On Page SEO Checklist
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
On Page SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
On page SEO is an important step to optimizing your blog post or content to increase the chances of it ranking high on the major search engines. To rank well in the search engines it takes more than just SEO on page optimization, but on page SEO is a critical step that shouldn’t be left out if you want to increase your chances of your content ranking on page one of the major search engines.
On Page SEO Checklist
Before we jump into the actual how-to of on page SEO, you may be wondering what is on page optimization. Its to optimize a single page (such as one blog post), or one piece of content, with the aim of making it very easy for the search engine spiders that crawl all of the information on the Internet to know what your content is about.
So, you’re not just writing your content for people, you’re also weaving your content with the search engine crawlers in mind.
OK, on to the checklist.
1) Target a keyword
You must first target a keyword that you want to rank for. I think it is best to select a keyword that makes sense for your niche market, or that will attract the type of people that you are looking for. I’ll just use this very blog post as an example.
In this blog post I’m seeking to do two things. One, is to provide value and educate people in regards to on page optimization; and two, is to attract people who are looking to make money using the Internet. If a person is searching for more information for on page SEO then there is a very high chance that they are already using the Internet to pull in some income, looking to make that happen, or helping a client make that happen.
Either way, they are researching a marketing strategy, SEO marketing; and I’ve got answers and solutions for such people. They may decide to pick up Predatory SEO for in-depth SEO training, or maybe they want a viral blogging system that is super easy to use and that has a high domain authority which weighs in on SEO marketing and ranking easier on the search engines, or maybe they want to get both of those plus more and decide to join our Prosperity Team to tap into the variety of marketing tutorials we provide, the live team support and training, and the various systems set up all designed to make it easier for you to make a significant income online.
2) Include the Keyword in Your Title
Make sure that your keyword is in the title of your blog post, page, article, or whatever piece of content you are publishing to the Internet.
3) Include the Keyword in the URL
Put your keyword in the URL of your post. This is also referred to as the permalink. This is the actual URL that people will have to type into their web browser to get to this particular page. Example: http://blog.adambw.com/your-keyword
Usually, after typing in your title for your blog post, the whole title will automatically be placed into your URL; but I recommend only including your keyword.
4) Include the Keyword in Your Heading Tags
You want to include your keyword in Heading 1 (which is your title, so that one is already covered), Heading 2, and Heading 3. Make sure these headings contain more than just the keyword. Remember, you are crafting your content for search engines AND humans. So create good headings that make sense and contain your keyword.
5) Sprinkle the Keyword Throughout Your Content
You want to make sure that you add your keyword throughout your content, but you want to avoid keyword stuffing. The general rule of thumb is to include your keyword every 100 words; or, if you have a plug-in that measures keyword density, the general rule of thumb is to keep it around 1%.
I don’t worry over this. I just make sure my keyword is included 3 to 5 times throughout my content.
Place your keyword in the first and last paragraphs of your content, and its even better if you put the keyword in the first and last sentences of your content; but at least aim to put your keyword in the first and last paragraphs.
6) Bold Your Keyword
You want to bold your keyword, and it’s best to bold your keyword the first time it appears in your content; so this should be either in the first sentence or the first paragraph.
7) Underline Your Keyword
Some where throughout your content, underline your keyword.
8) Italicize Your Keyword
Some where throughout your content, italicize your keyword.
Note that if you bold, underline, and italicize the same keyword then that won’t count. You must bold the keyword, then later in your content italicize it, then find the keyword again in your content and underline it. So all of these font changes need to be done separately.
9) Include Your Keyword in the Alternative Text of Images
Its a good idea to add at least one image to your content when possible, such as a blog post. When you add an image, go to the alternate text and put your keyword in there.
Images also make your content more interesting, and help to break up the text; which makes it easier for people to read. So use images, or videos even, in your content.
This doesn’t affect search engines, but for the sake of your readers use lots of white space, and break your content down into smaller paragraphs. If you see a big wall of text with no breaks in it, do you want to read it? Yeah, no one else does either.
10) Link to Your Own Content
Link to your own content, or to internal pages. For example, if you are writing a new blog post, and you’ve written a blog post in the past that relates to it, then link to that blog post.
The search engines like to see you linking back to your own content, and this is a good way to keep people on your blog or website longer and that’s always a good thing.
11) Aim for 700 to 1,000 Words
To increase your chances of ranking better, you want your content to be between 700 to 1,000 words. Between 500 and 700 words use to be the goal, but now you should aim for at least 700 words.
Can you still rank content that has less than 500 words? Sure, I’ve seen it happen; but remember, here we are talking about on page SEO and maximizing your chances of ranking very high on the search engines. Creating content that is at least 700 words is part of that process.
12) Select Only One Category
Pick the one category that makes the most sense for your blog post. If the category doesn’t exist, create it.
Selecting multiple categories for one blog post can make it look like you have duplicate content in the eyes of the search engines, and you don’t want that.
13) Add the Keyword and Related Keywords in Your Tags
Tags are basically keywords, just a different name. Nearly all places where you can post or publish content has a place for you to include keywords or tags. So add in your primary keyword, and related keywords.
An easy way to get related keywords is to do a search on your primary keyword in Google. Then go all the way down to the bottom of the page and most of the time Google will list related keywords.
14) You’re Done. Publish
That’s on page SEO. Once you’ve done that, publish your content; and then you can begin off-page optimization. I’m not going to get into that here though.
Off Page SEO
If you want to learn off page SEO, then I recommend you pick up the Predatory SEO course. It’ll show you how to do off page optimization.
If you received value from this post please ‘share’ this page so someone else can benefit from it.
Lead with Value – Live with Purpose,
Adam Waller
Facebook: 615-388-2770
PS: Come join me on the Prosperity Team if you have a desire and dream to provide a better life for yourself and for those you love. We are a team of savvy, like-minded entrepreneurs who are leading the way towards a more successful tomorrow and prosperous life for you and your family.
*Live & Recorded “Think and Grow Rich” Mindset Call: Monday – Friday
*
*Prosperity Team Training Site with Step by Step Tutorials
*Prosperity Team Facebook Mastermind
*Marketing System, Followup Emails, & Webpages that will do all the selling for you
*
Click the button below and join now.
PPS: If you like this post on On Page SEO Checklist, tweet and comment below.
=============================================
Results are not guaranteed, they are earned.
Click this link to see average earnings!
=============================================
Image courtesy of [89studio] and [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net