A Quick On-Site SEO Checklist

By Jason Habing on 20 August 2012 @ 9:51 AM.

Tags: seo, onsite seo, checklist.

If you’re like most of the SEO community, you spend a lot of your time looking for links and not quite as much time doing on-site SEO. While I consider link building the heart of any successful SEO campaign, it is also very important to ensure that your on-site factors are optimised for success.

Here is a quick checklist to do on any page you create.

Ensure That Your Title Contains Your Keyword

Let’s say we are targeting the keyword "blue widgets". You should make sure that the keyword is included in the title tag of your page. For example, the title might be something like "Blue Widgets" or "Blue Widgets By TheWidgetCo" or even "Blue Widgets | TheWidgetCo".

You will notice a few things about these potential title tags.

First, I include "blue widgets" at the beginning of the title to indicate to search engines that this keyword is important to my page. Second, I keep the titles relatively short so as to not dilute the importance of the "blue widget" keyword.

Keep this in mind while creating your own title tags.

Make Sure To Use The Keyword In The Content (But Not Too Much)

If you are targeting "blue widgets" you want to be sure and use this keyword in the content of your post or web page. However, be sure to not overuse the keyword as this can be considered keyword stuffing.

Basically, try to use the keyword naturally through the post, and in different contexts. For example, you might mention "why you like blue widgets" or "how you use blue widgets".

Use The Keyword In A Header

You should try your best to use the keyword in a header that is on the page. This indicates to Google and other major search engines that this keyword is important enough to the page that you would make major headings about it.

This doesn’t mean you have to use only the keyword in a header. Just try to use it naturally. For example "Common Problems With Blue Widgets".

If your page truly is about blue widgets (or whatever your keyword might be) you should have no trouble fitting it in a header or two on your page.

Use A Picture Of The Keyword And Add Alt Tags

When at all possible, insert a picture of whatever the keyword is you are trying to target. For this example, a picture of a blue widget would be great. Then, in the alt tag, label the image as "blue widget" or whatever keyword you are targeting. Also, it never hurts to make sure that the name of the image file contains the keyword. Perhaps it is labeled bluewidget.jpg.

If your post is about a keyword that does not seem to be possible to represent with an image, you are going to have to think outside of the box.

For example, let’s say you are trying to target the keyword "motivational quotes", you might not think that there is a picture to represent this. However, think about what "motivational quotes" might be represented by. This might be a picture of a happy person, someone finishing a run, or someone working hard.

Use Meta Tags

Meta tags are indications to search engines on what your web page is about. It is important to include these to be as optimise for search as possible. Your page title should include the keyword and so should your meta description. Meta keywords were recently said to have little impact on search rankings, but they are worth optimising while you are at it.

You would be surprised at how many people forget to add this information to the pages of their website.

Don’t Forget The Basics

It is easy to jump on the hottest trends in link building or SEO. You could spend hours reading every new blog post on how to build great links and make viral content.

However, don’t forget the basics. Before you should start building large amounts of links to your website, you should make sure that you have all of your on site SEO in order. After all, it is the one part of your site that you have the most control over!

Did I miss anything? Have any questions? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

About the Author

This was a guest contribution from Jason from Survey Examiner, a site devoted to providing useful reviews and info on paid survey panels online. Check it out now to learn how you can get paid to take surveys, whether you are a stay at home mom or looking for online jobs for 14 year olds.

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