The first and foremost aspect to consider when creating new websites, pages, or content is on-page SEO. On-page SEO consists of modifying and adding code, proper keyword placement, and optimizing written content. Once your site is properly optimized, the end result should allow easy access to the search engines, thus allowing them to identify what is relevant throughout your site, and in return, boost the rankings of your web pages in the search engine result pages.
Always remember that no single SEO factor is more important than another and that it’s a combination of all known SEO factors working in unison.
On-Page Keyword Factors
Choosing strong keywords and phrases is the first step in on-page optimization. Begin by creating a list of possible search terms while keeping in mind what keywords your potential clients would be using when searching for your information and services. After you have compiled a list of words and phrases, use a keyword tool such as Google AdWords to help you find which ones are searched for most and have low to moderate competition.
If you are using WordPress, we recommend using an SEO plugin called “All in One SEO” which will make implementation of several of the following steps significantly easier.
Title META Tags
The title meta tag is used to briefly state the main idea of each individual page and is featured at the extreme top of the page’s window. In search engines, a title meta tag is the preliminary description of the page, so it’s important to grab the viewers attention immediately. When determining the title of each page, it is imperative that the keyword phrase being used coincides with the main idea of that page. Also, it is important to use keyword phrases with low to moderate competition. Make sure the title of each page is kept short and as close to 60 characters as possible. If the titles are too long it could potentially impair your rankings in the search results and the search engines may view your site as being excessive. Use the pages throughout our site as examples of what to do.
Description META Tags
The description meta tag is a brief summary of the content on the corresponding page. In search results it is located directly below the title and the URL of the page. The description of a page gives the viewer a better idea of what information, product, or service is being explained. This meta tag only appears in search results and should be written in a way that will spark the readers interest. When writing a description tag, make sure to include the main keyword phrase used in the title meta tag and keep it to around 160 characters which is usually about 2 sentences.
URL Optimization
Creating a strong domain name is important because it can give your viewers something to remember you by and give an added boost in search engine rankings. When creating your domain name, it is wise to include your most relevant keyword along with a variation of the name of your company. It is also important to incorporate page specific keywords into sub-domains when creating additional pages. We recommend placing the main title of the page into the sub-domain as we have done throughout our site. Adding keywords into the sub-domains gives search engines a better idea of what each individual page pertains to.
Heading Tags
Although there is much debate as to whether or not heading tags are significant to the search engines, they are still a great way to direct the reader to specific information. Many SEO specialists believe that they assist in on-page optimization by giving the search engines an idea of what is important on each page. When creating heading tags, it is a good idea to have them stand out from the rest of the written content. Use large fonts and short descriptions to give the viewer the ability to easily navigate through your site. We recommend using the H1 tag as the main title of your content, H2 tags as the title of the sub-categories, and so on.
Content Optimization
It is extremely important to have completely unique content on every page of your site. Plagiarized content is highly frowned upon by the search engines and will guarantee the demise of your website. When creating content, make sure to include suitable keywords throughout while ensuring that it flows naturally. Placing too many keywords in the content can appear as spam to the search engines and hurt your chance of a better ranking. As for the amount of content each page should contain, we recommend a minimum of 300 words. The more content a page has the better, however be sure the content sounds professional and keeps the reader captivated.
