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Rory Piecuch , SEO Specialist
Meet Rory Piecuch, the maestro of SEO. With a knack for technical SEO, content marketing, and strategic planning, he deciphers the complex world of digital business with ease.
Known for his dedication and approachability, he transforms intricate SEO challenges into straightforward solutions. From start-ups to large corporations, his expert insights navigate the SEO labyrinth, lighting the way to online success.
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November 2, 2023 | Gain Knowledge
Discover effective onsite SEO strategies for startups, the most important on-page factors, and actionable tips to optimize your pages.
Ever felt like your startup’s website is an undiscovered hit song waiting for its big break? You’re not alone!
Here’s a shocker: 75% of users don’t venture past the first page of search results. (WebFX)
How do you become the main attraction and not just a sideshow? Your startup’s ticket to stardom is an onsite SEO strategy.
Become the headliner of the digital concert. I’ll crank up your site’s volume with 17 actionable on-page strategies proven to amplify your online presence.
Ready to reach page-one dominance? Let’s rock this SEO stage! 🎸🔥
Onsite SEO (or onpage SEO) is the practice of optimizing a website’s content and HTML source code to enhance its visibility in search engines. It ensures headings, keywords, links, meta tags, URLs, and other page elements align with user queries.
The goal is to elevate rankings, drive more valuable traffic to your site, and enhance the user experience.
Onsite search engine optimization is the unsung hero of a successful online presence. But why is it such a big deal?
It improves your site’s visibility and connects your business with the RIGHT audience.
Here’s why on-page SEO practices matter for startups:
Also Read: SEO for Startups: A Guide to Grow Your Business
Two headlining acts you’ll come across on the SEO stage are Onsite and Offsite SEO.
But what’s their unique sound, and why should it be music to your ears? I’ll break down the melodies and rhythms of both.
Onsite optimization focuses on your webpage’s core elements. We’re talking content, keywords, meta tags, links, heading structure, page speed, etc.
The goal? Make search engines and users love your site. (More on these later.)
Why it’s a big deal for startups:
Onsite SEO is your ticket to digital visibility. It ensures your website shines brightest when potential customers search related to your business.
Optimizing your site also improves rankings, elevates user experience, and increases organic traffic.
The result? Trust skyrockets, and curious clicks convert into loyal customers.
Hear it from Google’s Helpful Content Update:
Offsite optimization (or off-page SEO) uses external factors to build your website’s authority and trust. It’s your digital handshake with the broader online community.
Key strategies include:
Why your startup should care:
Think of offsite SEO as your digital street cred. For instance, say a respected influencer mentions your product. Their followers take notice, and your sales surge.
Backlinks are even more crucial. They’re like votes of confidence from other websites. Plus, top pages on Google often have numerous backlinks, a vital ranking factor.
The result? Stellar search rankings, increased visitors, and a sales uptick!
Stage dive into these proven onsite SEO strategies! Mastering these elements will skyrocket your startup’s online visibility and user experience.
Ready to dominate on-site optimization? Let’s go!
Checklist of 36 Actionable Tips for Optimizing Content Before Publishing
E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust. It’s in Google’s guidelines for evaluating content quality and credibility.
For instance, would you trust health advice from a random blog or a certified doctor? E-E-A-T helps differentiate the two.
Why It Matters:
Google uses these guidelines to rank content. High E-E-A-T scores strengthen your site’s trust, credibility, and authority.
When Google sees your business as trustworthy, more people will discover your site in search results. This leads to more customers and sales for your business.
The Benefits:
Actionable Tips:
Keyword usage is about integrating relevant search terms into your content. They’re specific words or phrases users type into search engines.
Think of keywords as the language of your audience. For example, if you’re writing about “coffee,” include a phrase like “how to make coffee.”
For local SEO, targeting a phrase like “best coffee shop in Portland” will connect nearby customers and improve your local search rankings.
Keywords act as bridges, connecting potential customers to your content, products, or services. Using the RIGHT keyword also aligns your page with the user’s search query.
Search intent is the why behind a user’s search query. It’s the difference between wanting to buy a product, learn about it, or compare it with others.
For example, someone searching “how to brew green tea” is likely looking for a step-by-step guide, not a product page.
Matching search intent is like tuning into your audience’s favorite radio station. They’re looking for a SPECIFIC song.
If your content isn’t playing their tune, they’ll switch stations. This means your site won’t climb the ranks or attract traffic.
However, if your content resonates with user expectations, satisfaction soars, and so do sales.
Plus, search engines prioritize pages matching intent. It’s a ranking factor with a big impact on search visibility and traffic.
Content quality delves into the depth, accuracy, and value of information. It’s not about being well-written. It’s about providing solutions, actionable advice, and answering questions.
For example, picture the difference between a generic “How to Start a Business” article and a detailed guide with actionable steps. (Like THIS one 😉)
High-quality content caters to users’ needs, delivers value, and showcases your expertise. As a result, your startup fosters trust and emerges as a reliable source.
For SEO, helpful content lures valuable backlinks, fortifies site authority, and fuels organic traffic growth.
Content freshness emphasizes the importance of keeping your information up-to-date. It’s not about creating new content but updating existing pieces to remain relevant.
For instance, a blog post on “2022 SEO Trends” should be updated annually to reflect the latest strategies. (You wouldn’t want outdated tips, right?)
Search engines favor FRESH content. It signals your site is active and current. Regular updates also show users you’re committed to providing the latest information.
