On-Page SEO Checklist

You already know that on-page SEO is essential for optimizing your site for both search engines and users. But staying on top of every detail can be overwhelming.

To streamline the process, I've put together a comprehensive On-Page SEO Checklist to ensure your pages are fully optimized and perform at their best.

This checklist covers all the key elements you need to monitor, so you can consistently enhance your site’s visibility and drive more traffic.

You can also find this On-Page SEO Checklist for Google Sheet (make a copy)

Also, you can find the SEO Checklist to use directly from this page.

And finally, if you want to know more about each point, check the article after the checklist below:

What Exactly Is On-Page SEO?

You want your website to look good, be easy to navigate on, and be found when people are looking for it. That’s what on-page SEO is all about.

There are a few key parts of on-page SEO we’ll explore, and each one plays a role in helping your site get noticed.

You don’t have to tackle everything on this checklist all at once… really, you don’t. Let’s focus on what’s most important for your site, step by step, without feeling overwhelmed. 

Quick Intro to the Use of Keywords

I like to keep my on-page SEO checklist handy, but nothing will work without the right keyword strategy and the right content structure

The first step I'd like to discuss is understanding how to use the keywords to help you achieve success. 

Targeting the right keywords is key. Doing some keyword research to find what people are searching for it’s nice

But it won’t work if you don’t know a few things directly related to On-Page: your keyword won’t work if you don’t use it in the meta title and the H1 at least.

Title Tags 

A title tag is an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) element that provides a title for your webpage, which search engines and browsers use to display and understand what your page is about. You’ll see it in search engine results, browser tabs, and link previews when your page is shared on social media or messaging apps.

Let's use "Beginner Photography Courses" as a title tag example. Straight away you can see three important functions of this tag.

First, it appears in the browser tab, helping users find the right page when they have multiple tabs open.

Second, do you know those clickable headlines in Google's search results? Well, often what you see are these title tags.

And third, it may be used in link previews on social media, encouraging more people to click through to your page.

A well-written title tag can attract more clicks, which improves your click-through rate and boosts your visibility. Plus, they’re key in link previews. 

If your title is missing or poorly optimized, people might be less likely to click when your page is shared on social media or in messaging apps. And let’s not forget that title tags also appear in browser tabs, making it easier for users to navigate when they have multiple pages open.

Optimizing your title tags is important for SEO, traffic, and user experience. Aim to keep your title tags between 50 and 60 characters. If your title is too long, Google might cut it off in search results, which could confuse users and hurt your click-through rate. On the other hand, if it’s too short, you might struggle to describe your page properly. The sweet spot is in the middle.

Remember to look at your competition and see what's working for them. You can adjust your site, but don’t just copy what others are doing. Perhaps make sure your title stands out and captures users’ interest to encourage more clicks.

For extra SEO points for consistency and good user experience, you should make your title tag  match your H1 tag, which is the main heading on your page (we'll get there next chapter).  For instance, if your title tag is "Beginner Photography Courses Online," your H1 tag could be something like "Master the Art of Photography: Beginner Courses Online."

There are a few common mistakes to avoid with title tags. Don’t stuff them with too many keywords, as that can make them look spammy. Stick to one clear, relevant keyword. Avoid using the same title tag across multiple pages, as this confuses search engines and lowers your chances of ranking.

Keep your titles short enough to avoid them getting cut off in search results, and make sure they’re descriptive enough to tell users what your page is about.

Finally, put the most important words at the beginning of your title tag. For example, instead of writing "Sign Up Today for Online Photography Courses," try "Beginner Photography Courses | Learn from Home." This makes it easier for users to find your page quickly and gives your title more impact in search results.

Meta Descriptions

A meta description is an HTML element that provides a short summary of a webpage. It typically appears below the page’s URL and title on Google’s search results. While Google can generate this snippet automatically based on the search query and content on the page, you can control it by writing your own custom meta description.

You can add a meta description to the code in the head section of a webpage or to your content management systems through SEO tools.

Meta descriptions are important, but not in the way some might think. They don’t directly affect your ranking on search engines, but they play a big role in encouraging users to click on your link. A well-written meta description can improve your click-through rate, which indirectly boosts your page’s visibility. When users search for something on Google, the meta description is often their first impression of your page, and if it matches what they’re looking for, they’re more likely to click.

You should set meta descriptions for key pages, such as landing pages, product pages, or blog posts you want to rank.  However, writing your own meta description gives you more control over how your page is presented in search results.

To write an effective meta description, keep it short and clear, around 105 characters or 680 pixels for mobile, and slightly longer for desktop. Include your target keyword to make sure the description matches the searcher’s query. Google often bolds keywords in the snippet, making it more noticeable to users. Make sure the description reflects what the user is looking for—think about their search intent. If they are searching for "buy beginner photography courses," a description like "Explore our beginner photography courses and start mastering your camera today" would work well.

Adding a call to action can also improve your meta description. Encouraging users to “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up Today” makes the snippet more engaging. Using the same description for multiple pages doesn’t add value and can confuse search engines about what each page is about so make every call to action unique.

Headers, essential SEO

Header tags break up the text, making it easier for users to scan the content and understand its structure.

For example, your H1 is your page’s or post’s title, and it should focus on the central theme or keyword of the content. Then, H2 tags break down the main sections, while H3 to H6 tags can be used for even more detailed breakdowns when necessary.

They are crucial to SEO because each header tag is signaling to Google that this content is important and then the search engines will understand the context of the page and match it with search queries.

