A step by step guide to search optimized website pages for the both search engines and your visitors that will help improve website traffic.
On Page Search Optimization ElementsÂ
URL
The website page address
Optimal Methods
- Shorter is better
- Include primary keyword
- Use dashes (-) to separate words
- Eliminate words such as the, a, is, for etc.
- Similar or long tail keywords should reside together
Page Title
Describes the page content and is considered extremely important for search optimization. It displayed in the browser.
Search Optimization Methods
- Primary keyword – Secondary keyword | Brand Name
- Less than 72 characters
- Each page should have an unique title
Meta Description
It is often displayed on the search results page below the page title and referred to as a snippet. It is not visible to visitors.
Search Optimization Methods
- No more than 165 characters in length
- Use primary and secondary keywords perceptively – primary keyword should be placed in beginning of the description
- Make every word count
- Summarize page content
- Call to action
- Each page should have an unique meta description
Page Keywords
The page’s targeted keyword phrases. A keyword analysis or research should your first step.
Search Optimization Methods
- Do not duplicate targeted keywords on different static pages
- 1 to 3 per page (more content = more targeted keywords)
- Insert varied keyword usage (mix it up)
- Primary keyword used in first sentence
- Primary keyword used in beginning of first sentence
- Sprinkle primary and secondary keyword phrase throughout content
- Keyword density – 2% to 4%
Content
Content IS KING. It should be written for both search engines and visitors.
Search Optimization Methods
- Original
- Praiseworthy – helpful – sharable – solve a problem – offer solutions
- Write for visitors first – search engines second
- Call to action – what is the desired visitor action?
- More is better – minimum of 500 words
- Think of other page keywords for hyperlinking purposes
Images – Video
Media supporting the page’s content. Adding digital media is both engaging for your visitors and is another method to re-enforce the page topic or theme
Search Optimization Methods
- Add image title – use keywords
- Add image alt tag (description) – use keywords
- Title and description should support the surrounding verbiage
- No two images should have identical tagsÂ
Headings
Headlines make it easier for visitors to scan sections of content as well as provide an opportunity to highlight targeted keywords
Search Optimization Methods
- Give your keyword prominence
- Each page should have a minimum of one heading
- Only one H1 heading per page
- H1 heading should be the first heading on the page
- Place primary keyword in H1 heading
- Use headings to structure content visual effects
- Do not skip heading levels (IE H1 to H3)
- Headings 2 through 6 are subheadings and should be associated with the previous-level heading
- Â Headings should be short and concise representing the summary of the text
Hyperlinks – Internal Linking
A link from one page to another – helpful for visitor navigation as well as the ability to re-enforce a page’s primary focus (targeted keywords).
Search Optimization Methods
- Use supporting anchor text
- Use primary and secondary keyword variations
Summary
Use these SEO search optimized page elements on every page, blog post, article and every piece of content you publish online to improve your website rankings. It is important to write for your visitors first and the search engines second.
Learn how your website search optimization stacks up with a personalized SEO optimization website report here.
SEO Google Guru says
Hello: Search optimization can be enhanced internal linking to other relevant pages on your site. Also make sure that you have done keyword research before writing any content.