Introduction
On Page SEO refers to all the optimizations we do on our own website — on the content, code, structure, and metadata — to help our page rank higher in search engines. Unlike Off-Page SEO (which involves backlinks and external factors), On Page SEO gives us full control to improve user experience and visibility.
The Real Purpose of On-Page SEO:
When someone searches for something on Google (like “how to make money online”), Google’s algorithm scans millions of pages to find the best match.
To decide which page to show first, it looks for:
- Relevance of content
- Keyword presence
- Quality of writing
- Site structure
- Mobile responsiveness
- Schema markup, and more
Our On-Page SEO is what helps Google understand what our page is about and whether it deserves to rank.
On-Page SEO: WordPress First Approach.
When it comes to On-Page SEO, there are generally two different approaches or platforms we can work with:
- Coding-Based Websites – This involves manually editing the HTML, CSS, and other code to optimize the website for search engines.
- WordPress Websites – This uses a Content Management System (CMS) that allow us to optimize our site without needing advanced coding knowledge.
For beginners like us, WordPress is often the best choice. It’s user-friendly, widely used, and does not require any prior background in coding languages. Most SEO tasks can be handled using easy-to-use plugins like Rank Math SEO or Yoast SEO.
In this guide, we will first focus primarily on On-Page SEO for WordPress websites primarily hosted by HOSTINGER. The reason is simple: it’s faster to learn, more accessible to beginners, and allows us to focus on creating and optimizing content without worrying about technical coding.
By starting with WordPress-based SEO hosted by HOSTINGER, we’ll be able to understand the core principles of On-Page SEO in a practical, hands-on way — which can later be applied to coding-based websites if needed.
Using Rank Math Plugin (in WordPress)
Rank Math Plugin is one of the most powerful SEO plugins for WordPress websites. It gives us a score (out of 100) based on how well we’ve optimized our content.
Think of it like a personal SEO trainer giving us suggestions on how to improve our blog post.
Let’s go through each section of the On-Page SEO checklist and explain why it matters.
1. Focus Keyword Setup
What it is:
This is the main keyword or phrase we want our article or webpage to rank for.
Example:
If our article is about “Best DSLR Cameras in India”, that exact phrase should be set as our Focus Keyword or we can also short it like “Best DSLR” “DSLR Camera in India” and “DSLR Camera”, related to our “Content” or “Title” we must use that particular as our “Focus Keyword”.
Why it matters:
This tells Rank Math what the core topic is. It will analyse our content and give us a feedback on keyword usage.
2. Basic SEO Checklist
🔹 Keyword in SEO Title
Make sure that our keyword is in the main title that shows up in Google.
Example:
Bad: 10 Amazing Cameras to Buy
Good: 10 Best DSLR Cameras in India (keyword included)
🔹 Keyword in Meta Description
This is the short description (150–160 characters) that appears below your link on Google.
Example:
“Looking for the best DSLR cameras in India? Compare top models with features and price here.”
🔹 Keyword in URL (Permalink)
Short URLs rank better. Include the keyword here too.
Example:www.mysite.com/best-dslr-cameras-india
🔹 Minimum Content Length (600+ Words)
Google prefers content that’s detailed and helpful. Try writing 1500–1800 words for better results.
🔹 Keyword at the Start
Place our main keyword within the first 10–15 words of introduction.
🔹 Use in Subheadings (H2/H3)
Break the content into sections with headings that include our keywords. Google reads headers to understand structure.
3. Additional SEO Tips
🔹 Image with Alt Attribute
Every image should have “alt text” that describes the image using our keyword.
Why? Google can’t “see” images — it reads the “alt text.“
What is “Alt Text”?
Example:<img src="dslr-camera.jpg" alt="Best DSLR Camera in India 2024">
🔹 Outbound Links
Link to other trusted sites like Wikipedia, government sites, or popular blogs. It shows that our content is well-researched.
🔹 Internal Links
Link to other articles on your own website’s blogs. This helps users explore more and keeps them longer on our site. This creates more user engagement that will help us to increase the volume of users visiting our website
🔹 Keyword Density
Keep keyword usage around “2% – 4%”. Avoid keyword stuffing.
What is “Keyword Stuffing”?
4. Title Readability
Make sure our title is:
- Catchy
- Power-packed
- Includes numbers (if possible)
Example:
“Top 10 Best DSLR Cameras in India (2024 Buyer’s Guide)”
Why?
Click-worthy titles improve CTR (Click Through Rate), which indirectly boosts rankings.
What is CTR (Click Through Rate)?
5. Content Readability
- Use short paragraphs (5–6 lines).
- Break content using H2, H3, H4 headers.
- Add bullet points and numbered lists.
- Insert images, videos, infographics.
Why this matters: Google cares about user experience. If our content looks clean and readable, people will stay longer — reducing bounce rate.
What is Bounce Rate?
6. Meta Tags Optimization
Meta Title and Description help both Google and users understand what our page is about.
- Keep the title under 60 characters
- Add CTA like “Buy Now”, “Learn More”, “Get Guide”
- Keep slug clean:
mysite.com/seo-guide(notmysite.com/1234/page-abc)
7. Schema Markup
What it is:
Schema is a type of structured data that helps Google show rich results like FAQs, Ratings, Prices.
Example:
If our post has FAQs, enable FAQ Schema using Rank Math.
Why this matters:
Schema can give us more space on search results → higher CTR → more traffic.
What is Schema Markup in Detail?
