On Page SEO Optimization Guide 2025
Do you know what is on-page SEO optimization in digital marketing?
This guide on on page SEO is updated and is created after analyzing the impacts of March Core Update 2025.
On-page SEO refers to the process of optimizing individual web pages to improve their search engine rankings and attract organic traffic.
Unlike off-page SEO, which focuses on backlinks and external factors, on-page SEO deals with optimizing content, HTML source code, and website structure. It is a crucial part of SEO in digital marketing, ensuring that search engines can understand and rank your content effectively.
Importance of On Page SEO in Digital Marketing
Being a SEO expert, I must say there is no comparison of onpage SEO with other areas of SEO. It is 80% of the overall SEO efforts. If you do it correct, you can entertain the following benefits;
- Better rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Improved user experience, leading to lower bounce rates.
- Higher conversion rates due to relevant and well-structured content.
- Increased website credibility and authority.
Difference Between On-Page SEO, Technical SEO, and Off-Page SEO
- On-Page SEO: This is SEO that is done on the website.
- Technical SEO: This is SEO that relates to technical factors of the website.
- Off-Page SEO: This SEO is done outside a website such as building backlinks and trust on other websites.
What Are the Factors in On Page SEO?
Here are 18 crucial factors that contribute to on-page SEO optimization after keyword research:
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Title Tag Optimization:
- What it is: The title tag is an HTML element that specifies the title of a web page. It’s displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs) and at the top of the browser window.
- Why it matters: It’s the first thing users see in search results, so it needs to be compelling to encourage clicks. It also tells search engines what the page is about.
- Best practices:
- Keep it concise (under 60 characters).
- Include primary keywords naturally.
- Make it descriptive and engaging.
- Each page should have a unique title tag.
- Example: “Best Running Shoes for Women | Top Brands & Reviews”
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Meta Description Optimization:
- What it is: A short description that appears below the title tag in search results.
- Why it matters: It provides more context about the page’s content and further entices users to click.
- Best practices:
- Write compelling and informative copy (under 160 characters).
- Include relevant keywords.
- Create a unique description for each page.
- Use a call to action (e.g., “Learn More,” “Shop Now”).
- Example: “Find the perfect running shoes for your needs. Browse our reviews of top brands and find the best deals.”
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URL Structure:
- What it is: The web address of a page.For example, our address is https://yanyem.com/
- Why it matters: Clean and descriptive URLs are easier for users and search engines to understand and remember.
- Best practices:
- Use short, descriptive URLs.
- Include relevant keywords.
- Use hyphens to separate words (not underscores).
- Avoid using parameters or session IDs.
- Example:
/running-shoes/womens/marathon-runners
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Header Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.):
- What they are: HTML tags used to structure content and indicate headings and subheadings. H1 is the main heading, H2 is a subheading, and so on. Structuring your content will better pass relevance signal to search engine robots.
- Why they matter: They improve readability for users and help search engines understand the hierarchy of information on a page.
- Best practices:
- Use only one H1 tag per page (usually the page title).
- Use H2-H6 tags to structure subheadings.
- Include relevant keywords in headings where appropriate.
- Maintain a logical hierarchy.
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Keyword Placement:
- What it is: Strategically using relevant keywords throughout your content.
- Why it matters: It helps search engines understand what your page is about and match it to relevant search queries.
- Best practices:
- Use keywords naturally in the title tag, meta description, headings, and body content.
- Don’t stuff keywords; focus on writing clear and informative content.
- Use related keywords (LSI keywords) to broaden your reach.
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Content Quality and Relevance:
- What it is: Creating valuable, informative, and engaging content that satisfies user search intent.
- Why it matters: High-quality content is essential for attracting and retaining users, as well as for ranking well in search results.
- Best practices:
- Focus on providing in-depth and comprehensive information.
- Write original content; avoid plagiarism or duplicate content.
- Use visuals (images, videos) to enhance your content.
- Keep your content up-to-date.
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Image Optimization (Alt Text, File Size, Format):
- What it is: Optimizing images to improve page speed, accessibility, and search engine visibility.
- Why it matters: Images can slow down page load times if not optimized. Alt text is essential for accessibility and helps search engines understand the image content.
- Best practices:
- Use descriptive alt text for every image.
- Compress images to reduce file size without sacrificing quality.
- Use appropriate image formats (JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics). By the way, Google recommends modern image format, which Webp.
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Internal Linking:
- What it is: Linking to other relevant pages within your website.
- Why it matters: It improves website navigation, distributes link equity (SEO value), and helps search engines discover new content.
- Best practices:
- Link to relevant pages within your site.
- Use descriptive anchor text (the clickable text of the link).
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External Linking (Outbound Links):
- What it is: Linking to authoritative websites outside of your own.
- Why it matters: It can add credibility to your content and provide users with additional resources.
- Best practices:
- Link to reputable and relevant websites.
- Avoid linking to spammy or low-quality sites.
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Mobile-Friendliness:
- What it is: Designing your website to be responsive and easy to use on all devices (desktops, tablets, smartphones).
- Why it matters: Mobile searches are now more common than desktop searches. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings.
- Best practices:
- Use a responsive design framework.
- Ensure your website loads quickly on mobile devices.
- Use touch-friendly navigation.
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Page Load Speed:
- What it is: The time it takes for a web page to load.
- Why it matters: Slow-loading pages can lead to high bounce rates and a poor user experience. Google considers page speed in its ranking algorithm.
- Best practices:
- Optimize images.
