Reap Benefits From the 5 Critical Elements of On-site SEO
One of the powerful benefits of good on-page search engine optimization (SEO) is conversion. A reliable SEO agency can help you achieve that. Together, you can design content that speaks to your audience and ranks your website well on search engines.
This content should include these three critical factors:
- Meta and alt tags that provide more information about the page
- Helpful, valuable content that meets the E-E-A-T guidelines
- Keywords that match user intent and emphasize content relevance to your niche
Learn more about these elements (including how to implement them). Let’s go!
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Unlock the Power of On-page SEO With These 5 Vital Elements
Content remains the reigning king in search engine optimization (SEO), but with so many articles published daily, you should give yours the best chance to rank well. Google’s recommendations are a thorough checklist of what should be (and should not be) in your copies.
We can summarize it with three essential on-page SEO factors.
1. Meta and Alt Tags That Provide More Information about the Page
Meta and alt tags are two different ways of communicating information about a page.
- Meta tags are HTML code elements that briefly describe the content for search engine crawlers to index and show in search results.
- Alt tags describe webpage images; they appear when images fail to load properly.
Excluding them from on-page SEO does not result in a penalty, and meta tags are not even a ranking factor. (Alt tags are, but they matter only on image search.) They both still matter because they improve searchability.
Search engines make them for you, even if you did not. Usually, they pull information, or a sentence, from your content. While this search engine assist cuts your optimization time, it might hurt your click-through rate (CTR) and user experience (UX) in the long run.
For instance, the search engine can create titles and descriptions that do not match your content.
How do you write meta and alt tags? Refer to the table below.
| Image Alt Tags | Meta Tags |
|---|---|
| - Consider adding the keyword, but only if it fits the context of the image. - Be very descriptive and specific. - Keep descriptions short. Usually, they are no more than 140 characters. - Remember, image alt tags differ from the image’s filename, ideally two terms separated by a hyphen. - Avoid unnecessary words, such as “photo of,” “table of,” and other related terms.Examples:Bad image alt text: photo of a dog Good image alt text: a cute Golden Retriever playing with a child |
- Aim for 50 to 60 characters for your title tag. Otherwise, it does not display fully on the search results. - Ideally, meta descriptions are between 150 and 160 characters. - Place the keywords early in the tag. - Be specific, clear, and accurate with your titles and descriptions. - Include a call-to-action (CTA) in your meta description.Examples:Bad title tag: Crate Training | My Website Good title tag: Ultimate Puppy Crate Training Guide for Beginners Bad meta description: Find out how to train your puppy using a crate. Our guide teaches you everything about crate training your furry friend. Good meta description: Got a new furry friend? This puppy crate training guide teaches you basic and advanced techniques, even if you are a beginner. Download the free guide today. |
2. Helpful, Valuable Content That Meets the E-E-A-T Guidelines
Search engines strive to provide accurate, useful content to their users. For this reason, they want you to write for humans first. How do you do that?
By following Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines:
| Experience | Expertise | Authority | Trustworthiness |
|---|---|---|---|
| - Provide a detailed and complete bio. You can add it to your About Us page or byline. - Showcase your work. Include a portfolio of your work, case studies, or examples of successful projects you have completed. - Publish original media, such as photos and videos. - Join associations and other industry organizations. |
- Provide detailed and accurate information on the topic. - Use reliable sources and link to authoritative websites. - Keep content up-to-date and relevant to current trends and research. - Avoid making exaggerated or misleading claims about the author’s expertise, especially if you are a “your money, your life” page. |
- Use backlinks from high-authority websites to boost your website’s authority. - Be active on social media and engage with your audience to build your brand’s reputation. - List industry awards, publications, and other accolades to showcase your authority. - Use reviews, ratings, and testimonials to establish credibility with your audience. - Avoid using black hat SEO techniques that damage your website’s reputation. |
- Clearly state your website’s purpose and goals and provide accurate information about your business. - Use a professional design and layout to establish trust with your audience. - Display privacy policies and terms of use to show transparency and accountability. - Use secure connections (HTTPS) and protect user data to ensure website security. - Avoid using clickbait or sensationalized headlines that can erode trust with your audience. |
3. Keywords That Match User Intent and Emphasize Relevance
Everything about optimization and ranking in search engine results revolves around keywords. Although keyword stuffing is a no-no, you still need to include them. You can even make them more effective by following these two rules:
- Match them with user intent
- Emphasize their relevance to the context and content
Understand these two major points better with the following tips:
- Determine the intent of a keyword. Is it an informational query (“what is SEO?”) or an action-oriented one (“SEO services near me”)?
- Optimize for long-tail keywords to target more specific user queries. Long-tail phrases are usually three to four words and have lower competition. Ranking for them is often easier than it is for single keywords.
- Use semantics. Combine related and primary keywords in the article. For instance, if you are writing about puppy dog crate training, use different keyword versions, such as “crate train” and “house training a puppy.”
- Know where to add keywords. Include the primary keyword in your title, first 100 words, subheadings, and probably one or two more in the content.
Summing Up
Well-planned and executed on-page SEO techniques convert your website’s content to increase ranking. If you are not sure of where to begin, start with focusing on the three vital elements previously described.
Digital Authority Partners (DAP) is also here to help you assess, design, and implement best practices that fit your niche and marketing goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we work.
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