Best On-Page SEO Checklist 2023

In 2023 every business owns a website, but what happens if you have a website with no visitors? There is On-page SEO plays a major role as you need to do on-page SEO to optimize websites for search engines to get more traffic On-Page SEO is the process of improving web pages so that they appear higher in search results and receive more relevant traffic.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create a perfectly optimized webpage that can rank higher in search engine results in pages.

The Importance of On-Page SEO

On-Page SEO is a must-do process as it improves our website’s ranking in search engines, resulting in more traffic, leads, and sales. It helps search engines understand your content better, making it easier for them to index and rank your website on Google.

On-Page SEO Checklist : Latest

Here’s the ultimate On-Page SEO Checklist that will help you optimize your web pages and boost your website’s ranking:

• Create Content for People, rather than Search Engines
  
• Verify the targeted keywords matches the user’s intend
  
• Place the main Keyword in 1st Paragraph
  
• Place The keywords in the URL, Meta title, and headings

• Use an h1 tag only once once

• Don’t Over-Optimize the contents

• Write a catchy SEO-oriented meta title
  
• Create a unique and attractive meta description

• Use Subheadings for organizing contents

• Present the content in proper style and format
  
• Name your images uniquely and properly matching with content
  
• Set Images Alt Text with keywords oriented
  
• Link out to relevant, high da websites
  
• Always Link to Relevant Inner Pages
  
• Don’t Link to the Page with the Same Anchor as Page is currently targeting.
  
• Use Social Markup.
  
• Optimize Dwell Time and Optimize It.
  
• Find out Featured Snippet opportunities and optimise for them.

1. Create Content for People, rather than Search Engines

When creating content for your website or blog, it’s important to remember that you’re writing for people, not just for search engines. While it’s true that optimizing your content for search engines can help increase your visibility and traffic, it’s ultimately your human readers who will determine the success of your website.

• Always create content engaging, informative, and relevant to your audience.
•  Don’t stuff keywords and over-optimize your content.
• Create high-quality content that naturally includes your keywords

Always create content with visually appealing and easy-to-navigate ie; use headings bullet points, subheadings, bullet points, images, videos, and infographics to keep readers engaged.

2. Verify the targeted keywords matches the user’s intend

When selecting keywords to target, it’s important to consider whether the content you create will meet the needs and expectations of the users who are searching for those keywords.

User intent refers to the reason behind a user’s search query. Different users may have different intents when searching for a particular keyword.

For example, someone searching for “best mobile phones ” may be looking for reviews and recommendations, while someone searching for “buy mobile phones ” may be looking for an online store to purchase from.

To ensure that the content meets user intent, always conduct keyword research to understand the different types of searches that users performing for your target keywords.

In addition to understanding user intent, it’s also important to ensure that the content you create is high-quality, relevant, and valuable to users. This will not only help to satisfy user intent, but it will also improve the overall user experience and increase the likelihood of users engaging with and sharing your content.

3. Place the main Keyword in 1st Paragraph

If we add the main keyword in the first paragraph, we can signal to search engines what the content is about and improve its relevance for that keyword.

The first paragraph of a piece of content is often the most important, as it’s the section that appears in search engine results pages as sometimes Google is taking the meta description themselves. including the focus keyword in the first paragraph can help to improve the visibility of the content for that keyword and make it more likely to attract clicks and engagement.

Always try to include the keyword naturally also use different semantic keywords throughout the content and provide value to users. his can help to reinforce the relevance of the content to the keyword and improve its chances of ranking well in search engine results pages. It should also be accompanied by high-quality, relevant content that provides answers or solutions to the user’s query.

4. Place The keywords in the URL, Meta title, and headings

The URL of a page should ideally include the target keyword, as this makes it clear to both search engines and users what the page is about. For example, if your target keyword is “best mobile phones”, your URL might be something like www.yourwebsite.com/best-mobile-phones

The title of a page is also an important area to include the target keyword. This is the text that appears at the top of the browser window and is often used as the main headline in search engine results pages. Including the target keyword in the title can help to improve your page’s relevance to the keyword and make it more likely to appear in relevant search results.

Similarly, including the target keyword in the heading (or headings) of a page can help to reinforce the relevance of the content to that keyword. Headings are used to breaking up content into sections and provide structure, and including the target keyword in these headings can help to signal to search engines what each section of the content is about.

5. Use an h1 tag only once

Using a single H1 on each page is a best practice for on-page search engine optimization (SEO). The H1 tag is used to indicate the main heading of a page, and having a single H1 tag helps to provide a clear and concise structure to the page.