- Minify CSS and JavaScript files.
- Use a fast web hosting provider.
- Leverage browser caching.
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Schema Markup Implementation:
- What it is: Adding structured data for rich snippets to your website’s code to help search engines better understand your content.
- Why it matters: It can lead to rich snippets in search results, which can improve click-through rates.
- Best practices:
- Use schema.org vocabulary.
- Implement schema markup for different types of content (articles, products, events, etc.).
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Content Length and Readability:
- What it is: The length of your content and how easy it is to read. You can check the readability of your page on Yoast Readability Checker.
- Why it matters: Longer, in-depth content can often perform better in search results, but it’s important to ensure that it’s also readable and engaging.
- Best practices:
- Write content that is comprehensive and covers the topic thoroughly.
- Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up text.
- Use short sentences and paragraphs.
- Use a readability checker to assess the readability of your content.
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User Experience (UX) & Engagement Metrics:
- What they are: How users interact with your website, including metrics like bounce rate, time on site, and pages per session.
- Why they matter: Positive user engagement signals can indicate to search engines that your website is valuable and relevant.
- Best practices:
- Create a user-friendly website with easy navigation.
- Provide high-quality content that meets user needs.
- Encourage user interaction (e.g., comments, social sharing).
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Canonical Tags to Avoid Duplicate Content:
- What they are: HTML tags used to specify the preferred version of a web page when you have multiple versions of the same content (e.g., with and without www).
- Why they matter: They prevent duplicate content issues, which can confuse search engines and dilute your ranking signals.
- Best practices:
- Use canonical tags to point to the preferred version of each page.
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SSL Certificate (HTTPS):
- What it is: A digital certificate that encrypts communication between your website and users’ browsers. Not having a valid SSL can derank your keywords and you will lose a significant organic traffic portion.
- Why it matters: HTTPS is a ranking factor. It also builds trust with users, as it indicates that your website is secure.
- Best practices:
- Obtain an SSL certificate and install it on your server.
- Redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
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Breadcrumb Navigation:
- What it is: A hierarchical navigation menu that shows users their location on a website.
- Why it matters: It improves website navigation and helps search engines understand the structure of your site.
How to Optimize a Page for On-Page SEO
SEO starts with keyword research.There are many things you can do after keyword research. You must know Google releases many updates in a year, which are true attempts to improve search engines ranking system. March Core Update 2025 has hit over 50% of the websites. People are still trying to find out what happened in this update. We are sure that this update focuses more on onpage side of SEO and AI content rather than other elements. If you do the keyword research right, almost 70% of your effort should be complete. After that, optimize all factors mentioned above.
Read also: Best Ecommerce Platforms for SEO in 2025
How to Evaluate On Page SEO Optimization
- Use SEO Audit Tools – Tools like Google Search Console, SEMrush, and Ahrefs provide insights into on-page SEO performance.
- Analyze Organic Traffic and Keyword Rankings – Track improvements in search rankings and organic traffic over time.
- Monitor Bounce Rates and Engagement Metrics – High bounce rates may indicate poor user experience or irrelevant content.
- Check Internal and External Links – Ensure internal and outbound links are relevant and working correctly.
- Review Title Tags and Meta Descriptions – Make sure they are optimized and include target keywords.
- Evaluate Page Load Speed – Use Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix performance issues.
- Ensure Mobile-Friendliness – Test responsiveness using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
- Audit Content Quality and Readability – Use readability tests and ensure content aligns with user intent.
- Check for Duplicate Content – Use canonical tags to resolve duplicate content issues.
- Validate Schema Markup – Use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to ensure correct implementation.
Pro tip: You can reach us out and Yanyem will provide a free SEO audit of your website.
Competitor Analysis
Competitor analysis helps in understanding what’s working for others in your niche. Moreover, here are the steps for evaluating onpage SEO of your competitor’s website include:
- Identifying top competitors in SERPs.
- Analyzing their title tags, meta descriptions, and content structure.
- Evaluating their internal linking strategy.
- Checking their keyword strategy and content quality.
- Learning from their strengths and improving your SEO strategy.
Pro tip: See what keywords your competitors are ranking. And you can also target those keywords.
On Page SEO Checklist
- Use relevant keywords naturally in content
- Optimize title tags and meta descriptions
- Ensure proper header tag hierarchy
- Use descriptive and SEO-friendly URLs
- Optimize images with alt tags and compressed file sizes
- Improve website loading speed
- Ensure mobile responsiveness
- Implement internal linking effectively
- Use external links from authoritative sources
- Write high-quality, engaging content
- Ensure proper schema markup implementation
- Secure website with HTTPS
- Avoid duplicate content using canonical tags
- Improve user experience (UX) and navigation
- Regularly update content to stay relevant
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which is the best SEO company to seek on page SEO services?
Yanyem is a one-stop-shop if you are looking for onpage SEO service, or want to hire SEO specialists for your website.
What is an on-page in SEO?
On-page SEO refers to the optimization of individual web pages to improve search rankings. It includes content, meta tags, headings, internal linking, and more.
What is on SEO in digital marketing?
In SEO in digital marketing, on-page SEO is crucial as it helps search engines understand your content, leading to higher rankings and better user experience.
What is off-page and on-page SEO?
On-page SEO focuses on content optimization, while off-page SEO deals with external factors like backlinks and brand mentions.
What are the techniques of on-page SEO?
Some key on-page SEO techniques include optimizing titles and meta descriptions, using relevant keywords, improving site speed, enhancing user experience, and implementing structured data.