On-page SEO is one of the fastest ways to add value to your website and improve its chances of ranking well in search engines. And while the name itself might sound intimidating, on-page SEO is entirely within your control – no backlinks or guest posting required!
Quick Links
What is on-page SEO?
Sometimes referred to as on-site SEO, it is the process of optimising your website’s content, including its associated metadata.
Elements to optimise include:
- Title tags
- Page meta-descriptions
- Reducing or removing duplicate content
- Simplifying web pages
- Improving site structure
Why is on-page seo important?
When performed correctly, on-page SEO should help your website rank higher on search engines, leading to more traffic.
How, you ask?
By optimising your website’s content, such as ensuring short and/or long-tailed keywords are included in carefully crafted titles, you can better communicate to search engines what your website and individual web pages are about. This increases the odds of your pages appearing higher in Google (and other search engines) and helps you target your ideal audience, which means you’ll get more relevant and engaged traffic to your website.
Improvements to overall navigation and individual page structure can also improve usability, helping to ensure visitors stick around and have a great user experience.
Is on-page SEO safe?
Unlike some SEO strategies, on-page SEO is one of the safest forms of search engine optimisation. It doesn’t involve spam links, and as long as you don’t overuse keywords on your pages (i.e., use the same keywords and phrases repeatedly and unnaturally), it won’t lead to being penalised by search engines.
How do you do on-page seo?
A. Search Intent
On-page SEO starts with understanding your potential audience’s search intent —why are they surfing the Internet, what information are they looking for, and are they looking to buy?
Search intent is linked to relevance, which is ultimately what search engines like Google want to present the best value information/websites in their SERPS (Search Engine Results Pages). Suppose your content answers the query/question people are asking, and you’ve used the right keywords. In that case, you give your website a better chance of appearing to what is ultimately your target audience.

B. Keyword Research
Quality keyword research is an absolute must for on-page SEO. It involves researching and identifying keywords (and phrases) that align with your target audience’s search intent to attract visitors who will most likely convert into customers.
Keyword research can be performed by examining your competitors’ terms, using free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, or paying for tools like KWFinder.
It’s a good idea to look at the search volume for keywords and the ranking difficulty rating. There will likely be many keywords with a high degree of difficulty to rank for – this is to be expected given the amount of websites and content available worldwide! Don’t be turned off by this. Instead, use a mix of high-competition and low-competition keywords. This ensures you’ve covered all bases and gives you a better chance of ranking for at least some of your target keywords.
How many keywords should you target? If you’re starting with keyword research, my general rule is to aim for one to four keywords per page and per topic. This allows you to target both one primary keyword and a couple of secondary keywords, which is also helpful in structuring the content of your web pages.
For example, your primary keyword may be ‘electrician.’ Some of your possible secondary keywords may be:
- Emergency electrician
- 24/7 electrician
The more keyword research you do, the more keywords you’ll find. It’s a good idea to have these in a keyword bank so you’re never short of content ideas – excess keywords can be targeted with individual blogs or service-specific pages that further build out your website. Don’t forget to think of any variations of your keywords, too. For example, some people may type ‘electrical services near me’ rather than ‘electrician near me.’ Keyword variations are a great way to add variety to your text by avoiding word repetition.
C. Where to Add Keywords to Your Website
Title tag
Need to clear and concise (< 60 characters)
Meta description
Accurately describe the page’s content clearly and concisely (< 160 characters)
Page headings
Make them descriptive.
- H1 headings: 20-70 characters
- H2 headings: 20-60 characters
Within paragraph text
- Ensure your content is easy and enjoyable to read while providing good value. You want to demonstrate authority and expertise in your niche to build trust with your readers (and search engines). Good content can also lead to more backlinks.
- Avoid duplicate content to make it easier for search engines to decide which page to rank for which keyword. In other words, try to have only one primary keyword per page. If you’ve already got a page that targets a primary keyword, try to choose a new one (or a secondary keyword) as your focus for future pages.
- Strategic internal links can help boost the on-page SEO of other pages on your website while improving user navigation and search engine crawlability. Internal links should be as natural as possible – you don’t want Google to think your pages look spammy with lots of non-relevant internal links.
- Ensure web pages have a good structure. They should use subheadings and bullet points and have well-spaced paragraphs rather than wall-to-wall solid text – this can be very hard on the eyes!
Calls-to-action
Calls to action (CTAs) are prompts designed to encourage an immediate response or specific action from your audience. They are crucial for guiding users through your content or website and driving conversions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you for services.
Characteristics of a Strong CTA
- Action-Oriented: Use clear, actionable verbs like “Buy,” “Subscribe,” “Download,” or “Learn More.”
- Benefit-Focused: Highlight what the user will gain (e.g., “Get your free eBook now!”).
- Concise: Keep it short and straightforward, ideally under 10 words.
- Visually Prominent: Use buttons, bold text, or standout colors to catch attention.
- Urgency or Exclusivity: Create a sense of immediacy with phrases like “Limited time offer” or “Sign up today!”
Examples of CTAs
- Sales: “Shop the Sale – Up to 50% Off!”
- Newsletter Sign-Up: “Join Our Community for Weekly Tips!”
- Content Engagement: “Read More About This Topic”
- Lead Generation: “Get a Free Quote Today!”
- Social Media: “Follow Us for Daily Updates!”
URLs
Keep URLs Short and Simple.
- Shorter URLs are easier to read, remember, and share.
- Remove unnecessary words or parameters (e.g.,
example.com/best-tips
instead ofexample.com/these-are-the-best-tips-ever
).
Use Keywords Strategically.
- Including a primary keyword in your URL helps search engines understand the page’s topic and can improve rankings.
- Integrate the keyword naturally without overstuffing (e.g.,
example.com/seo-basics
for a page about SEO basics).
Use Hyphens to Separate Words
- Hyphens (
-
) improve readability and are recommended by search engines. - Avoid underscores (
_
) or spaces (e.g.,example.com/seo-tips
instead ofexample.com/seo_tips
).
Avoid Stop Words
- Words like “and,” “or,” “of,” and “the” add length without contributing to SEO.
- Keep URLs concise by removing stop words unless necessary for clarity (e.g.,
example.com/best-seo-tips
instead ofexample.com/the-best-seo-tips
).
Use Lowercase Letters
- URLs are case-sensitive on some servers, and consistency improves user experience.
- Stick to lowercase to avoid potential errors (e.g.,
example.com/seo-tips
instead ofexample.com/SEO-Tips
).
Reflect the Content Hierarchy
- A well-structured URL helps users and search engines understand the page’s context within your site.
- Use a clear hierarchy that reflects your site’s structure (e.g.,
example.com/blog/seo-tips
).
Avoid Dynamic Parameters (When Possible)
- Query strings or dynamic parameters can confuse search engines and users.
- Use clean, static URLs instead (e.g.,
example.com/seo-tools
instead ofexample.com/?id=123
).
Image Alt Text
- Aim for 125 characters or less.
- Avoid using “image of” or “picture of” and get straight to the point.
Ready to take your on-page seo to the next level?
While on-page SEO optimisation alone may boost your website’s performance, combining it with additional SEO elements such as local SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO is when your website will really start working for you.
By ticking off all these SEO elements, you are demonstrating to search engines that your website is professional, trustworthy, and presents good value to your audience.
Still need help? Contact me for a website audit and learn some quick wins you can make to improve your website’s ability to rank in Google and attract your ideal customers.