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As digital marketing has evolved, On-page SEO has emerged as a vital element for enhancing the visibility and performance of website content and blog articles, across search engines and social media.
In time I believe that this shall once again change but for now this guide explores the significance of On-page SEO, explaining the basics of What, Where, and How. Breaking down its components and providing a practical understanding on how to implement it, especially in WordPress, self-hosted sites.
If you are just starting out in your business or are a small business who wants to optimise your current content yourself, let’s dive into the world of search engine optimisation and discover how it can elevate your content to be found in a vast ocean of information online.
OPTIMIZATION or OPTIMISATION?
Something to note for your own SEO – Spelling – What is your target audience’s geographic location?
For example: Although there are no differences in the meaning of the words: The Americanised version is Optimization, and the UK English version is Optimisation. The more popular search term is “Search Engine Optimization” or just “SEO” for simplicity. As I am in the UK, I am sticking to my guns here and using mainly Optimisation and SEO throughout this article.
1. Understanding On-Page SEO
On-page SEO refers to the optimisation of individual web pages to rank higher in search engine results and attract relevant organic traffic, that is website visitors who have come to your website from unpaid search results vs paid results. Organic traffic is also different from direct traffic, which is when a person types in your URL – web address e.g. www.mungodesi.com .
On-page SEO involves optimising content, HTML source code, and other elements on a page to align with search engine algorithms.
Before we dive a little deeper it’s important to note the main differences between Website Content SEO and Article SEO
While both Website Content SEO and Article SEO share common principles, there are distinctions in their focus and scope. Let’s explore 7 differences between Website Content SEO and Article SEO:
1. Scope and Purpose:
Article SEO: Focuses specifically on optimising individual articles or blog posts within a website.
2. Content Types:
Article SEO: Concentrates on optimising long-form content, typically found in blog posts or articles. These pieces are often more informational, educational, or entertaining in nature.
3. Keyword Strategy:
Article SEO: Adopts a more focused keyword strategy specific to the theme or topic of the individual article. Long-tail keywords and specific phrases related to the article’s subject matter are often emphasised.
4. Internal Linking:
Article SEO: May involve internal linking within the article to direct readers to related content on the same website. An example would be to other posts or images.
5. External Linking:
Article SEO: May include more extensive external linking to provide sources, references, or additional reading material for readers. An example would be linking to a scholarly article or a government statistics site.
6. Format and Structure:
Article SEO: Focuses primarily on the structure of text-based content, including headings, subheadings, and the use of multimedia within the article.
7. Promotion and Outreach:
Article SEO: May involve specific promotion and outreach efforts for individual articles, such as sharing on social media, guest posting, or backlink building.
While these distinctions exist, and it’s important to understand the differences, the overall SEO strategy for a website often integrates both. Together website content and individual articles contribute to the overall online authority, visibility, and user experience of a website.
Successful SEO strategies typically involve an approach that addresses the unique characteristics of both website-wide content and individual articles or blog posts. This is one of the primary reasons why it is important to also include a blog or news section on your website for fresh up-to-date SEO content, which is relevant to your industry or products.
Section 2: The Importance of On-Page SEO for Website Content
Enhanced Visibility
On-page SEO increases the likelihood of search engines recognising and indexing your content. Proper optimisation ensures that your web pages are more visible to users actively searching for relevant information, such as the services you provide, about your company, or about staff members.
User Experience
Optimising on-page elements enhances the overall user experience. Clear navigation and well-structured content contribute to user satisfaction, reducing bounce rates and encourages increased engagement.
Section 3: The Importance of On-Page SEO for Blog Articles
Content Relevance
On-page SEO on blog articles enables you to align your content with specific keywords and phrases, making it more relevant to your target audience. This helps search engines understand the context of your content and rank it appropriately.
Ranking and CTR
Well-optimised blog articles stand a better chance of ranking higher in search results. Compelling title tags and meta descriptions not only improve visibility but also encourage users to click through, increasing your click-through rate (CTR).
Section 4: SEO Research Analysis Phases
1. Keyword Research
You can utilise free tools such as Google Trends to identify trending keywords and topics in your industry or there are paid options such as Rank Math WordPress Plugin, where you can research and use the selected keywords in the integrated Google Trends tool to export these Key Words directly into the Focus Keyword field with in the Rank Math SEO section.
2. Competitor Analysis
Examine competitors’ strategies using tools like Rank Math’s “SEO Analyzer” or Semrush to identify keywords they target, backlink profiles, and content gaps. This analysis provides valuable insights into areas where your content can outrank the competition.
3. On-Page Optimisation
This is where we are going to implement our on-page SEO best practices discovered in our first two phases. Optimise title tags, meta descriptions, and content based on the identified keywords. This strategy ensures a seamless user experience and relevant internal links, these are links to other content on our own website be that page, posts, images.
4. Performance Monitoring
This is a very important phase, as you should regularly monitor your website’s performance using tools like, Rank Math, or various Google tools such as Analytics, to name a few, as there are many to choose from and their metrics for measuring traffic all differ, so what you choose can depend on your personal business needs.
The things to monitor are: for keyword rankings, analyse traffic patterns, and then identify areas for improvement. If you you are not seeing results in ranking performance, go back to Phase 1, this is where you adjust your strategy based on ongoing data to stay ahead in the competitive digital landscape.
A quick note: This is one of the great flexibilities of using Content Management Systems for websites. Using a CMS such as WordPress along with a plugin such as Rank Math makes it easy to adjust your SEO content, to stay in line with your performance goals.
Section 5: Crafting SEO-Optimised Content
Yes, I am back with a quick CAT example: Inspired by my own friendly feline fluffball named Coco, our focus is going to be on the focus keyword: Cat Grooming.
Title Tag:
“Expert Cat Grooming Tips for a Purr-fectly Happy Feline”
Meta Description:
“Discover the art of cat grooming with our comprehensive guide. From brushing techniques to choosing the right grooming tools, ensure your feline friend stays pampered and content. Explore now!”
Body Content Snippet:
“In the world of cat grooming, regular brushing is paramount. Not only does it keep your cat’s fur silky and tangle-free, but it also minimises shedding. Choose a soft-bristle brush and gently comb through your cat’s coat, paying extra attention to areas prone to matting, such as behind the ears and under the belly.”
As can be seen in this very simple example an article has been written about Cat Grooming, and I have optimised it for search engines to reflect this. Here I have only focused on the Title tag, Meta Description and Body Content Snippet.
The Result: What it looks like!
SERP (Search Engines Results Page) with our “Cat Grooming” Title Tag and Meta Description
Learn more about the Key Components of On-page SEO in these Articles:
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
- Content Snippets
- Header Tags (H1, H2, etc.)
- URL Structures
- Keyword Optimisation
- Image Alt Text
- Internal and External Links
- Anchor Links
and to learn more about content creation, you can read about Evergreen Content and Pillar Method for Content Creation.
Incorporating on-page SEO practices into your website content and blog articles is not just a strategy; it’s a necessity. As search engines continue to refine their algorithms, staying ahead with optimised and relevant content is the key to online success.