The Best On-page Optimization Techniques to Improve SEO and Rank on the First Page

SEO

Jan 24

When it comes to website performance in search engine results, it’s important for business owners to know the answers to questions like, “What is the most important on-page SEO factor?” and “What are the SEO best practices that impact performance?”

SEO is a powerful tool for driving organic website traffic. Understanding the areas of on-page optimization that contribute most heavily to high search engine rankings is key for maximizing ROI.

Not sure what on-page element carries the most weight for SEO?

Interested in learning more about the most important elements of search engine optimization?

In this article, we’ll break down on-page SEO best practices, and share some of the most important SEO factors that’ll help your site rank higher.

Keep reading to learn all about SEO on-page optimization.

What Is On-page SEO?

Let’s start with the basics. What is on-page SEO, and why does it matter for your site’s performance?

SEO is a critical factor in the success of any website. It’s the process of using SEO best practices to make your website rank higher on Google and receive more organic traffic.

When you’re ready to optimize pages for search engines and create high-performing content, on-page optimization is most important. There are many on-page SEO factors that play a prominent role in determining the visibility of your website.

Elements of On-page SEO

On-page SEO elements refer to all aspects of website content (both technical and visitor-facing) used by search engines to determine that a page is relevant when someone is searching for a particular string of keywords.

The most impactful elements of on-site optimization should include:

Title tag
Header tags
Meta Titles
Meta Descriptions
Copy and content
Inbound links
Outbound links

Together, these elements of on-page SEO help to communicate the content of your pages to both users and search engine crawlers.

However, you may still be wondering, “What are the most important elements of search engine optimization?”

What Is the Most Important On-page SEO Factor?

With so many potential SEO factors to consider, knowing where to point your optimization efforts is critical.

So, which on-page element carries the most weight for SEO?

When all SEO factors are taken together, the best on-page optimization techniques still capitalize on the balance of engaging content with relevant keywords. While all on-page factors are important, the focus on high-quality, keyword-rich content will have the biggest impact on the placement of your site in search results.

Content Creation and SEO On-page Optimization Tips

Knowing the best on-page optimization techniques is critical if you want your on-page SEO strategy to be successful.

Here are six tips and on-page SEO guidelines to consider as you build out your content and keywords.

1. Conduct Thorough Keyword Research

Before you begin writing, take the time to research which keywords are most relevant to your topic. While there are many ways to do this, using a keyword research tool is the most straightforward. The goal is to build a library of targeted high-volume, low-competition keywords.

Consider what users might be searching for when looking for information on your topic. Once you have a list of target keywords, place them strategically and naturally throughout the content of your pages.

2. Use Keyword Variations

Including keyword variations will help you rank for more search terms.

Use a balance of short-tail and long-tail keyword variations relevant to each page's content. By increasing the variety of keywords, you can:

Rank higher
Capture a larger share of searchers
Reach an audience that is more likely to convert.

The more keyword variations you include in your text the more likely it is to rank on Google.

3. Incorporate Keywords in Your Title Tag

Optimizing your title tag with your target keyword is one of the most important elements of search engine optimization.

Make sure your title accurately reflects your page's topic while including your target keywords. Titles are one of the most overlooked on-page SEO factors, but they can greatly impact your rankings.

4. Create Keyword-Rich Meta Descriptions

The meta description is another valuable place to include your target keywords. Make sure that your meta description accurately reflects the content of your page and includes your target keywords. This blurb of text is the preview displayed underneath your page title in the search engine results.

5. Include High-Value Keywords Strategically Throughout Your Content

Always include your target keywords at the beginning of your content to help search engines understand that page’s topic better. Strategically place keywords in:

Header tags
Bulleted lists
Text blocks

Placing different keywords in these places will strengthen the likelihood of your content ranking higher in search.

However, strategically doesn’t mean stuffing! Keyword stuffing is considered a black-hat SEO tactic and actually hurts your chance of ranking in search results. The best practice is to ensure that keywords only make up about 3-5% of your total web copy.

6. Use Your Target Keywords Naturally

It’s essential to write naturally when including your target keywords in the content. Overly repeating keywords and using nonsensical copy won’t help your site visitors or your rankings.

If your goal is to improve the user experience, rank higher in search engines, and drive more traffic, don't overlook any of these SEO on-page optimization tips.

When you implement on-page optimization tactics accurately, you’ll see results within six months or less!

A Few More On-page SEO Guidelines

In addition to the tips provided above, consider leveraging the following SEO best practices in your website:

The text on your pages should be unique, keyword-rich, and informative
Title tags and meta descriptions should be keyword-rich but also human-readable
Meta tags always have ranking priority over inbound links, but inbound links will still be a factor in determining page rank
Photo alt text is vital for visually impaired visitors and search engines
Inbound links (backlinks) from other sites are one of the most valuable factors in determining page rank
Internal links are essential for search engine crawlers
301 redirects are an effective way to keep visitors on your site
User experience is just as important as on-page SEO elements for search engines

Following these on-page SEO guidelines can increase the effectiveness of your optimization efforts.

Enhance Your SEO Best Practices with Veivos

Successful SEO requires more than just searching "What is on-page SEO?" and “which on-page element carries the most weight for SEO?” It takes consistent work, analysis, and adjustments.

However, incorporating SEO best practices into your website isn’t hard once you know what they are. Some of the SEO top-ranking factors include:

Title tags
Header tags
Relevant keywords in body text
Meta descriptions

It’s also important to consistently create new content and ensure they include elements of on-page SEO, like:

Conducting keyword research
Using keyword variations
Incorporating keywords in your title tag
Creating keyword-rich meta descriptions
Including keywords in header tags and body copy
Using your target keywords naturally

If you’re not sure how to do SEO yourself, let Veivos take the mystery out of SEO, so you can stop using your limited time trying to determine what is the most important on-page SEO factor. Our SEM agency offers the expertise and strategic execution needed to improve your website's visibility and organic search traffic.

When you partner with Veivos, our team of experts will enhance your digital presence with the best SEO site recommendations and practices, including: