On-Page SEO
The good news, you have complete control over your on-page SEO. Your website can be designed with the proper tags, titles, and keywords to increase SEO.
On-page SEO refers to the features of your website that attract and engage users. There are ten core categories impacting your on-page SEO:
#1 Page Speed
If your website takes too long to load, the user will leave. Page Speed is important for user engagement and SEO. Large files for images or videos can slow your website down.
#2 Mobile Friendliness
A mobile friendly page is one that automatically adjusts to the correct screen size. We do everything on our phone, from conducting business to ordering a pizza, so websites must be designed to fit on our phone just as well as it fits on a monitor.
#3 Title Tags
Title tags are the names of the pages on your website. When Google is looking for search results, it scans the title tags to find relevant information.
#4 HTML Headers
The HTML Headers are the tags for the subheadings and different headlines on your webpage.
Subheadings make it easier for users to navigate your website and find the information they are looking for and they make it easy for the search algorithm to verify the content on your webpage.
#5 Meta Descriptions
The Meta Description is the preview of text you see in a search result below the title and website. It provides information to the user about what they will find on the page.
It is often the primary factor in helping users decide which search result to click on.
#6 Content Quality
The user, and likewise Google, is looking for relevant, original, easy to read content.
So, you want to be sure your website provides current information that is easy to navigate and is useful to your customers.
#7 Image Alt Text
When the images on your website are tagged, like your titles and subheadings, then the search engine can verify if the image is relevant to the user’s search.
Remember, Google doesn’t have eyes, it scans websites for code and text to determine if the content is relevant to the search. So, it is important to include Image Alt Text for all the images on your website.
#8 Internal Linking
Linking to other pages on your website helps the user navigate your site. It also helps the search engine find new content because the text used in your link, the anchor text, identifies what is on the linked page.
#9 Accessibility
Accessibility refers to the website’s ability to be used by assistive technologies, such as non-mouse input devices and screen readers.
It isn’t necessarily about the structure of the website; but about the user’s ability to consume the content on the page even if they have visual impairments.
#10 Core Web Vitals
Implemented over the span of 2021, Google announced that they want to provide a good experience for users. So, they rank websites based on the user’s experience.
The Core Web Vitals are the metrics tracking interactivity, load time, and visual stability of your website.
Off-Page SEO
When your website appears on other websites or in other areas of the internet, like social media, it is off-page SEO.
While you don’t have the same level of control that you do for on-page SEO, there are typically four primary areas where you can enhance your off-page SEO:
#1 Backlinks
The most important thing to know about Backlinks is that Google does not like linking schemes so it is important to use them correctly.
If your website is linked anywhere else, make sure it is on a trustworthy website surrounded by content opposed to a bunch of other links. It is also important to monitor the toxicity score of the website linking to yours.
Pro Tip: Be Wary Of Toxic Backlinks
There are all sorts of websites on the internet, and sometimes toxic websites (scams, malicious content, schemes, etc) may add your URL to their site.
Using Google Search Consoles Disavow tool**, you can notify Google of any domains or URLs that you wish to renounce any affiliation with.
**This tool is for advanced users, such as SEO companies. Please consult a professional prior to using this tool.
#2 Social Media
Google scans and indexes social media pages; think of social media as an authoritative site for backlinks. Social media promotes engagement with your brand, and it can direct traffic to your website.
#3 Mentions
Many social media mentions about your company do not include a link to your website. However, each time your company is mentioned online, it adds credibility to your online brand and your website. Mentions function like a citation for your website, giving it authority and trust.
#4 Local Directories
Creating and maintaining local directories, such as Google My Business, is a crucial factor for appearing on a Google Maps search.
Google My Business may be the most effective source for Off-Page SEO because it contains vital information about your business and it is indexed instantly.
