10 On-Page SEO Factors to Focus on for Better Rankings in 2023
Ranking on Google is essential for businesses and solopreneurs to gain more traffic and visibility.
However, not everyone is knowledgeable about the ever-changing SEO landscape. If you’re one of them, this article can help you understand it better.
Although I won’t discuss everything about SEO, I’ll tell you one thing you can work on right now – your on-page SEO.
On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engine results pages. Unlike technical SEO or off-page SEO, on-page SEO is easier to implement and control.
Why On-Page SEO Matters
It is something that you can do by yourself or with less help. However, you need to know the crucial points and steps to execute an on page SEO strategy properly.
On-page SEO is essential because it tells Google what your website and webpages are about, which helps the search engine match your content with relevant searches.
It also helps improve your pages’ click-through rates (CTRs) and the overall user experience of your website.
Many experts believe that on-page SEO is a necessary process. And about 57% of marketers mentioned that it’s one of the most effective SEO tactics.
When done correctly, this search optimization can help you rank higher in SERPs, get more website visitors, and improve your overall ROI (return on investment).
What Are The On-Page SEO Ranking Factors
Google is constantly changing and improving its algorithms, so you need to keep up with the latest trends and changes to rank well.
Here are some of the most important onpage SEO factors for 2023:
1. SEO Content
The first in our SEO ranking factors list is content. It refers to the text on your website pages. According to Hubspot, Google named it one of the crucial onpage SEO factors.
It isn’t enough to just create posts on your website in today’s digital world. Your content must be high-quality, relevant, and informative for it to be valuable.
When writing content, you must always think of your readers. Write something that will help solve their problems and explain the topic in a much simpler way.
Things To Consider When Writing Content
Google looks at the following factors when ranking your website’s content:
- Relevance. The topic of your page should match the keyword you are targeting.
- Quality. Your content must be high-quality, well-written, and informative.
- Length. It will depend on the topic you’re discussing. But Google favors content with above 1,700 words.
- Uniqueness. Google wants to see original insights that your competitors don’t have.
- User experience. Include other content materials like images, links, and headings to increase engagement.
If you want to improve your content for SEO but don’t have time to do so. I can help. You can contact me HERE, and let’s schedule a call.
2. Keywords
Keywords are words or phrases that people type into a search engine to find information. When you target specific keywords for your website, you tell Google what your page is about.
Keywords are essential because they help Google and other search engines match your page to relevant user searches. Your readers won’t find you in search engines if you don’t target keywords throughout your content page.
However, you can’t just target random keywords. You need to do proper research and find long-tail keywords with low competition yet high search volume.
You can use keyword research tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to help you find the right keywords for your website content.
Things To Consider When Using Keywords For SEO
- Your target keyword’s relevance to the topic;
- Competitiveness of the keyword;
- Monthly search volume;
- Keyword density or how often you use the keyword throughout your content.
3. URL
A URL is the address of a specific webpage on the internet. It stands for “Uniform Resource Locator” and consists of a few different parts:
– The protocol (e.g., HTTP://)
– The domain name (e.g., google.com)
– The path (e.g. /search)
– The query string
A URL is one of the first things your readers see on the search engine results pages. So it should be something they can understand. Moreover, Google values it and having an SEO-friendly URL can give you an advantage over your competitors.
Some Tips To Make Sure Your URLs Are SEO-Friendly
- Include your target keyword.
- Make sure it’s readable. For example, www.hubspot.com/digital-marketing/ is better than www.hubspot.com/92367/
- Keep it short and sweet. It should be under 60 characters. Long and complicated URLs are harder to read and might get cut off in the search results pages.
- Use dashes (-) to separate words in your instead of underscore.
- Remove stop words, such as pronouns, articles, and prepositions—for example, secrets-digital-marketing instead of the-secrets-of-digital-marketing.
4. Title Tags
The title tag is a piece of HTML text that shows at the top of your page. It also appears as the headline of your web page on SERPs and when you share blog posts on social media.
In short, it is the headline that people will see when they find your post.
Your title tag tells Google and your readers what the page is about. Instead of using a generic title or something irrelevant, use one that accurately describes the content on the page.
How To Optimize Your Title Tag For SEO
- Use your target keyword in the title.
- Keep the title around 50-60 characters.
- Make it catchy by using power words or highlighting a benefit.
5. Meta Description
A meta description is a snippet of text that summarizes the content on your page. It’s visible on SERPs but not on your actual web page.
Meta descriptions aren’t a direct ranking factor for Google. However, it’s still valuable because it appears in SERPs and can encourage people to click on your web page.
Having a high CTR is excellent because it signals search engines that people are interested in your website. And, as we all know, Google loves websites with high engagement metrics.
Tips When Writing Meta Description
- Include your target keyword.
- Make it around 155 characters.
- Write a compelling description that entices people to click on your result.
- Use active voice and highlight the benefits of clicking the page.
6. Headers
Have you ever clicked a post with no headers? It’s not very appealing, is it?
That’s why they are so crucial for on-page SEO. Both your readers and search engines love headers because they make your content scannable and readable.
In addition, not every visitor on your web would love to read everything. Some of them are just scanning for the information they need. Using headers will help them find what they’re looking for quickly.
However, you should note that headers aren’t equal. H1 to H6 exists because H tags have different levels of importance.
