On Page SEO – The Complete Guide to Crack SERPs Using On Page Techniques

Do you want more search engine traffic?

Of course you do. That’s why you are here.

You are in the right place to learn how to use on-page SEO to boost your website traffic.

There are two ways to make sure your website is in optimal condition to rank in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

The two types of SEO are on-page SEO and off-page SEO.

This thorough guide ensures you don’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to on-page SEO.

By the time you’re done reading, you will know the definition of on-page SEO, the importance of on-page SEO, the difference between H1 and H2 tags, keyword frequency, and how to optimize your URLs.

You will also be able to write your title tag and a keyword-rich meta description. This guide will also explain FAQ schema and explain how to boost your page speed. Finally, you will learn how to optimize your images for search engines.

This A-Z guide serves as a refresher for veteran bloggers and marketers, as well as offering actionable strategies to new bloggers.

Let’s get started learning about on-page SEO..

 

What is On-Page SEO?

On page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages in order to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines.

Another name for On page SEO is “on-site SEO.” This name accurately describes on-page SEO, the process of making your own site better in order to rank in search engines.

Methods to ensure you have optimal conditions for ranking include internal linking to related articles.

Why On-Page SEO is Important to Crack the SERPs?

A well-optimized article includes two types of links: internal links and external links. For the purpose of this on-page SEO guide, internal links are what matter.

Did you know Google has criteria for who to give visibility? It’s true.

One of Google’s criteria is you have to deserve the spot in the search results pages.

Google’s paramount concern is not you at all. Google’s concern is the search engine user.

If Google enhances user experience, users will return and use Google again. This boosts Google’s success.

Google wants to show articles to its searchers if the article is written by an expert in the content area.

 

How Can You Prove to Google You Are an Expert in your Content Niche?

Time

Google rewards longevity to older blogs. You don’t become an authority overnight.

How long does it take to become an authority in a content area?

It could take years.

Google rewards visibility in the SERPs to blogs that stand the test of time.

People say, “Everything worth having is worth waiting for.”

Is website traffic important to you?

I have to assume it is or you wouldn’t be reading this guide to boosting your traffic using on-page SEO.

Then develop patience. Too many disillusioned bloggers abandon their blogs not realizing patience can bring you your prize — boatloads of Google traffic. We are talking about the kind of traffic that can be pouring into the stats on your dashboard for years to come.

 

Link Networks

Have you heard of Link Networks?

Link networks are formed when you link internally. You should link to your older posts to get new traffic to them.

There is a difference between a random selection of older links and building a link network.

Link networks involve a conscious, deliberative choice.

How to choose internal links:

When you internally link to posts that have the same topic as the post you are currently writing, you are building a link network.

Look at the orange text:

This is a screenshot to the introduction of my post explaining how to get followers on Instagram.

Notice: I have three internal links to various posts I’ve published on the same topic.

Google is impressed by link networks. By looking at this network of links in my Instagram post, Google will assume I am an expert on aspects of Instagram.

“If you have a network of links on the same topic, you must be an authority on that topic,” Google assumes.

Google rewards authorities with a boost in the SERPs.

Recommendation: Put the internal links at the beginning of your post. This is called “above the fold.”

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Branding

This tip is timely.

Since the Coronavirus pandemic started, Google wants to make sure they are giving the most visibility to authorities.

Although Google’s main concern was misinformation given out about the Coronavirus, all niches were affected with a traffic loss if Google didn’t see us as authorities in our content area.

There are ways to brand yourself as an authority in your content niche.

Guest blogging

You could guest post for an authority blog. If you link to your blog from a website with a higher Domain Authority Ranking than yours, you could get a boost in the SERPs.

A note of caution: In recent years, Google became concerned guest bloggers are trying to game the system.

However, guest blogging is still considered a viable means of boosting your authority in your content niche.

Quora

Quora.com is a popular question-and-answer site. Authorities go and answer questions in their content niche.

Quora allows you to link to your blog if your link is related to your answer, which also boosts your SEO through off-page means.

However, we will save off-page SEO for another day. This guide is about how to boost your standing in the SERPs through on-page SEO.

Authorities in every imaginable niche go to Quora. I’ve seen celebrities answer questions about themselves. I’ve also seen everyone from marketing guru Neil Patel to President Obama answering questions at Quora.

If these famous people take their time to answer questions on Quora, this must be an important place to be.

Look:

Can you tell my content has over 1.4 million views and over one hundred thousand views this month alone?

Many people who offer me opportunities tell me they found me on Quora.

By looking at the screenshot, you see you list your credentials at Quora. This could take the form of experience or activities.

Quora is a powerful form of branding.

Expert Interviews

If you want Google to consider you an expert, you need to participate in expert interviews.

Where to find people who are conducting interviews in your content niche in order to participate?

Easy!

Use HARO.

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a free service.

Authority blogs go looking for tips. Bloggers go as well and provide the tips.

In addition to boosting your off-page SEO since you get a link to your blog, you boost your reputation as an authority in your niche.

Do you have an About Page?

You should.

Just like you list your credentials and experience at Quora, you should list what makes you an authority in your niche on your About Page.

This definitely boosts your brand when people look for an authority blog to follow.

Network with Influencers

if you want to be seen as an authority in your niche, you should spend time online with other authorities in your niche.

Where can you find them?

AKA Sam and I both spend time at Viral Content Bee with other influencers in our niche.

Twitter is also a great resource. You can find influencers in your niche using hashtags.

Influencers may share your work on social media sites, which further boosts your reputation as an authority in your content niche.

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Technical SEO

Have you heard of technical SEO?

There is more to on-page SEO than internal linking. This rest of this guide discusses more components of on-page SEO.

