The Squeeze

On-Page SEO Techniques for Higher Rankings

Written by Brianna Adams | January 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM

How are on-page SEO techniques different from classic SEO? Well, on-page SEO isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy—it’s a collection of techniques tailored to optimize individual pages. Each page on your site plays a unique role, requiring a specific set of optimizations to rank higher and attract more traffic. Whether you’re fine-tuning your homepage or perfecting a blog post, understanding the nuances of on-page SEO is essential for achieving better rankings and driving more organic traffic.

Understanding the Per-Page Approach to On-Page SEO

Every page on your website serves a distinct purpose, and the tactics you use for page-specific SEO should be different based on its purpose. Lets break things down into types of pages and talk about how each type uses different on-page optimization. Whether it’s driving sales, providing information, or generating leads, By adopting a per-page approach to on-page SEO, you ensure that each page is optimized to perform its best based on its unique content and objectives.

For example, a product page may require detailed descriptions and optimized images, while a blog post may benefit from structured headings and internal links. This targeted approach allows you to maximize the effectiveness of your SEO efforts, ensuring that each page contributes to your overall search performance.

Homepage: Focus on Title Tags and Meta Descriptions with branded keywords. Use clear H1 and H2 tags to introduce your business and core offerings. Ensure strong internal linking to key site areas and optimize images with alt text. Prioritize fast load times and mobile optimization.


Product or Service Pages: Use specific product/service keywords in the Title Tag and Meta Description. Optimize for long-tail, intent-driven keywords in headers and body content. Implement product schema markup to enhance search visibility. Include clear calls to action and ensure fast load times.


Blog Posts: Target long-tail keywords in the Title Tag and optimize headers (H1, H2) for readability and keyword relevance. Include internal links to related posts or product pages. (I.e. this one) Use image alt text and optimize for readability and engagement. Ensure content answers user queries comprehensively.


Landing Pages: Focus on campaign-specific keywords and align content with paid ad copy. Use compelling CTAs and optimize for conversions with concise, keyword-rich content. Ensure fast page load times and mobile responsiveness. Match the content closely to the user’s intent.


 About Us Page: Optimize for brand-related keywords in the Title and Meta Description. Include local keywords if applicable, and ensure trust signals such as awards and testimonials are prominent. Use internal links to relevant pages. Incorporate schema markup for organizational data.


Contact Page: Use location-specific keywords in the Title Tag and Meta Description. Ensure consistency of your name, address, and phone number (NAP) with Google My Business. Include LocalBusiness schema markup for SEO. Embed a Google Map if relevant.


Testimonials or Case Studies Pages: Incorporate keywords in the Title Tag and Meta Description, focusing on terms like “Success Stories” or “Case Studies.” Use structured data for reviews or testimonials. Highlight measurable results and link to related services or products. Ensure clear, well-organized content.

Identifying Common On-Page SEO Issues

Before you can fix on-page SEO issues, you need to identify them. Common problems like missing meta tags, duplicate content, and slow loading speeds can significantly impact your page rankings. Regular SEO audits, whether manual or using tools like Google Search Console, can help you pinpoint these issues (we talk more about these tools later).

Start by running a comprehensive SEO audit of your website. Tools like SEMrush or Screaming Frog can scan your pages for common issues such as broken links, missing alt text, and unoptimized title tags. Pay close attention to the following:

