The world of SEO is vast and can, at first glance, seem rather complex. By taking the time to dissect it carefully, however, it becomes possible to better navigate it and understand the fascinating universe it represents.
Do you know the differences between On-Page SEO , technical SEO and Off-Page SEO ? In this section, we will first make sure to introduce you to everything you need to know about on-page optimization , coming from the English term “ On-Page SEO ”.
You will discover the secrets of a good SEO strategy , on everything that concerns the internal aspects of a website , in order to propel your online presence to the highest level!
The importance of on-page optimization and defining KPI indicators
On-page optimization is a crucial part of SEO. Consisting of optimizing each of the internal elements of a website , page by page , in order to make it more attractive in the eyes of search engines, this approach includes in particular the optimization of titles, meta descriptions, content, tags, images, and much more!
In order to properly monitor the effectiveness of your on-page optimization efforts , it is recommended to define certain key indicators , commonly called KPIs ( Key Performance Indicators ). In this sense, Google recommends focusing on metrics that have a direct impact on your business goals. For example, if your goal is to increase brand awareness, relevant KPIs might include organic visits, time on site, or bounce rate.
Titles and meta descriptions
Constituting the basis of your internal structure, page titles and meta - descriptions aim to provide, to search engines and users quickly looking at the SERP , a precise idea of what your page is about . These must therefore be both eye-catching and revealing of the content found there.
To give you a more concrete idea, it is interesting to note that HubSpot suggests, for example, keeping your titles between 50-60 characters and your meta descriptions between 150-160 characters. So, for a web page offering running shoes, a good title might be " The Best Men's Running Shoes - Your Shop ", while the meta description would be " Comfortable, durable and stylish, our men's running shoes are perfect for all your sporting activities. Come discover them! ".
H1, H2, H3 tags
Heading tags ( Hn) are used to effectively structure the content of each page of your website . As part of the HTML code , they allow readers, as well as search engines, to quickly understand the essence of the content on your page.
When it comes to Hn markup , we mainly find:
- the H1 tag , which represents the main title that will be visible on the page, at the top of the article;
- H2 tags , which are in fact subtitles highlighting the subjects covered on the page of your website ;
- as well as the possibility of adding H3 or even H4 tags (rarer), then constituting subdivisions of the subtitles of your text content.
For example, in a blog article about Italian cuisine, a good structure could be broken down like this:
- H1 (title): “Italian cuisine: discovering flavors”;
- 1st H2: “ The history of Italian cuisine”;
- 2nd H2 : “The main ingredients used in Italy”;
- 3rd H2 : “Popular recipes of Italian cuisine”.
Image optimization
Did you know that images can be a powerful SEO optimization tool if used correctly? For On-Page SEO Effectively, Google recommends reducing the size of image files (without sacrificing quality), using alt text to describe the image and using descriptive file names, linked to your keywords.
For example, for an image of a spaghetti dish, the ALT tag might be "Homemade Spaghetti Bolognese" and the file name might be "spaghetti-bolognese.jpg."
Quality content & keyword volume
Ensuring you present quality content is an absolute for SEO . Several elements contribute to determining the relevance of web content, but the choice of keywords is definitely one of the most important. In addition to having to select relevant vocabulary linked to the associated semantic field, it is also important to take into account the frequency of use of each of these key words.
In this sense, SEMrush , for example, suggests that keyword volume should represent 1-2% of total content. So, by this logic, if you're writing a 1000 word article, you should include your main keyword between about 10 and 20 times, making sure of course that it fits naturally into the overall content.
One service/product, one page!
Another fundamental principle of on-page optimization is to ensure that each product or service offered can benefit from a page dedicated to it. This will make it easier to subdivide your topics. By using this technique, search engines will also be able to better understand the precise content of each page, and thus index it accordingly.
For example, for a store selling shoes and bags, it is recommended to have an independent page specifically on the theme of shoes and another dedicated to bags. Each of them must obviously be optimized with keywords specific to each of these products.
Optimized URLs
The URL is, in a way, the address of your website . It must therefore represent it well. In order to improve your SEO for each of your web pages , it is advisable to have a clear and descriptive URL .
