Rachana Swarna

Digital Marketer | Content Strategist | Brand Builder

What is On-Page SEO? A Beginner-Friendly Overview

On-Page SEO (also called on-site SEO) refers to the practice of optimizing individual web pages to rank higher in search engines and earn more relevant traffic. Unlike off-page SEO (like backlinks), on-page SEO deals with everything within your website.


πŸ”‘ Key Elements of On-Page SEO

1. Title Tags

  • Appears in search results as the clickable headline.
  • Should include your main keyword.
  • Keep it under 60 characters.

βœ… Example: Best Running Shoes for Beginners | 2025 Guide


2. Meta Descriptions

  • Brief summary below the title in search results.
  • Use keywords and a call to action (CTA).
  • Aim for 150–160 characters.

3. Headings (H1–H6)

  • Use only one H1 per page (usually the title).
  • Use H2, H3 for structure and keyword-rich subheadings.

4. URL Structure

  • Keep URLs short, readable, and keyword-based.

βœ… Example: /on-page-seo-guide
❌ Avoid: /page?id=1234


5. Keyword Optimization

  • Naturally include your target keywords in:
    • First 100 words
    • Headings
    • Image alt text
    • Anchor text (internal links)

⚠️ Avoid keyword stuffing.


6. Internal Linking

  • Link to other relevant pages within your site.
  • Improves site structure and user experience.

7. Image Optimization

  • Use descriptive filenames and alt text.
  • Compress images for faster load times.

8. Mobile Friendliness

  • Ensure your website is responsive and easy to use on phones and tablets.
  • Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing.

9. Page Speed

  • Fast-loading pages rank better.
  • Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify issues.

10. Content Quality

  • Unique, relevant, and engaging content is king.
  • Answer search intent and provide value to the user.

βœ… Final Tip:

On-page SEO isn’t a one-time taskβ€”it’s an ongoing process of updating, improving, and aligning with both user needs and search engine changes.