On Page SEO Strategies

This strategy guide compiles the slew of guides to on page search engine optimization into one comprehensive guide.

Get the technical stuff out of the way

• Installing Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, and Bing Webmaster Tools
• Using Google Webmaster Tools to rectify any existing crawl errors on your site
• Making sure your URLs are not too long, and embed your targeted keywords
• Make sure your site isn’t too slow – avoid tables and frames as they cause the page to load slower
• Make sure you have a mobile site that is easy to access via smartphones
• Have a site map. It’s that simple.

The fundamentals

• Page Title: pretty obvious, but make sure your title is integrated with some of your target keywords
• One H1 tag: you should have one, but no more than one, H1 tag that defines the scope of what is on your page – it should be integrated with keywords as well … one search engine optimization scorecard even suggests that your H1 tag shares at least three words with your title tag
• Meta-Description Tag: this is what appears beneath the title and link to your site in Google and other search engines – it gives potential readers an idea of what they might find when they get to your site

Some Dos and Don'ts

• DO add some bold and italic text to your page for emphasis
• DON’T add too much of it – those should be used to emphasize; if you use too much, it will not emphasize what it is supposed to
• DO include external links to good websites that are relevant to the topic about which you are writing. Also, include links within your site, including to your homepage. These help Google map your site.
• DON’T link to shady or trashy sites. They won’t help you; they can even hurt you. In addition, it may pay to have links open in a new window or tab. Try not to include great links that, when a reader clicks on them, divert from the page someone is reading. There’s a chance they won’t come back.
• DO integrate social media into your site. Google offers many widgets for this – pick one and use it.
• DON’T rely solely on social media as your search engine optimization strategy; it won’t work.
• DO use multiple avenues to convey information including infographics, images, videos, and animations. These are particularly conducive to those reading on smartphones and tablets. In addition, readers have a historically short attention span – keep them interested.
• DON’T forget the alt-tags. Not everyone has a device that can view images, not to mention that Google robots can’t. Including alt-tags helps in your overall search engine optimization.

Content, Content, Content

Up to this point, the majority of this guide has been about how to format your content. At the end of the day, that is the proverbial icing on the proverbial cake. If the cake itself isn’t good, then the icing is all for naught. Impeccable content is vital if you want to have a successful blog or website. Pick something you want to write about, do some research, find some great links that would be useful to readers, and incorporate your keywords. Don’t overdo it with the keyword density, however. If your keyword is on page SEO strategies, then incorporate that into what you are writing about. Don’t force it in; a general rule of thumb is 3-5 times, depending on the length of the page, or about eight percent (8%). Divide whatever you are writing into approachable, readable sections subdividing with H2, H3, and H5 tags for readability … don’t let your readers get a case of TLDR syndrome. Also, make sure you update your site, and add new content regularly. This will cause readers to bookmark your page and come back regularly, generating more organic traffic, which ultimately drives up your position in search results.

Summary

The worst thing you can do is to get caught up in all of the new, “shiny” SEO techniques while ignoring the basics. Not having the basics taken care of sets you up to fail. Remember, content is the most important part of an SEO strategy, so produce it regularly and follow the aforementioned strategies, and your site will start to climb up the search results ladder.

About M Street

M Street is a web development company in Lancaster, PA, that has built dozens of websites, predominantly for small businesses in York, Harrisburg, Reading, Pottsville, Lancaster, and Strasburg, Pennsylvania. M Street is skilled in search engine optimization and has a proven record with its clients. Let them build a strategy for you today. Contact M Street.