More concretely, Google recommends using human- readable URLs that reflect the content of the page. So, for a page dedicated to summer dresses for example, an SEO-optimized URL could be “www.votreboutique.com/robes-d-ete”.
Internal linking and the importance of anchor keywords
Internal linking , or the practice of creating links between different pages on your own website , is another crucial component of on-page optimization. A good internal link can indeed help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your site, thus improving the ranking obtained in search results.
An often overlooked but essential aspect of internal linking concerns the use of anchor keywords , that is, the terms you use in the text to anchor your internal links . Since these are analyzed by search engines in order to fully understand the content of the page to which the link points, it is essential to choose these words carefully. An effective anchor text is therefore intended to be descriptive of the content of the link, in addition to using targeted keywords for your SEO.
For example, if you have a blog post about best practices for leather shoe care, it would be relevant to include an internal link to a page on your site that sells leather shoe care products . However, make sure to always anchor your link on the right keywords. In this example, the anchor text could therefore be “leather shoe care products”.
In addition, it is relevant to think about prioritizing your pages when creating the internal link. So, the most important pages on your site (home page, sales pages, etc.) should have more internal links pointing to them than lower priority pages. In addition to directing Internet users, this technique will help search engines better understand which pages on your site are the most relevant.
Keep in mind, however, that it is best to avoid falling into the trap of over-optimizing your anchor texts with keywords. Excessive optimization could be interpreted as manipulative by search engines and potentially harm your rankings. So be sure to keep a natural balance in the use of anchor keywords.
As with your entire SEO strategy , it is also important to monitor and analyze the performance of your internal links to understand how they manage to influence the ranking obtained in search results. Tools such as Google Search Console or SEMrush can help you monitor the performance of your various internal linking links , so as to identify opportunities for improvement.
SERP Features _ _
In addition to traditional organic results, there are other options for appearing on search results pages. Generally referred to as “SERP features,” this notion involves several different elements. Snippets are a good example of this , allowing you to increase the visibility of your site with search engines.
Another type of SERP feature that can pay off in terms of SEO is the appearance of related questions among the results . You have probably already noticed during a recent Google search that a new section is offered to you. Entitled “ More questions to ask ”, this feature allows you to find information that is often complementary to your initial query. This is therefore an interesting opportunity to explore if you are looking to optimize your SEO strategies .
In connection with these features, our advice is to ensure that the content of each web page is structured in such a way as to clearly answer common questions from Internet users. For example, an article with the title “Caring for your leather shoes” could be divided into several subsections, each answering a specific question such as “How to clean your leather shoes?” » or “How to waterproof leather shoes?” ".
Local Features
For a business owner primarily operating locally, local search optimization is, in our opinion, a necessity in order to optimize your online presence. Indeed, thanks to good use of this principle, it is possible to greatly improve your visibility among potential customers.
A good first step in this direction would be to ensure that you optimize your company's Google My Business profile , including complete and up-to-date information, good quality photos and taking the time to respond to reviews. left by your customers. For good on-page SEO results , it is also advisable to add your business to reliable local directories .
Conclusion
In summary, for effective on-page optimization , make sure you structure your article in the right way through well-thought-out HTML markup, judicious use of anchor keywords for internal linking, without forgetting to optimize your URLs and images present on each of your pages. Using these SEO best practices style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> gives you the opportunity to improve your site's navigation and help search engines understand its content. All this, with the aim of improving the position obtained on the search results pages and the user experience, while making it easier for search engines to understand and correctly index the content of your site.
Every detail counts in SEO, and on-page optimization is only part of the SEO equation. While this is a crucial component, it is also essential to take a holistic approach, taking into account both the technical and off-page aspects of SEO.
A solid SEO strategy goes beyond just optimizing keywords or title structure . It involves deeply understanding your audience's needs, creating high-quality, relevant content, and building strong relationships through backlinks and partnerships.
In addition, we must not forget the importance of page loading speed, mobile compatibility, and ensuring a secure and accessible site. Finally, constantly monitoring search engine algorithm updates and adapting accordingly is also crucial.
In conclusion, on-page optimization is an essential step for anyone who wants to strengthen their online presence and position themselves at the top of search results. However, to succeed in SEO, it is important to consider all facets of SEO, act strategically and stay informed of trends and developments in the industry.
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