Those involve technical aspects. Don’t let that term intimidate you. Fixing internal problems is easy.

 

H1 and H2 Tags

One common mistake bloggers make is mixing up H1 and H2 tags.

The “H” stand for Heading.

Heading 1 is your Headline. Heading 2 is your subhead.

Only have one H1. You can and should have many H2 tags. Each tip should be a different H2 subhead.

Make sure you follow a tier, a hierarchy, when you number.

 

Look at what we’ve done here so far in this section:

H1: Keyword Research: A Complete Guide To Finding The Right Keywords That Rank

H2: What is a Keyword?

H3: H1 and H2 Tags

Notice: The numbers are in order. This is like writing an outline. The subheads outline your post. Don’t have an H3 before you have an H2.

 

Title Tag

Do not mix up the H1 tag with your Title Tag.

The H1 tag is your headline.

The Title Tag is your SEO Title.

We will get to keywords in a moment, but know this: Whatever your focus keyword is must be at the beginning of your SEO title.

Have the keyword begin the SEO Title. Then, followed by a punctuation mark, have your headline.

Look again at what AKA Sam wrote: “On Page SEO – The Complete Guide to Crack SERPs Using On Page Techniques.”

He has his focus keyword at the beginning: “on page SEO.” Then, after a punctuation mark (in this case, a hyphen), he has the rest of his headline.

 

Boost Your Page Speed

This tip is also timely.

In 2021, Google will be prioritizing “Mobile First.”

This includes making sure your page’s loading time is optimized.

How optimized? Your article should load in two seconds or less.

People will “bounce away” if they must wait longer for your site to load.

This worsens your bounce rate and your SEO will take a hit.

How to check your site’s loading time

GTMetrix is a free website that check’s your loading time.

Go to https://gtmetrix.com/.

Enter your website URL where directed.

What should you do if your site takes more than two seconds to load?

If you are a self-hosted blogger, try removing plugins and then retest your speed.

 

Keyword Frequency

Keywords are pivotal in any understanding of SEO.

An understanding of keywords is easier if you think in terms of opposite metrics.

You want the monthly search for your topic to be high but the online difficulty of the competition for readership to be low.

How to find these gems?

Easy!

Use keyword tools.

There is a variety of keyword tools you can use to research your topic. They differ in popularity, pricing, and detail.

Some people prefer Ubersuggest and others like Ubersuggest alternatives.

 

How high should the monthly search volume be?

Again, that varies. The longer you are blogging, the easier ranking for keywords should be.

More experienced bloggers might try for harder to rank keywords with higher search volumes than newer bloggers for that reason.

However, if you try for lower search volumes, you can experience success since those numbers add up.

How low should the online competition for readership be?

You need to experiment. Aim for low competition keywords. If you find you have an easy time ranking, try for more difficult keywords.

How long should your keyword be? 

Ideally, your keyword should be a 4-word long keyword phrase. This is called a “long-tail” keyword.

 

Optimize for SEO

Whatever keyword you choose, you need to put the keyword in certain places to boost your on-page SEO.

Optimize Your URL

First put your keyword in your URL. Often, that is the entire URL.

People advise putting hyphens between the words in the URL.

I find WordPress supplies the hyphens if I don’t insert them.

Keyword-Rich Meta Descriptions

Put the keyword in your meta description.

Earlier, I advised using keyword tools to find your keyword.

When you use the MozBar, a free Chrome extension, you get to see your competitors’ meta descriptions.

Since knowledgeable bloggers put their keyword in their meta description, you can steal your competitors’ keywords when you use the MozBar.

Here is a tutorial for MozBar Chrome.

WordPress only gives you 160 characters to write your meta description.

Google shows your meta description to people searching for your keyword.

Make sure to tell them what they will get for reading your article.

What do people like? What do you like?

People like tips that are “free” and “easy.” People like “guides” since they are thorough. People go to Google and other search engines looking for “reviews.” Use these words along with your keyword in your meta description.

Make sure your tips really meet the descriptions you give them. Otherwise, search engine users will “bounce away” which tells Google you have a subpar blog.

Image Optimization

Finally, you want to put your keyword in your image’s alt tag.

Many people find articles on Google Images.

If they find your image at Google Images, they might click to get more information. This takes them straight to your blog.

You need to tell Google what your picture is about. Don’t describe the picture. Type your keyword in the Alt Text (Alternative Text) box.

Look at my MozBar alt text box:

Do you see how I put the keyword “MozBar in the Alt Text box? Simple!

By boosting your image SEO, you increase the chances of people finding your blog post.

Remember: On-page SEO includes image SEO

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Use FAQ Schema

Do you really want to boost your chances of being found at Google?

Here’s a handy trick:

Type the questions and answers people are asking about your topic at Google.

Tell Google your post has the answer by using FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) schema.

Neil Patel explained in an interview, when he ads the FAQ schema, it boosts his posts in the SERPs. I also find my posts rank better when I include FAQ schema.

Here’s how:

Type your keyword into Google.

Look for the People Also Ask section.

Let’s use my MozBar tutorial as an example.

My keyword was MozBar. I typed the questions and the answers in an FAQ box at the bottom of my article.

I used a plugin in order to get the FAQ Schema.

 

Wrapping Up: On-Page SEO

Takeaways:

This guide to on-page SEO defined on-page SEO, explained the importance of on-page SEO to boost your rankings in the SERPs. In addition, this post covered technical SEO and keyword frequency.

Then, this guide told you how to optimize your post by putting the keyword in several important locations. Finally, these actionable strategies included inserting an FAQ schema box.

Readers, please share so other bloggers and marketers learn these actionable on-page SEO methods.

 

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