Published: September 26, 2022
Reading Time: 1 min
On-Page SEO Factors
What are On-Page SEO Factors?
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On-page search engine optimization (SEO) refers to all the measures you take within the website to improve its rankings on results pages. Here are some of the factors to take into account when it comes to on-page SEO:
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Source: SEO Strategies & Tactics Course
1. URL
When creating a page, make sure that the keyword that you are targeting appears in the URL. You may include other words but the keyword needs to be there.
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2. Page Title
The targeted keyword should also be in the page title, preferably in the beginning if possible.
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3. Meta Description
The meta description describes what the page is about. While it’s not considered a critical factor for Google since it usually uses its own description in results pages, it is advisable to come up with a good meta description. It may help improve your clickthrough rate when search results are displayed.
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4. Headings
The H1, H2, and lower-level headings throughout the page should also contain your targeted keyword or its variations.
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5. Keyword Density
Keyword density refers to the number of times a targeted keyword appears on the article, relative to the overall length or word count.
You need to find the right balance when it comes to using your keyword. If it does not appear enough in the article, you will have a low keyword density, which may become int comes to improving your site’s ranking on results pages. Keyword stuffing or using your keyword way too many times is also not ideal.
6. Bullets and Lists
Aside from headings, bullets and lists are ideal places to add your targeted keyword and its variations.
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7. Word Count
Word count likewise plays a significant role in on-page SEO. It’s not always about the quantity, meaning the number of words, but also the quality. If you can get the message across in just 500 words, there’s no need to create an article with over 1,000 words. You can break down a specific topic into shorter articles and separate pages.
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8. Table of Contents
Adding a table of contents helps not only for users to click through different parts of the pages but also for Google to analyze your page better.
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9. Outbound Links
One or two credible outbound links can be beneficial for your site.
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10. Image Optimization
Make sure to add your targeted keyword to the filename of the image that you’re using, as well as in the alt text. If the image does not load properly, the alt text with your keyword will be displayed.
11. Recency/Updates
Keep your pages up-to-date so you can provide relevant information all the time. You can include the date the article was written as well as the name of the author.
12. Internal Links
Make sure that the pages within your site are interconnected, so create as many internal links across your site as you can. It can improve the user experience and help Google understand what your site is all about.
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The different on-page SEO factors above form an essential part of your overall optimization strategy to improve your site’s ranking on results pages and enhance the user experience. Learn more about on-page SEO factors and other related topics in our SEO Strategy & Tactics Course.
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Additional Resources
To learn more about internal linking and other SEO best practices, check out our SEO Strategy & Tactics Course. For additional knowledge, see the following articles:
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