Search engines use the H1 tag to help understand the main topic of a page and its relevance to search queries.

Having multiple H1 tags on a single page can cause confusion for search engines and make it more difficult for them to understand the content and relevance of the page. It can also make it harder for users to navigate the page and find the information they are looking for.

6. Don’t Over-Optimize the contents

Over-optimizing refers to the practice of using excessive or manipulative techniques to improve the search engine rankings of a website or its content. While it’s important to optimize your content for search engines, over-optimization can actually hurt your rankings and cause your content to be penalized.

Here are some tips to avoid over-optimization:

1. Focus on user experience: Instead of obsessing over keyword density or other technical SEO factors, focus on creating content that provides real value to your users. Write in a natural, conversational tone and use language that is easy to understand.
2. Use keywords strategically: While it’s important to use keywords in your content, don’t stuff them in unnaturally. Use keywords strategically in your titles, headings, and content, but make sure they fit naturally into the overall flow of the text.
3. Avoid using duplicate content: Creating duplicate content can result in penalties from search engines, so make sure that all of the content on your website is unique and valuable.
4. Monitor your backlink profile: Over-optimizing your backlinks can also result in penalties, so make sure that your backlink profile is natural and diverse.

7. Write a catchy SEO-oriented meta title

A catchy meta title should include the target keyword and accurately describe the content of the page in a way that is both compelling and relevant to the user’s search query. It should be concise, typically around 50-60 characters, and avoid being too generic or spammy.

It’s important to remember that the meta title should accurately reflect the content of the page and provide a clear indication of what users can expect to find when they click through. This helps to ensure that users have a positive experience and are more likely to engage with the content.

In addition to including the target keyword in the meta title, it can also be beneficial to include modifiers such as numbers, adjectives, or power words to make the title more compelling and enticing to users. For example, a meta title such as “10 Ways to Improve Your SEO and Boost Your Rankings” might be more effective than a more generic title like “SEO Tips.”

8. Create a unique and attractive meta description

A good meta description should be concise, typically around 150-160 characters, and accurately describe the content of the page in a way that is both compelling and relevant to the user’s search query. It should also include the target keyword, as this can help to improve the relevance of the page to the user’s search.

One effective strategy for writing a compelling meta description is to focus on the benefits or unique value proposition of the content on the page. This can help to differentiate the page from other search results and provide a clear reason for users to click through and engage with the content.

Another strategy is to use powerful words and persuasive language to create a sense of urgency or excitement around the content. For example, using phrases like “don’t miss out” or “discover the secrets” can help to create a sense of anticipation and encourage users to click through.

It’s also important to avoid duplicating the meta title in the meta description, as this can make the content feel repetitive and less compelling to users. Instead, the meta description should provide additional context and detail about the content on the page.

9. Use Subheadings For Organising Contents

Using subheadings for the content hierarchy is an important on-page search engine optimization (SEO) technique. Subheadings, such as H2, H3, and so on, help to organize content into sections and provide a clear hierarchy that makes it easier for users to navigate and understand.

Search engines also use subheadings to help understand the content and relevance of a page. By using subheadings to organize and structure content, you can provide a clear indication of the main topics and themes covered on the page, making it easier for search engines to understand the overall context of the content.

When using subheadings, it’s important to use them in a way that is natural and fits seamlessly into the content. Each subheading should be relevant to the content that follows and should accurately reflect the main topic or theme covered in that section.

Using subheadings can also help to break up large blocks of text and make content more visually appealing and easier to read. This can be especially important for mobile users, who may be accessing the content on smaller screens and may have difficulty reading large blocks of text.

10. Present the content in proper style and format

Formatting and styling the content properly will help to improve the readability and engagement of the content, while also signaling relevance and structure to search engines.

Some key elements of formatting and styling content properly include:

1. Using short paragraphs: Short paragraphs are easier to read and can help to break up the content into more manageable chunks.
2. Using bullet points and numbered lists: Bullet points and numbered lists can help to highlight key points and make the content more scannable and easy to digest.
3. Using bold and italicized text: Bold and italicized text can be used to highlight important keywords and phrases, as well as to add emphasis and visual interest to the content.
4. Using images and multimedia: Adding images and multimedia, such as videos or infographics, can help to break up the content and provide visual interest, while also providing additional context and information.
5. Using a consistent style: Using a consistent style throughout the content, such as consistent fonts, font sizes, and colors, can help to make the content more visually appealing and professional.

By formatting and styling content properly, you can make it more engaging and readable for users, while also signaling relevance and structure to search engines. This can help to improve the overall user experience of the content, while also improving its visibility and search engine rankings.

