On-Page SEO Checklist

You’ve created some content for your website and you’re now ready to put it on your website and share it with the rest of the world. Now the big question pops up; you’ve got good content, but have you utilized an on-page SEO checklist to optimize the page for search engines? The fact that you’ve created something useful and engaging is definitely going to put you ahead, but now you have to make sure that search engines can easily find it and present it to people that are looking for what you have to offer.

How do you do that?

Take a quick look at our on-page SEO checklist and see whether or not you’ve taken the necessary SEO precautions to make your new page easier to find.

Are Geo-Qualifiers Present?

The more specific you can be with locations, the easier—and higher—your content will rank for people in that area that are looking for these services. If you’re based in Toledo, and you’re ready to serve clients/customers in the Toledo, Ohio area, make sure you use this geo-qualifier a few times in your content.

This kind of specificity is great, since it automatically eliminates a huge number of irrelevant results and puts you near the top. If someone is searching for “plumbers in Toledo, Ohio,” and you use phrases or keywords that are similar, you’re putting yourself right in the sights of people with that specific need.

Have You Used Long-Tail Keywords?

There is nothing more effective for ranking high in specific search results than specificity itself. Don’t just stick to general keywords, especially if the web page or blog post you’re creating is taking on a very specific subject. Long tail keywords are three or four word phrases that get much more specific, and therefore narrow down searches considerably.

So, if you offer carpet cleaning in Toledo, Ohio as an example, try to use a similar long tail keyword in your page. It means that if someone actually types in “carpet cleaning services in Toledo,” your accurate use of this long tail keyword will push you up in the search rankings.

Are You Including Links Of Your Own?

Google likes it when you “pay it forward” and include other links that are relevant to your topic of discussion. This doesn’t mean that you have to include links to competitors or rival businesses, but if you can include something related, this can add more interest and relevance to your page and raise your rankings.

As an example, if you’re a law firm in Toledo, OH you might want to include some related website links, such as how to ensure your police report is accurate after a car accident. These types of links can be very useful, and in some cases may lead to others linking to you.

Are You Using Subheadings?

If you’re conveying a lot of information, make sure that it is properly organized and segmented. No one enjoys reading a single, continuous wall of text. Google doesn’t like this either, and will tend to favor web pages that do a better job of breaking up and organizing text.

Always make sure that your text is not just informative, it is also easy to read. Anything that gets in the way of your visitors being able to easily consume information will hurt your rankings. As people leave your site because of poor graphic design or text management, Google will take notice and respond appropriately.

Are You Formatting Your Meta Description Properly?

The Meta description is the line that appears on Google search results. It should be one to two sentences in length, with a minimum of 50 characters and maximum of 160. It should also be grammatically correct with full punctuation. This is the first thing people will see that may make them decide to go to your website, so treat it carefully.

Make sure your Meta description is succinct, accurate and descriptive. It should not confuse or make people doubt what they are about to click onto. If possible, include geo-qualifiers for even more specificity, to reinforce to people that they’re going to the right place with your website.

There’s Always More to Do

While we’ve given some good, general things people should keep an eye out for on-page SEO, that’s far from the final word. Toledo SEO for Growth is focused on making sure that people with websites get the most from search engine optimization and get better rankings, more traffic and ultimately more business. If this sounds like something you want for your website, contact us for more details.

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