  • Title Tags: Defines the page’s title in search results; includes relevant keywords to attract clicks.
  • Meta Descriptions: A brief summary in search results to increase click-through rates, usually includes keywords.
  • Headers (H1, H2, H3): Organizes content into sections, helping search engines and users navigate the page.
  • Internal Linking: Links to other pages within your site to improve crawlability and user experience.
  • Alt Text: Describes images for search engines and accessibility, helping images rank in search.
  • Fast Load Times: Pages that load quickly improve user experience and boost rankings.
  • Mobile Optimization: Ensures a site displays correctly on mobile devices, important for SEO.
  • Long-Tail Keywords: Specific, less competitive keyword phrases that target high-intent users.
  • Calls to Action (CTAs): Prompts users to take an action, such as "Buy Now" or "Sign Up."
  • Structured Data: Code that organizes content for better search engine understanding.
  • Campaign-Specific Keywords: Targeted keywords used for specific marketing or ad campaigns.
  • NAP Consistency: Consistent Name, Address, Phone info across all online listings for local SEO.
  • Trust Signals: Elements like reviews and awards that build credibility with users and search engines.
  • Google Map Embedding: Embedding a map improves local SEO and helps users find your location.
  • Keyword Optimization: Naturally adding relevant keywords to content to improve search rankings.
  • Conversion Optimization: Improving the page to increase the likelihood of visitor actions (e.g., purchases).

Identifying these issues early allows you to address them before they cause significant damage to your rankings. Follow this graph to determine what component you should focus on first based on importance: 

Common On-Page SEO Issues and How to Fix Them

Once you’ve identified issues on your pages, the next step is fixing them. Whether it’s optimizing your meta tags, improving content structure, or enhancing page load speeds, each fix can boost your page’s performance. Here’s a breakdown of the most common on-page SEO issues and how to address them effectively:

  1. Missing or Unoptimized Meta Tags:
    • Fix: Write unique, compelling title tags and meta descriptions for each page. Make sure they include your target keywords and accurately reflect the content.
  2. Duplicate Content:
    • Fix: Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page, or consolidate duplicate pages into a single, more comprehensive one. Learn more about this in our SEO Myths post.
  3. Slow Page Load Speeds:
    • Fix: Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize HTTP requests to reduce load times. Tools like GTmetrix can provide specific recommendations.
  4. Poor Content Structure:
    • Fix: Use clear, descriptive headings (H1, H2, etc.), short paragraphs, and bullet points to make your content easier to read and navigate.
  5. Broken Links:
    • Fix: Regularly audit your site for broken links and either update them or remove them entirely. Tools like Screaming Frog can help automate this process.

By systematically addressing these issues, you can improve your on-page SEO and enhance your website’s overall performance.

Tools and Techniques for Page-Specific SEO Optimization

Optimizing each page requires the right set of tools. Here’s a comparison of the most effective tools and techniques to ensure each page on your site is fully optimized:

  • Google Search Console: Ideal for monitoring site performance and identifying issues like crawl errors and mobile usability problems.
  • Yoast SEO: A popular WordPress plugin that helps optimize meta tags, content readability, and more directly within the CMS.
  • SEMrush: A comprehensive tool for running site audits, tracking keyword rankings, and analyzing competitors.
  • Screaming Frog: Crawls websites to analyze and audit technical SEO issues like broken links, duplicate content, and page structure.

Using these tools, you can conduct detailed page-specific analyses to ensure that each aspect of your on-page SEO is fully optimized.

Monitoring and Updating On-Page SEO

On-page SEO isn’t a one-time task. Regular monitoring and updates are crucial for maintaining and improving your page rankings. As algorithms evolve and content ages, keeping your on-page SEO fresh and relevant can make all the difference in staying ahead of the competition.

Set a schedule for regular SEO audits—monthly or quarterly—to check for new issues and track the performance of previous optimizations. Updating old content, refining meta tags, and adjusting for new keyword trends can help keep your site competitive.

Conclusion

On-page SEO techniques are essential for achieving higher rankings, but remember that each page is unique. By adopting a tailored, per-page approach and regularly updating your efforts, you can ensure every page on your site performs at its best. Consistent monitoring and optimization are key to maintaining your site’s health and ensuring long-term success in search engine rankings.

SEO Makeover Challenge

Think your on-page SEO is up to par? Take our SEO Makeover Challenge! Submit your most underperforming page, and our experts will choose one winner for a FREE SEO overhaul—complete with a detailed report on how we optimized your page to climb the rankings. Ready to rise to the challenge? Submit Your Page Here and let's see what you're made of!