11.name your images uniquely and properly matching with  content

When naming your images, it’s important to use descriptive and relevant file names that accurately reflect the content of the image. This can help search engines understand what the image is about and can improve the chances of the image being displayed in search engine image results for relevant queries.

Additionally, it’s important to use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) to separate words in file names, as search engines tend to interpret hyphens as word separators, while underscores can be interpreted as part of a single word.

It’s also important to optimize the alt text and title tags for your images, as these provide additional context and information to search engines about the content of the image. The alt text should be a short, descriptive text that accurately describes the content of the image for users who are unable to view the image, while the title tag can provide additional context and information about the image.

12. Set Images Alt Text  with keywords oriented

Alt text is a short, descriptive text that appears in place of an image if the image cannot be displayed, either due to slow loading or for users who are visually impaired and rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers to navigate the web. Alt text helps these users to understand what the image is about and provides additional context and information about the content of the image.

When setting image alt text, it’s important to use descriptive and relevant text that accurately reflects the content of the image. This can help search engines understand what the image is about and can improve the chances of the image being displayed in search engine image results for relevant queries.

It’s also important to avoid using generic terms or phrases such as “image” or “picture” as alt text, as this provides little value to users or search engines. Instead, use specific and descriptive text that accurately describes the content of the image.

Overall, setting image alt text is an important on-page SEO technique that can help to improve the accessibility and discoverability of your website’s images in search engine results pages, while also providing additional context and information to users and search engines about the content of the image.

1. Be concise: Keep your alt text short and to the point. Try to convey the most important information in just a few words or a short sentence.
2. Be specific: Use specific language that accurately describes the content of the image. This can include details such as colors, shapes, and other visual features.
3. Include your target keyword: If appropriate, include your target keyword in your image alt text. However, avoid stuffing your alt text with keywords, as this can be seen as spammy and can actually harm your SEO.
4. Don’t duplicate alt text: Each image on your website should have a unique alt text that accurately describes the content of the image. Avoid using the same alt text for multiple images.
5. Don’t leave alt text blank: Even if an image is purely decorative and doesn’t convey any important information, it’s still important to include alt text to indicate that the image is present and provide context to users who are unable to view the image.

Overall, by following these tips and setting descriptive, concise, and specific alt text for your images, you can help to improve the accessibility and discoverability of your website’s images in search engine results pages, while also providing valuable context and information to users and search engines alike.

13. Link out to relevant, high-dA websites

When linking out to other websites, it’s important to choose websites that are relevant to the content being discussed, and that are authoritative and trustworthy sources of information. This can help to provide additional context and information to users, while also signaling to search engines that the website is part of a larger ecosystem of relevant and authoritative content.

Linking out to relevant and authoritative websites can also help to improve the overall user experience of the website by providing users with additional resources and information that may be helpful or interesting to them. Additionally, it can help to build relationships with other websites and potentially attract links back to your own website, which can further improve its authority and relevance.

It’s important to note that when linking out to other websites, it’s generally best to use nofollow links to avoid passing on link equity and potentially hurting your own website’s authority and ranking potential. However, even nofollow links can provide value in terms of providing additional resources and information to users, and signaling relevance and authority to search engines.

Overall, linking out to relevant and authoritative websites will help to improve the authority, relevance, and user experience of a website, while also potentially attracting links back to the website and building relationships with other websites in the same niche or industry.

14. Always Link to Relevant Inner Pages

When linking to relevant inner pages, it’s important to choose pages that are directly related to the content being discussed and to use descriptive anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page. This can help to provide additional context and information to users, while also signaling relevance and authority to search engines.

Internal linking can also help to distribute link equity throughout the website, which can help to improve the overall authority and ranking potential of the website. By linking to relevant inner pages, you can pass on some of the authority and relevance of the linking page to the linked page, which can help to improve its visibility and ranking potential in search engine results pages.

Additionally, internal linking can help to improve the overall user experience of the website by providing users with additional resources and information that may be relevant or helpful to them.

Overall, linking to relevant inner pages will help to improve the structure, authority, and user experience of a website, while also providing additional context and information to users and search engines.

15. don’t Link to the Page with the Same Anchor as Page is currently targeting

Using the same anchor text to link to a page or website multiple times can signal to search engines that the website is attempting to manipulate search engine rankings by over-optimizing for a specific keyword or phrase. This can result in a penalty from search engines, which can negatively impact the website’s visibility and ranking potential in search engine results pages.

To avoid this issue, it’s important to vary the anchor text used when linking to a page or website, and to use descriptive and natural anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page. This can help to avoid over-optimization, while also providing additional context and information to users and search engines.