8. Social Media Preview
We can customize how our page looks when shared on:
Add a thumbnail image, title, and description that’s attractive.
Example:
Add a “Share This Guide” button with a nice preview.
9. Redirection & Canonical URL
Use 301 Redirections if an old page is deleted or replaced.
Add Canonical URLs if two pages have similar content — to tell Google which one is the “original”.
10. Robots Meta
Tell Google:
- Which pages to index (or not)
- Which pages to follow links (or not)
Use Cases:
- “Thank You” pages → set as
noindex - Archive pages → set as
nofollow
What’s a Good SEO Score in Rank Math?
- ✅ Above 90 = Excellent (Green)
- 🟡 80–90 = Good
- 🔴 Below 75 = Needs Improvement
Pro Tip: Never publish a blog or page until your Rank Math score is 80+. It’s like going to an interview without preparation if you don’t.
Summary–
On-Page SEO is not about gaming the system — it’s about helping Google and readers clearly understand the content.
Every single point — from keyword placement to image alt text — is a micro signal that adds up to better rankings.
So, don’t just write content, structure it strategically with On-Page SEO best practices.
Benefits of On Page SEO-
1. Establishes Topical Authority in Our Niche
When our content is structured, keyword-aligned, and semantically rich, search engines start recognizing our site as a trusted source for that niche. Over time, this authority leads to higher rankings across multiple related keywords, not just one target term.
Example:
If we consistently publish well-optimized articles about “organic skincare,” Google may also rank our for related terms like “natural beauty tips” and “chemical-free moisturizers” without even targeting them directly.
2. Creates a Strong First Impression for Search Engines
Think of On-Page SEO as our website’s handshake with Google. When crawlers scan our website page and see well-optimized titles, headings, and structured content, they instantly know what our page is about — reducing the chances of being overlooked or misclassified.
Example:
Two websites have similar articles. One uses proper heading structure (H1 > H2 > H3) and meta tags, while the other doesn’t. Google will favour the first site simply because it’s easier to understand and categorize.
3. Improves Content Value Without Rewriting Everything
One of the underrated benefits of On-Page SEO is that we can boost an existing page’s performance without starting from scratch. Updating titles, adding internal links, inserting keywords naturally, and enhancing readability can significantly increase traffic to an older post.
Example:
A 3-year-old blog post about “Best DSLR Cameras” suddenly ranks higher just by refreshing product details, updating keywords, and improving the meta description.
4. Increases the Chance of Earning Featured Snippets
On-Page SEO practices like structuring our content into Q&A format, using lists, and adding concise definitions make your content eligible for Google Featured Snippets — those top “answer boxes” above search results.
Example:
By answering “What is cold brew coffee?” in one crisp paragraph, a coffee blog gets its content displayed above all other results.
5. Enhances Voice Search Compatibility
With the rise of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, content optimized for On-Page SEO — especially long-tail keywords and conversational phrases — is more likely to be picked up in voice search results.
Example:
Instead of targeting “best running shoes,” optimizing for “What are the best running shoes for beginners in 2025?” can land your site in voice search responses.
6. Boosts Engagement Metrics That Influence Rankings
When On-Page SEO improves readability, load speed, and relevance, visitors stay longer, scroll deeper, and interact more — which signals to Google that your page is high quality and worth ranking higher.
Example:
A blog with a clean structure and relevant internal links sees users visiting 3–4 pages instead of bouncing after the first one.
7. Builds a Sustainable SEO Foundation
Unlike paid ads, the benefits of On-Page SEO don’t disappear when we stop investing money. Once our pages are optimized correctly, they continue to attract organic traffic for months or even years with minimal maintenance.
Example:
An optimized guide on “How to Bake Sourdough Bread” keeps generating traffic for years because the content remains relevant and search-friendly.
8. Supports All Other Digital Marketing Efforts
On-Page SEO strengthens everything from content marketing to social media sharing. A well-optimized page means better previews on social platforms, higher ad Quality Scores in PPC campaigns, and easier backlink acquisition for Off-Page SEO.
Example:
Sharing an article on Facebook with a proper meta title, description, and image increases click-through rates without spending extra on ads.
Key takeaway:
On-Page SEO is not just about ranking — it’s about creating a content ecosystem where search engines understand us, users trust us, and our content stays valuable for the long run.
“Quick FAQ Guide for Beginners – On Page SEO Techniques & Types”
What is On Page SEO Techniques?
On-Page SEO techniques are the methods used within your own website to make it search-engine friendly. These include optimizing titles, meta descriptions, headings, content quality, keywords, images, internal links, and page speed so that search engines clearly understand your page and rank it higher.
What are the 4 types of SEO?
The four main types of SEO are:
On-Page SEO – Optimizing website content, titles, meta tags, keywords, and structure.
Off-Page SEO – Building backlinks, brand mentions, and social signals outside your site.
Technical SEO – Improving site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawling, indexing, and schema.
Local SEO – Optimizing for location-based searches to target nearby customers.
What is On Page Technical SEO?
On-Page Technical SEO focuses on backend and structural elements of a page that affect search engine crawling and indexing. This includes clean URL structure, proper heading hierarchy, mobile optimization, page speed, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and fixing broken links — all while still being on the same page itself.
How to Improve SEO on a page?
To improve a page’s SEO:
Use a focus keyword naturally in the title, meta description, headings, and first paragraph.
Create high-quality, original, and in-depth content.
Add internal and external links.
Optimize images with ALT text.
Ensure fast loading speed and mobile responsiveness.
Use structured data (Schema Markup) for rich results.