On-Page SEO Checklist Ranking by Efforts

There are tons of On-Page SEO checklists out there, but there are also many On-Page SEO techniques one can implement. ‍

The key question is: Is it worth doing every single On-Page SEO tactic right from the start?

This is where this On-Page SEO Checklist Ranking comes in handy. You don't need to implement every SEO checklist item in the world to start ranking.

By following this comprehensive On-Page SEO checklist, you can achieve reasonably good rankings on Google - provided that you are also building high-quality backlinks to your domain.

Spoiler alert, Our Web3 SEO agencies' expert also uses this exact checklist to do On-Page SEO.

Here's the On-Page SEO Checklists Sorted by Rankings:

A Tier:

• Keyword Research
• Title Tag Optimization
• URL Structure
• Header Tags
• Canonical Tags
• XML Sitemap
• Robots.txt File
• HTTPS Implementation
• Internal Linking

B Tier:

• Meta Description Optimization
• Keyword Placement
• Content Optimization
• Image Optimization
• External Linking
• Page Speed Optimization
• Analytics and Tracking Setup

C Tier:

• User Experience Optimization
• Mobile-Friendliness
• Page Speed Optimization
• Schema Markup
• Social Sharing Integration

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You can improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) by completing the items listed in the A and B tiers above. The C-tier items are generally the final optimization steps.

While completing them can be helpful, they are not dealbreakers if you decide not to implement them or forget them.

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Before you start going through the checklist in detail, be sure to have at least these 2 analytics set up:

1. Add your website to Google Search Console.
2. Install Google Analytics here on your website.

Read Also: The Top 8 Fintech PR Agencies in Singapore

A Tier: On-Page SEO Checklists

#1: Keyword Research

Before you start optimizing your website, it's essential to conduct thorough keyword research.

This process involves identifying the words and phrases that your target audience is using when searching for information related to your industry or niche.

By understanding these keywords, you can tailor your content to match the search intent and capture the attention of potential visitors.

#2: Title Tag Optimization

The title tag is one of the most critical elements for on-page SEO.

You want to optimize your title tags by incorporating relevant keywords and ensuring they accurately reflect the content of each page. A compelling and optimized title tag can significantly impact your click-through rates and organic search rankings.

You can heavily influence how Google shows results solely based on your title as stated by Google's Title Tag guidelines here: Influencing your title links in search results

For example, if your target keyword is 'Alkaline Water', ideally, you would want your page title to be shown like the keyword you want to target:

• Alkaline Water: Myths and Facts
• What is Alkaline Water?
• What is the Health Benefits of Drinking Alkaline Water
  

You don't want to make your title this way:

• Which is Better: Drinking Alkaline, Acidic, or pH Balanced Water
• What is the Health Benefit of drinking Alkaline vs Acidic Water

#3: URL Structure

A clean and organized URL structure can improve both user experience and search engine visibility. Always opt for short, descriptive URLs that include relevant keywords and accurately represent the content of the page.

✅: https://solidmetrics.co/alkaline-water❌: https://solidmetrics.co/what-are-the-benefits-of-alkaline-water-drinking-129318123.html

Avoid using unnecessary characters or numbers that could confuse users or search engine crawlers.

Google's recommendations on URLs here: URL structure best practices for Google

#4: Header Tags

Header tags, such as H1, H2, and H3, help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your content.

Use header tags strategically to highlight important sections and incorporate relevant keywords to optimize your content for search engines.

These tags also make it easier for readers to skim through your page. But, be careful not to spam your headers with keywords!

Read Google's Header tags guide here: Headings and Titles

#5: Canonical Tags

Canonical tags are HTML elements that inform search engines about the preferred version of a web page when multiple versions exist.

Using canonical tags helps consolidate your page's ranking power and improve overall SEO—most importantly, it tells Google you're not duplicating content again and again.

If you're not sure how to implement a canonical tag in your website, just include this in your header's code, see this example:

Let's say you have two almost similar links, but you only want a single version, Do this:

https://www.solidmetrics.com/alkaline-water
https://www.solidmetrics.com/warm-vs-cold-alkaline-water

In your selected page, add this to the header:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://[your domain]/[your targeted slug]/" />

Alkaline water example:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.solidmetrics.co/alkaline-water/" />

That's it! Implementing canonical tags correctly prevents duplicate content issues and ensures search engines index the correct version of your page.

#6: XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website, helping search engine crawlers navigate and understand your site's structure.

If you haven't submitted your sitemap, it's time to do them here: Search Console > Indexing > Sitemap

This allows them to index all your important pages and discover any updates or new content you publish.

#7: Robots.txt File

The robots.txt file is a text file that tells search engine crawlers which pages or sections of your website should not be indexed.

By properly configuring your robots.txt file, you can prevent search engines from crawling and indexing sensitive or irrelevant pages, ensuring that they focus on the most valuable content on your website.

By default, most robots.txt file would look like this:

User-agent: *
Allow: /

Sitemap: [Your website's URL]/sitemap.XML

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Read Also: 4 Reasons Why You Need Niche Relevant Backlinks to Rank

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#8: HTTPS Implementation

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP. It encrypts communication between a website and visitors' browsers using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols.

You can switch from HTTP to HTTPS by obtaining an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority like Let's Encrypt. Or, if you're using a site builder like Wix or WordPress, they probably already have their own HTTPS easy setups.

Switching to HTTPS is proven to help with SEO for:

Ranking boost: Google has stated that HTTPS is a ranking signal. Websites using HTTPS may get a slight boost in search engine results pages (SERPs) compared to equivalent HTTP sites. This is because HTTPS helps establish trust and credibility.

Security: HTTPS protects user data and privacy. Google wants to promote secure browsing. So websites with HTTPS enabled are seen favorably.

