Search Engine Optimization is often elusive to many due to the varied information available on different aspects of SEO. The subject is a hot favorite and this blog hopes to simplify things for beginners. Contrary to a general belief, you can implement SEO practices, even if you don’t have the budget for a digital marketing company.
There are things that you can do on your own to make your website Google-friendly. If you have just launched a new website or looking forward to one, read on to understand and implement the best SEO practices, and all about on-page SEO.
What is SEO?
SEO or Search Engine Optimization simply means creating a website that enhances the user experience and beats the algorithm of the search engine. Optimizing your website is dedicated to bridging the gap between logistics and human experience. We, the SEO experts at Digital Sprout, do that by implementing the right content on-page and off-page. Off-page SEO requires advanced knowledge of digital marketing, but you can definitely start with on-page optimization for a new website.
What is On-Page SEO?
On-page SEO, as the name suggests, is the practice of optimizing your website. Every web page must be optimized with proper title tags, content, internal links, and URLs. Yes, URLs also matter for your website SEO. Read on to know how to optimize the URLs to put a cherry on your on-page SEO practices.
A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide For On-Page SEO:
1. Optimize The Title Tags
Every web page has a title tag that appears when someone searches for specific keywords. The title tag of a certain page must contain the focus keywords of the page to signal the search engine. If you are struggling to understand what keywords are appropriate for your website and how to create the right content, read our blog “How to Write SEO Content for Digital Marketing: KeyWords”.
Google has a character limit of around 72 characters for a title tag. However, sticking within 60 characters is considered to be the best practice. That means you have 60 characters to use the right keyword and explain what the page is about. Be careful while constructing a meta title tag because if it doesn’t match the web page, the bounce rate will spike.
2. Optimize The Meta Descriptions
The meta description is the content you see below the meta title and the link when searched for a certain keyword. Even though Google has stated in the past that meta descriptions are NOT a ranking signal, the quality of the description matters. It helps the viewers to decide whether to click on the link or not. You must create the description to showcase the purpose of the web page, using the right keywords.
Using wrong or an overwhelming amount of keywords for meta descriptions and meta title tags is never a good idea. You may be selling both apples and oranges, but the meta tags will only reflect the one for a particular web page. If the web page is selling apples, there is no need to include oranges in the description and title.
3. Include Internal Links
The motive behind internal linking is to engage the visitors more and keep them on your website for a longer time. That being said, people will only click through the internal links if that benefits them. You may create a web page with such content that can be enhanced by the content of another page and interlink them. For example, one blog may have different links to products, images, services, or another blog related to the topic. Other page contents may also follow the rule.
4. Optimize Header Tags
H1 tags and H2 tags are important to signal the search engine about the topic of a web page. Using the right keywords in the H1 tag is a must. For better optimization, use the same keywords somewhere in one H2 tag as well.
5. Image Name & Alt Tags
Every image used for the web pages must have a distinct name with the right keywords. Alt tags help those images rank in the google search and therefore, increase the chances of getting visitors. If you are using WordPress, it becomes easier to upload the image names & alt tags.
6. Optimize the URLs
Create SEO-friendly URLs to rank better on the search engines. You may see that web pages generate an URL automatically, but taking control of that is important. The golden rule for that is to keep the link short and crisp. URLs in the mobile and desktop SERPs are now shown above the title tag in Google, giving us an idea of their importance. Use the right keywords and keep it short.
If you are stressing about ranking higher on Google or Google My Business(GMB), Digital Sprout might just be the perfect solution! We are the best SEO Company in Maryland, providing end-to-end search engine optimization solutions for all kinds of e-commerce ventures. Contact us today!