Google processes over 40,000 search queries per second.
For this reason, businesses all over the world are incorporating Search Engine Optimization (SEO) into their digital marketing campaigns.
Effective SEO takes advantage of international search engine traffic, giving businesses the online visibility they need. What’s more, solid SEO can be the secret to getting more local customers through your doors.
On page SEO involves optimizing your digital content for keywords your ideal customers are likely to type into Google. In this post, we’ll give you the on page SEO tutorial you need to succeed!
Read on for insight.
What is On Page SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to the practice of optimizing digital content for searchable terms. If implemented correctly, SEO can give website pages a greater chance of rising to the top of Google search results.
SEO stems from one golden principle. When a standard user opens Google or Bing (or another search engine platform), she is likely to enter a term or phrase that best approximates what she’s seeking, such as “What is on page SEO?”
When Google populates results for this search, the user will also likely prioritize listings on the first page results. What’s more, she will give particular attention to the results at the top of this page.
This means that pages that have higher Google rankings have greater odds of receiving a click from users. Businesses can capitalize on this valuable real estate by implementing on page SEO.
When SEO is paired with other digital marketing efforts, like Pay-Per-Click and social media campaigns, businesses can transform their organic traffic, conversion rates, and reputation.
Your On Page SEO Tutorial
The good news about on page SEO is the fact that anyone can do it. You don’t need a degree in computer science to optimize your content for high rankings!
1. Perform Keyword Research
The best place to begin when it comes to on page optimization is with your keywords. They are, after all, the secret sauce of any successful SEO campaign.
It may be tempting to choose any keywords that come to mind, but careful keyword research can mean the difference between your visibility and your competitors’ visibility.
Begin by performing a few organic searches on your own for phrases and terms you feel may be relevant to your business. Search for location-based and industry-specific terms, such as “cafe in Atlanta,” “fair trade coffee cafes” and “best drip coffee.”
Note where your digital content currently appears in these Google searches, as well as where your competitors’ content appears. Also, brainstorm keywords your customers may be likely to enter into Google to find your business.
Keyword research does take time. For this reason, you may wish to invest in a keyword planner such as those offered by Google and Ahrefs. Build a list of keywords that are more likely to be high-value, keeping an even mix of general and specific terms.
2. Create Relevant Content
Google is very clear in its SEO guidelines about the type of content designed to earn a higher ranking. In general, the more relevant your content is to users, the greater its odds are of floating to the top of search results.
What is relevant content? Relevant digital content is likely to be highly valuable to your visitors. It gives them the information that they seek. It is also professional, free of errors, and intriguing.
It can be tough crafting the type of rich content that SEO depends on. However, keeping your user in mind as you develop content can be your secret to deriving relevant material.
In fact, this may require jazzing up your website’s design itself. You may find that a new, user-driven, responsive design lends itself to exactly the type of content that can get you noticed by Google.
Learn more about stellar web design principles here.
3. Integrate Primary and Secondary Keywords
Once you’ve taken care of your keyword research and web content, it’s time to actually optimize.
In general, on page optimization simply involves sprinkling your chosen keywords throughout your content. Aim to use one distinct keyword per individual page of content.
However, don’t just cram your keywords into content willy-nilly. It’s essential to be seamless with integration so that readers don’t even notice the keywords themselves.
In general, include a maximum of five keywords per 500 words of content. Don’t forget to use a keyword in the title of a page, image descriptions and titles, a second header, and the conclusions of articles.
A lot of on page optimization campaigns also involve the use of secondary keywords, alternative phrases or synonyms to primary keywords. Slipping these naturally into content can also leverage primary keyword performance.
4. Track SEO Data
The world and rules of SEO are always changing. Popular Google searches on one day may not be so popular the next, and Google’s algorithms keep shifting with the times.
For this reason, it’s essential to stay on top of your on page SEO campaign performance. You can do this by signing up for Google Analytics, which gives key data related to organic traffic and keyword performance as your campaign progresses.
It’s also valuable to perform regular SEO audits and keyword performance checks. Check out our list of free SEO tools that can give you the data you need to adjust campaigns.
It’s okay if your first-time keywords don’t perform as well as expected. Return to your keyword planner and research to choose higher-value terms that can help you outrank competitors.
On Page Optimization Success
A well-researched on page SEO campaign can help any business become more visible on search engine platforms. When implementing on page SEO, be sure to research keywords well and familiarize yourself with Google’s guidelines.
Craft relevant content and step up your current web design to keep your users in mind. Don’t be shy about changing keywords as you proceed–in fact, we highly encourage this.
In addition to on page SEO, you can gain greater visibility by exploring other digital marketing efforts, such as social media and Google AdWords. High-performance SEO campaigns never stand alone.
Did you enjoy this on page SEO tutorial? At WebConfs.com, we have all the answers you could possibly need to those burning SEO questions. Learn more about what we do here!