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that the linked page or website is relevant and authoritative, and that the link provides value to users by providing additional context or information. This can help to signal relevance and authority to search engines, while also improving the overall user experience of the website.

16. Use Social Markup 

Social markups, also known as social meta tags, are HTML tags that provide additional information to social media platforms about the content of your website’s pages. This information can include the title, description, and image associated with the page, as well as other metadata that can help to improve the appearance and engagement of your content when shared on social media.

Including social markup on your website can help to improve the visibility and click-through rates of your content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as provide a more engaging and informative experience for users who encounter your content through these channels.

To check for social markup on your website, you can use a tool such as the Facebook Sharing Debugger or the Twitter Card Validator. These tools will analyze the metadata on your website and provide information on how your content will appear when shared on social media, as well as any errors or issues that need to be addressed.

Some common types of social markup include:

1. Open Graph tags: These tags provide information about the title, description, image, and other metadata associated with your website’s pages. They are used by Facebook and other social media platforms to display rich media content when links to your site are shared.
2. Twitter Cards: Similar to Open Graph tags, Twitter Cards provide additional metadata to Twitter about the content of your website’s pages. They can include different types of media, such as images, videos, and audio, and can help to improve the visibility and engagement of your content on Twitter.
3. Schema.org markup: This is a structured data markup language that can be used to provide additional information about the content of your website’s pages to search engines and social media platforms. It includes a wide range of markup types, including articles, events, products, and more.

17. Optimize Dwell Time

Dwell time refers to the amount of time a user spends on a website after clicking through to it from a search engine results page (SERP). It is an important metric for search engines, as it is an indicator of how engaging and relevant the content on a website is to users.

To check your website’s dwell time, you can use Google Analytics or other website analytics tools to monitor how long users are spending on your site, as well as which pages they are visiting and how they are interacting with your content.

To optimize dwell time, there are a number of strategies you can use:

1. Improve the quality of your content: Providing high-quality, engaging, and informative content is one of the most effective ways to increase dwell time on your website. Make sure your content is well-written, well-structured, and provides real value to your target audience.
2. Speed up your website: Slow-loading pages can cause users to quickly lose interest and leave your site. Make sure your website is optimized for speed and performance, and minimize the use of heavy images or other content that can slow down load times.
3. Use internal linking: Including internal links to other relevant pages on your website can encourage users to explore more of your content, increasing dwell time and improving engagement.
4. Optimize your website design: A clean, well-designed website with easy-to-use navigation can help to keep users engaged and on your site for longer periods of time.

Overall, optimizing dwell time on your website is an important part of improving your search engine rankings and driving more traffic to your site. By providing high-quality content, optimizing your website performance, and using internal linking and other strategies, you can help to keep users engaged and on your site for longer periods of time, improving the overall effectiveness of your website.

18. Find out Featured Snippet opportunities and optimize for it

A featured snippet is a special type of search result that appears at the top of Google’s search results page, above the organic search results. Featured snippets are designed to provide users with quick and concise answers to their queries.

To optimize your content for the featured snippet, you should:

1. Identify keywords that trigger featured snippets: Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to identify keywords that have a high likelihood of triggering a featured snippet. These keywords often include questions or informational queries.
2. Format your content for featured snippets: Create content that is concise and provides a clear and direct answer to the user’s query. Use headers, bullet points, and other formatting techniques to make your content easy to read and understand.
3. Use schema markup: Schema markup is a special code that can be added to your content to provide additional information about its structure and meaning. Using schema markup can help Google to better understand your content and increase the likelihood of it appearing in a featured snippet.
4. Optimize for voice search: Many featured snippets are triggered by voice search queries, so optimizing your content for voice search can increase your chances of being featured. Use conversational language and include long-tail keywords to improve your content’s voice search performance.

Overall, appearing in a featured snippet can greatly increase your visibility and drive more traffic to your website. By identifying keywords, formatting your content, using schema markup, and optimizing for voice search, you can improve your chances of being featured and increase the overall effectiveness of your content marketing efforts.

SEO is an ever-evolving field, and staying on top of the latest trends and best practices is essential to succeed. The ultimate on page SEO checklist for 2023 provides you with the latest tips, tricks, and strategies to boost your website’s search engine ranking and drive more organic traffic. By following these best practices, you can increase your website’s visibility, leads, and conversions and stay ahead of the competition.

Remember, SEO requires time, effort, and resources, and it may take a while to see significant results. However, with patience and persistence, you can achieve your SEO goals and grow your online business. So, start implementing these tips today and watch your website climb the search engine rankings!