According to Statista, Google processed 10.34 billion search queries in October 2018. That includes cat videos, baby names, and of course, potential customers searching for companies like yours.
If your website lacks SEO optimized content, however, you’re missing out on every search that could lead customers straight to your door.
With on-page SEO optimization, you can give your website the boost it needs to take the top of any search engine results page. That way, you don’t miss a single customer—and the content you’ve been working so hard to create doesn’t fall flat.
How On-Page SEO Optimization Helps
On-site optimization doesn’t just help your website rank higher on search engine results pages like Google and Yelp.
Optimization also gives potential website visitors—and search engines—a glimpse of the actual page. That way, they have an understanding of the content before they even click on the link.
For search engines, that also helps determine if your content is unique and relevant. If so, then your website earns its ranking on those search engine results pages.
10 Ways to SEO Optimize Your Website Content
Attract more customers to your website and build your business with effective on-site optimization. Here are ten ways you can rock your on-page content to hit higher on search engine rankings.
1. Keywords
Recently, SEO optimized content has moved away from the exact match keyword model, though keywords still play a big part.
Your longtail keyword should appear in multiple places on the page, including the:
- Title
- Page URL
- Headings
- First 100 words of content
The keyword will also appear as you optimize images and set up the metadata (more on both later).
However, it’s important to make sure you’re not overdoing it. Too many keywords on a page and you’re keyword stuffing, which search engines frown on.
Instead, make sure your keyword is prominent (by bolding, using links, or a header) and naturally scattered throughout the content.
That way, you keep customers—and search engines—focused on content that’s aligned with the user’s intended search.
2. Image Optimization
Your uploaded file name, image title, description, and alt text should feature the page’s keyword as well. That way, if your image can’t display on the page for some reason, the alt text is there as a backup for you.
Uploading smaller image sizes will also improve your on-site SEO.
3. Links
From anchor text and backlinks to internal and external URLs, links on the page give your on-page content a relevancy boost.
For internal links, send readers to your services, blog posts, or the contact page with a strong call-to-action. For external links, keep focused on your post’s main topic—which will indicate to Google that your SEO optimized content is relevant.
4. Unique Content
Search engines keep an eye out for unique posts. If it’s posted somewhere else on your website, or on the internet, it probably won’t make the climb to the top of the results page.
One way to make sure your content is unique and relevant to the searcher’s intention is to focus on your company’s experience and authority.
What can you offer customers that no one else can? What have you learned in your industry that customers would consider valuable insight?
As a reliable resource of information, the content will speak for itself.
5. Made for Sharing
While social sharing isn’t a ranking factor, it can help generate more traffic to your website. As a result, your web page may be featured as a link on someone else’s blog post which expands your company’s reach, boosting that page’s relevance.
6. Mobile-Friendly
Google started rolling out their mobile-friendly requirements back in 2015. Having a responsive or mobile-friendly website ensures you’re not missing out on a huge percent of search traffic.
Prioritize user experience. Is the font too small to read or the page too long to scroll through? Look through the page on a smaller responsive screen and note what works and what needs changing.
7. Page Speed
Make sure everything loads quickly; otherwise, customers might leave the page before they even read it. Compress images and check your hosting. Slow load time could deter Googlebots from crawling your site too, so aim for two seconds or less.
8. Crawler & Robot Access
Bots catalog your SEO optimized content, searching for those alt tags and other items mentioned above. Fresh bots also crawl your website frequently for fresh content to keep your entire site indexed.
Make sure your content is original and redirects are working properly. Crawler access should be enabled.
The page URL should also be within the XML sitemaps file.
9. Meta
Be sure to set up unique metadata for the page.
This should include the meta description that’s relevant to the page content. As a result, the meta description encourages searchers to click on your link and visit your website.
The primary keyword should be featured in your meta description, as well as any secondary keywords or synonyms you’ve used within the page content.
10. Schema
Schema microdata markups and structured data help search engines categorize your content. As a result, your content is displayed with more prominent visuals (such as a recipe snippet you might see at the top of a search page).
Structured data allows crawlers to find your relevant content, so search engines know exactly what your website has to offer.
Taking the High Road with SEO Optimized Content
There are a number of ways to optimize on-page content, and search engines are constantly changing the criteria they consider essential for optimization. Keep your users in mind and provide them with a relevant, unique on-page experience every time.
By prioritizing your customers, your on-site SEO pages will provide them with the information they searched for. Quality user experience and relevant page content are exactly what search engines are looking for when adjusting the results page rankings.
With SEO optimized content, your website will rank higher, attract more customers, and help your business grow!
Ready to give your website that boost? Learn more from our website tips to improve your website’s ranking.
