.
Clearscope Features:
- Reveals themes present in top-ranking content on a given topic
- Displays searcher questions related to a keyword
- Content grading (up to “A++”)
Clearscope Pricing: Starts at $170/month
- MarketMuse
MarketMuse is AI-based software for planning and creating high quality content that ranks. It’s also effective for building topical authority.
Add a keyword to MarketMuse and it will pull data from related search results into a report that you can use to guide content creation.
MarketMuse is a good choice for content teams that need to scale. However, solopreneurs and bloggers can benefit from the free tier.
MarketMuse Features:
- Keyword difficulty score based on your existing website content
- Keyword research that supports topical authority strategies
- Competitive content analysis
- ChatGPT integration
MarketMuse Pricing: Starts at $149/month for 1 user. Free version supports 1 user, 10 queries/month, and limited page-level insights.
On-Site SEO: Conclusion
Congratulations on completing this comprehensive guide to mastering on-page SEO! You’ve equipped yourself with the knowledge and actionable insights needed to optimize your website content effectively.
Ready to dive deeper into the world of SEO and digital marketing?
Explore Reliable Blogger’s array of in-depth marketing guides covering topics like off-site SEO, technical SEO, link building, and more. Elevate your digital marketing prowess and stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape.
On-Site SEO: FAQ
What is the difference between on-site SEO and technical SEO?
On-site SEO deals with optimizing individual web pages to improve their search engine rankings and user experience. Technical SEO involves optimizing the technical aspects of your entire website, ensuring it’s crawlable, indexable, and performs well from a technical standpoint.
What is the difference between off-site SEO and on-site SEO?
Off-site SEO focuses on optimizing signals that occur outside your website, such as building backlinks and establishing a social media presence. On the other hand, on-site SEO involves optimizing elements directly on your website, like blog content, meta tags, and internal links.
How often should I perform on-site SEO?
On-site SEO is not a one-and-done task. Regular monitoring and updates are essential, with a suggested frequency of at least once a month for routine checks. Conduct more in-depth assessments quarterly to ensure your website content stays relevant and aligned with evolving search engine algorithms.
What are the key elements of on-site SEO?
Key elements of on-site SEO include optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, content, internal links, URLs, images, and ensuring a positive user experience. These elements collectively contribute to improved search engine rankings and user engagement.
How important is on-site SEO for overall website performance?
On-site SEO is integral to overall website performance. It directly impacts search engine rankings, user experience, and the discoverability of your website content. Neglecting on-site SEO can hinder your website’s visibility and user engagement.
Are there tools available to assist with on-site SEO?
Yes, several tools can aid in on-site SEO efforts. Tools like Semrush, Ahrefs and Moz offer features for keyword research, content optimization, and position tracking. Utilizing these tools can streamline the on-site optimization process and provide valuable insights for improvement.
Now I’d Like to Hear From You
I hope you found this new on-site SEO guide helpful.
Now I’d like to hear what you have to say:
Which strategy from today’s blog post do you want to try first?
Are you going to front-load your keyword in your title tag?
Or maybe you want to rank in the Featured Snippet spot.
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.