H1 is the most important and usually used for the title or main heading. In contrast, H6 is the least important and less used.
Tips When Writing Meta Description
- Only use one H1 tag on your post.
- Include the main keyword in some of your headings.
- Keep them simple.
- Do not overuse headers.
7. links
Links are one of the top SEO ranking factors for Google. There are two types of links that can help you with SEO: internal and external links. I’ll explain each one.
Internal Links
You might have heard that getting backlinks from other websites is crucial for your ranking. But did you know that internal links are just as important?
Internal links are the links from one page on your website to another.
For example, if you have a post about SEO and link to another article on your website about marketing, that’s an internal link.
Internal links are valuable because they help Google crawl and index your website correctly. They also help search engines understand the relationship between your pages.
On top of that, they are great for engagement metrics because internal links keep visitors on your website longer and lower your bounce rate.
External links
External links are the links that connect your website to another website. Let’s say you wrote an article about cryptocurrency, and you link it to an article on Forbes. That’s external linking.
When you link to credible and trustworthy websites, you show Google that you provide high-quality content to your audience. This, in turn, will help improve your rankings.
Moreover, it’s also good for your readers as you only present valuable information about the topic.
Things To Remember When Adding Links
Now that you know the importance of internal and external links, here are a few tips on how to do it right:
- Only include high-quality and relevant links. Don’t just add any link for the sake of having them.
- Avoid linking to direct competitors. If you’re linking to a webpage with the same content, you’re like sharing your traffic with them.
- Include a descriptive anchor text. When adding an internal or external link, include a description instead of the exact URL. It will look more natural and help your readers understand where the link takes them.
- Don’t go overboard. A few quality links are better than a bunch of irrelevant ones. Having three to five internal and external links every 1,000 words is enough.
8. Images
When it comes to on-page SEO, images are just as vital, if not more, as your text.
For starters, images help break up the monotony of text. Having images on your post can also improve user experience as your content become more appealing and easier to digest.
And if you’re interested in ranking on image-based searches, optimized images are significant Google ranking factors too.
Things To Consider When Adding Images
Here are a few tips you can to optimize your images for SEO:
- Add an image per 150 words. This is a tip that Neil Patel mentioned in one of his posts.
- Name your images correctly. Make sure to name your pictures by describing what it is and adding your keyword.
- Compress your images. Large images can make your website slow. Use an online image compression tool like Ezgif or a WordPress plugin to reduce the file size without compromising quality.
- Create your own. Instead of using stock photos, try to create your images. It will make your post unique and help you stand out from the crowd.
- Include them in your sitemap. This will help Google index your images and improve your chances of ranking on image-based searches. You may follow this simple guide by Google Search Central Blog.
9. Alt Text
Alt text, also known as alternative text, is the text that’s displayed when an image on your web page doesn’t load. It is also for visually impaired people as the screen readers can read the alt text aloud. It helps your readers understand the content of your image even if it’s not visible.
Aside from that, alt text plays a vital role in SEO.
How?
Google can’t see images, but it can read the alt text. So by adding relevant and keyword-rich alt text to your pictures, you’re telling Google about them and what’s their connection with the content. It’s an essential process in indexing and ranking your page or post.
Tips On Adding Alt Text
- Add an accurate description. Instead of saying “image of a cat,” you can say “image of a black cat sitting on a windowsill.”
- Include your keyword. If you’re writing about SEO, make sure to include the keyword in your alt text, but don’t overstuff.
- Make it relevant. Not only for the photo itself but also for the context.
- Stop using “a photo of” or “image of”. Google can already tell that it’s an image.
10. User Experience
UX, or User Experience, is how a person feels when interacting with your website. It encompasses everything from how your site looks to how navigable it is.
A good UX will ensure that people can quickly find what they’re looking for. It should also be visually appealing so that people will want to stay on your site longer.
Your UX can have a direct impact on your SEO. If you have a poor UX, people will leave your site immediately, which will increase your bounce rate. A high bounce rate signals Google that your site is irrelevant to what people are searching for.
Things To Consider For Better User Experience
- Choose the right typography. Use only two kinds of fonts. In addition, avoid using scripts or cursive as they can be hard to read.
- Ensure your pages are mobile-friendly. Choose optimized themes for mobile devices or use plugins like WP touch or WordPress Mobile Pack.
- Make your site navigable. Use clear and concise menus with drop-downs so that people can find what they’re looking for. Adding a search bar and sidebar can also help.
- Minimize the ads on your page. It’s better to make your ads sound as natural as possible than create posters about the product.
- Add a table of contents. It allows people to quickly find what they’re looking for and jump to the section they want to read.
Boost Your Search Rankings With On-Page SEO
So there you have it – the ten most crucial Google ranking factors for on-site optimization. By focusing on them, you’ll be able to improve your user experience and boost your SEO at the same time.
Don’t forget that you’re providing content for your readers at the end of the day. Of course, considering what search bots like is important, but it’s still more crucial to provide valuable content and a well-structured page for your visitors. When you provide quality, the rest will follow.
What are your thoughts on this topic and what onpage SEO factors do you want to work on first? Let us know in the comments below!
If you think that doing on-page SEO yourself is not your cup of tea, feel free to reach out for a discovery call. I would be happy to help you optimize your pages so you can start seeing better results in the SERPs.
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