Trust: The padlock icon and "Secure" label in browsers indicate a website is safe to visit. This improves user trust, which can increase time on site, pages per visit, and lower bounce rates.

Referrer data: HTTPS prevents referrer data from being lost when clicking links to other HTTPS sites. This preserves SEO value during user journeys across websites.

Performance: Modern browsers like Chrome can optimize and speed up content delivery over HTTPS using protocols like HTTP/2. This improves user experience.

#9: Internal Linking

Internal linking refers to the practice of linking to other pages within your website.

As suggested in Google's guidelines: Internal links: Cross-Reference Your Content

Having internal links in your content helps search engines understand the relationships between your content and also other pages within your website.

Internal links also distribute authority and ranking power throughout your website, improving the visibility of your pages in search results.

B Tier: On-Page SEO Checklists

#1: Meta Description Optimization

While meta descriptions don't directly impact search engine rankings, they play a vital role in attracting users to click on your search results.

A well-crafted meta description provides a concise summary of your page's content and entices users to visit your website.

You can try tools like Metatags.io to test out how your meta description would look like in Google and even social media platforms!

Make sure to include relevant keywords and create unique meta descriptions for each page to improve your click-through rates.

#2: Keyword Placement

Strategically placing your keywords throughout your content is crucial for on-page SEO.

Incorporate your target keywords naturally in your page's headings, paragraphs, and alt text for images.

However, you don't want to end up overusing keywords, as it can lead to keyword stuffing.

✅: Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water. It is produced by reducing the acidity of regular water through processes like electrolysis or adding alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium.

❌: Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water. Alkaline water is produced by reducing the acidity of regular non-alkaline water through processes like electrolysis or adding alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium; producing alkaline water.

Google explicitly recommends against Keyword Stuffing here: Keyword Stuffing

Aim for a balance between optimizing for search engines and providing valuable content for your readers.

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Read Also: Top 6 Crypto Search Engine Optimization Agencies for 2023

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#3: Content Optimization

Quality content is the cornerstone of successful on-page SEO. Ensure that your content is valuable, informative, and engaging to your target audience.

Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content and provide in-depth information that answers the search query.

Optimize your content by including internal links to other relevant pages on your website, as well as external links to authoritative sources that support your claims.

#4: Image Optimization

Images are not only visually appealing but also contribute to your website's overall SEO.

Optimize your images by adding descriptive alt text, compressing their file size to improve page loading speed, and ensuring they are properly formatted.

Try to use WebP format if possible for any image assets within your website to reduce the load size—which helps with page speed.

Read this: What is WebP and Why Should I Use it by Google?

Providing relevant alt text enables search engines to understand the content of your images.

#5: External Linking

In addition to internal links, external linking is also important for on-page SEO.

By linking to authoritative and relevant sources, you demonstrate your content's credibility and provide additional value to your readers.

External links can also help search engines understand the context of your content and improve your website's overall visibility.

#6: Page Speed Optimization

Page speed is a critical factor in both user experience and search engine rankings.

As highlighted in Google's PageSpeed Insights guidelines:

'We highly recommend site owners achieve good Core Web Vitals for success with Search and to ensure a great user experience generally. This, along with other page experience aspects, aligns with what our core ranking systems seek to reward.' - Understanding Core Web Vitals and Google search results

You want to optimize your website's loading speed by compressing images, minifying CSS and JavaScript files, and leveraging browser caching.

A fast-loading website not only improves user satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of higher search engine rankings.

#7: Analytics and Tracking Setup

To measure the effectiveness of your on-page SEO efforts, it's crucial to set up analytics and tracking on your website.

Use tools like Google Analytics & Search Console to gather valuable data about your website's performance, user behavior, and traffic sources.

This data can inform decisions and optimize efforts.

C Tier: On-Page SEO Checklists

#1: User Experience Optimization

User experience (UX) plays a significant role in on-page SEO. Ensure that your website is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and is mobile-friendly.

A well-optimized user experience can lead to lower bounce rates, longer time spent on your site, and increased engagement, all of which can positively impact your search engine rankings.

#2: Mobile-Friendliness

With the majority of internet users accessing websites through mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial.

Ensure that your website is responsive and adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes.

See This: Mobile site and mobile-first indexing best practices

Mobile-friendliness is not a major ranking factor anymore but a better overall user experience could lead to a better conversion rate for your mobile customers.

#3: Page Speed Optimization

Page speed is a critical factor in both user experience and search engine rankings. As highlighted in Google's PageSpeed Insights guidelines (https://developers.google.com/speed/docs/insights/v5/about), optimize your website's loading speed by compressing images, minifying CSS and JavaScript files, and leveraging browser caching.

A fast-loading website not only improves user satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of higher search engine rankings.

#4: Schema Markup

Implementing schema markup on your website can provide search engines with additional context about your content.

Schema markup helps search engines understand the type of content on your page, such as events, recipes, reviews, and more.

By including schema markup, you can enhance the visibility and appearance of your search engine listings.

You can use Schema Builder Extension for easy schema markup creation if you need to.

#5: Social Sharing Integration

Integrating social sharing buttons on your website encourages visitors to share your content across various social media platforms.

Social shares can increase your content's visibility and potentially attract more traffic and backlinks.

Social signals also play a role in assessing popularity and relevance.

Conclusion

By following this comprehensive checklist based on ranking and Google's recommendations, you will likely have a website optimized for better search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.

Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, so it's important to regularly monitor and optimize your website using on-page SEO analysis and on-page SEO tools.

Implement these on-page SEO techniques and watch your website climb the search engine result rankings. Happy optimizing—and don't forget backlinks too! You need them!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to our crypto marketing agency and say hi!

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