On-Page SEO Guide

Title Tags

The title tag is one of the most important on-page SEO elements. It appears in search results and browser tabs.

Best Practices

• Length: 50-60 characters to avoid truncation
• Keywords: Include primary keyword near the beginning
• Unique: Every page should have a unique title
• Descriptive: Accurately describe page content
• Brand: Include brand name, typically at the end

Common Mistakes

• Duplicate titles across pages
• Keyword stuffing
• Too short (under 30 characters)
• Too long (over 60 characters)
• Missing or generic titles like "Home"

Meta Descriptions

While not a direct ranking factor, meta descriptions influence click-through rates from search results.

Best Practices

• Length: 150-160 characters
• Call to action: Encourage clicks with action words
• Keywords: Include relevant keywords (they get bolded in results)
• Unique: Every page should have a unique description
• Compelling: Summarize value proposition

Heading Structure

Proper heading hierarchy helps search engines understand your content structure and improves accessibility.

Best Practices

• One H1: Each page should have exactly one H1 tag
• Hierarchy: H2s under H1, H3s under H2, etc.
• Keywords: Include relevant keywords in headings
• Descriptive: Headings should describe the section content
• Don't skip levels: Don't jump from H1 to H3

Image Optimization

Images are important for user experience and can drive traffic through image search.

Alt Text

• Every image should have alt text
• Describe the image content accurately
• Include keywords where natural
• Keep it concise (under 125 characters)
• Leave decorative images with empty alt (alt="")

Technical Optimization

• Use modern formats (WebP, AVIF)
• Compress images without visible quality loss
• Specify width and height to prevent CLS
• Use lazy loading for below-fold images
• Use descriptive file names

Content Quality

E-E-A-T Signals

Google values Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness:

• Show author credentials and bylines
• Include references and citations
• Keep content up to date
• Demonstrate first-hand experience
• Build trust with about page and contact information

Content Structure

• Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
• Include bullet points and numbered lists
• Add relevant internal links
• Break up text with images and media
• Include a table of contents for long content

URL Structure

• Keep URLs short and descriptive
• Use hyphens between words
• Include primary keyword
• Avoid unnecessary parameters
• Use lowercase letters only
• Avoid special characters

Internal Linking

• Link to relevant internal pages
• Use descriptive anchor text
• Don't over-optimize anchor text
• Ensure important pages have many internal links
• Fix broken internal links