But it’s not just about SEO—header tags make your content more readable for users. When content is broken up into logical, easy-to-scan sections, readers are more likely to stay on your page and find the information they’re looking for. This improves user experience and can increase time spent on the page, which is a factor search engines take into account.

To add header tags in HTML, enclose your text within the appropriate tags. For example, an H1 for the title "Beginner Photography Courses Online" would look like this in HTML:

"<h1>Beginner Photography Courses Online</h1>"

And if you’re using a platform like WordPress, you can easily apply header tags through the text editor without needing to touch the HTML code. Most content management systems (CMS) allow you to choose different header levels (H1, H2, etc.) from a dropdown menu, simplifying the process of structuring your content which is convenient and doesn't take long.

The Importance of URL Structure, one of the main aspects of on-page SEO

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is basically the address for a page on the internet.

Research shows that shorter URLs tend to rank better. 

You can check this by confirming that pages at the top of Google results usually have URLs that are about nine characters shorter than those in the 10th spot.

Now, why do URLs matter so much? URLs are easy to share, so they help spread your content across different platforms.

Another tip: group similar content together in directories. This helps both users and search engines figure out how your site is organized. For example, you could have www.example.com/policies/return-policy.html for a static page that rarely changes, and www.example.com/promotions/new-promos.html for content that’s updated regularly. Google notices these patterns and adjusts how often it crawls certain parts of your site based on how frequently the content changes.

Oh and avoid duplicate content, because if the same content shows up under different URLs it can be confusing for both people and search engines.

Content Optimization: Quality Over Quantity

Let's start this chapter by understanding thus: what really matters is creating content that’s valuable, relevant, and actually meets the needs of your readers.

When you’re writing, think about what your audience is searching for and what questions they have. Your goal should be to answer those questions fully, not just give a quick overview. For example, if someone is looking for “quick SEO tips,” they’re probably also interested in tools, examples, and best practices to get the most out of those tips. The more in-depth and helpful your content is, the more engaged your readers will be, and they’ll keep coming back for more.

And here’s another thing to keep in mind—update your content regularly. Google loves fresh content, and it shows your readers that you’re staying on top of the latest trends. Keeping your content fresh not only helps with SEO but also keeps your audience engaged and informed. So, make sure your content is always evolving, just like the needs of your readers.

Speed and Mobile Friendliness are key for on-page SEO

As we are in 2024, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer a bonus, it’s essential.

With over 60% of all internet traffic coming from mobile devices, optimizing your website for mobile is about more than just improving user experience. It’s also key to boosting your visibility in search engines and increasing your conversion rates.

So, if you want to connect with your audience and stay relevant, it’s crucial to ensure your site works seamlessly on mobile.

Creating a mobile-friendly site isn’t just about making things look good; it’s about ensuring your website functions smoothly for users on the go.

The first step? Make sure your design is responsive. A responsive design allows your website to automatically adjust to different screen sizes and resolutions, giving users a flawless experience whether they’re on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet. This is especially important now with Google’s mobile-first indexing in play—your site’s mobile version is prioritized in search results.

Speed is another huge factor when you think that 53% of mobile users will leave a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load... That’s why optimizing your website’s performance is so important. Start by compressing your images, cleaning up your code, and ensuring your hosting provider can handle fast loading speeds.

Also, the navigation on mobile needs to be simple and intuitive so make sure your menus and buttons are big enough and well-spaced to avoid accidental clicks.

And when it comes to content, it’s not just about making it shorter, but making it scannable and easy to digest. Use shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings to break up text. The font also matters—what looks good on a desktop might be too small or hard to read on a mobile device, so choose fonts that are clear and legible on smaller screens.

Mobile trends are always evolving, and user expectations are constantly changing so you always have to keep your website optimized. Analyze your feedback and statistics. Whether it's new design trends or updates in search engine algorithms, keeping your site fresh and user-friendly will keep visitors coming back and improve your overall SEO performance.

Schema Markup and Structured Data

Schema markup is a kind of code you can add to your website that helps search engines understand what your content is about.

It enhances your content's visibility and helps users find what they're looking for.

One of the best things about using schema markup is that it can improve your visibility in search results. When search engines know what your content is, they can show it in special ways, like rich snippets, which can grab people’s attention and lead to more clicks. It’s also helpful for voice search, making it easier for search engines to find the right information when people ask questions aloud.

Using schema markup is a good idea not just for search engines but also for your visitors.

If you’re unsure where to start, Google offers tools like the Structured Data Markup Helper that guide you through tagging your content and creating schema markup.

You can choose from several ways to add schema markup. Many people prefer JSON-LD because it’s the easiest to manage and keeps your code tidy. Another option is RDFa, which offers some extra flexibility, but it’s similar to Microdata. Just keep in mind that Microdata can get a bit messy in your HTML.

Wrapping It Up

In the ever-changing landscape of SEO, you always have to keep yourself updated so that you can always provide the best experience while using your website.

Make sure to fine-tune your title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags—they’re still super important. Don’t forget about speed and mobile-friendliness; your visitors (and Google) will appreciate it! Adding a dash of schema markup can help you stand out from the crowd. Remember, SEO isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing journey filled with learning and adjustments. With these tips in your toolkit, you’re ready to take on the SEO game and watch your site thrive. Keep pushing forward; you’ve got this!

Looking for other SEO Checklists? See this SaaS SEO Checklist.