Updating older content is also cost-effective because you retain existing rankings, traffic, and backlinks.
Conversely, creating new content requires more resources and time to gain visibility.
Title tags are the clickable headlines displayed on search results pages. They inform search engines and users about the page’s content.
For example, a page title like “10 Proven SEO Tips for 2024” is more enticing than “Top SEO Tips.”
Title tags directly influence click-through rates. They’re the first impression users get of your content. Therefore, an optimized title can significantly crank up organic traffic.
The meta description is a summary of your page’s content. It displays below the title tag on search results pages.
For instance, a meta description is like a movie trailer. It gives a sneak peek of what to expect without revealing the entire plot.
An optimized description like “Discover proven digital marketing strategies to skyrocket your online sales” can entice clicks.
A captivating meta description can sway a user to choose your link over a competitor.
Meta descriptions don’t directly influence rankings. However, they’re pivotal in attracting clicks. And click-through rate is an SEO ranking factor.
URL structure optimization ensures your web addresses are clear, concise, and descriptive.
Think of it as the digital address of your content. An SEO-friendly URL helps users and search engines understand your page.
For example, which URL is more user-friendly?
Clearly, the second one!
A clean URL structure aids in better crawling and indexing by search engines. Descriptive URLs also provide users with a hint about the page’s content, making them more likely to click.
Check this out! A Backlinko study shows short URLs rank above long URLs.
Header tags structure your content, making it easy to skim and understand. They range from H1 to H6, highlighting your page’s main topics.
Think of headers as the chapter titles in a book. The H1 is the title, H2s are chapters, and H3s are subsections.
For instance, “Benefits of Green Tea” could be an H2 under the main H1 title “Ultimate Guide to Green Tea.”
Headers guide search engines and users through your content. They also organize your content, improve readability, and make skimming easier.
As a result, proper heading structure contributes to better search result rankings and user experience.
Internal links connect different pages of your website. Think of it as building a web of related content, guiding visitors from one topic to another.
For example, a blog post about the “Benefits of SEO” might internally link to a detailed guide on “Onsite SEO Best Practices.”
Internal linking is a two-fold win. For users, links provide a roadmap to related content, enhancing their learning journey.
For search engines, links decipher the structure and hierarchy of your website.
External links matter, too. Linking to trusted external sites improves the credibility of your content and offers users additional value.
Anchor text is the visible, clickable words used to link content. It gives users and search engines context about what the linked page is about.
Think of anchor text as a label on a door. Instead of “Enter Here,” it says “Best Chocolate Shop.” It tells you exactly what’s behind the door before you open it.
For example, descriptive anchor text, like “content marketing for startups,” is more informative than generic terms like “click here.”
Anchor text is the spotlight on a stage, highlighting what the linked page is about.
Search engines take cues from anchors to rank pages. Yep, it’s a ranking factor.
For users, it’s a clear signpost, guiding them to relevant content.
Image optimization is the process of preparing high-quality images for web use. It ensures images have ideal formats, dimensions, and resolutions for varying devices while minimizing file size.
Additionally, SEO-friendly image makes them discoverable with appropriate alt text and file names.
For example, a product image named “blue-sneakers.jpg” with alt text “Blue Adidas Sneakers” is more SEO-friendly than “image1.jpg” without alt text.
Optimized images enhance user experience and site performance.
For instance, smaller files accelerate website speed, preventing user drop-off. Faster sites also rank higher on search engines, driving more traffic.
Also, descriptive alt text makes images accessible to visually impaired users. Plus, proper file names and alt text improve indexing and ranking.
Visual assets like images, videos, and infographics enhance your content’s appeal and engagement. They’re not just decorative. They convey information, break up text, and make content digestible.
Visuals also simplify complex topics better than text. For instance, a tutorial video can explain a process more effectively than a lengthy article.
Visuals capture attention and improve user engagement. They also cater to visual learners, add depth to your content, and convey information faster than text.
Page loading speed is how fast a webpage loads and becomes interactive. Improving page speed amplifies search rankings, enhances user experience, and increases conversions.
According to Unbounce, 70% of consumers surveyed admitted page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online retailer.
A slow-loading website can frustrate users, leading them to abandon your site. Maintaining a speedy page loading is also integral to higher conversion rates and sales revenue.
Portent reports the average conversion rate is almost 40% when a page loads in 1 second.
However, the conversion rate drops to 34% at a 2-second load time. Then, it gets worse with each additional second.
Mobile-friendliness ensures your site shines on smartphones and tablets. It’s about keeping your site functional and accessible on smaller screens.
Ever had to pinch and zoom text on your phone? Annoying, right? Mobile-unfriendly sites with tiny text, slow loads, and unclickable links drive users away.
52% of customers are less likely to engage with a company after a bad mobile encounter. (WebFX)
63% of web users are on mobile. If your site’s a mess on their device, they’ll bounce fast. Don’t let a bad mobile experience tank your sales!
Mobile-friendliness also affects rankings, especially after Google shifted to mobile-first indexing. This means Google uses the mobile version of a site for ranking and indexing.
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics Google uses to measure the quality of user experience on a website. They focus on three main areas: loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability.
For instance, imagine browsing a site where images keep shifting, causing you to click the wrong button. Frustrating, right? That’s what Core Web Vitals aims to address.
Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. A site with poor vitals may not rank well, potentially missing out on valuable organic traffic.
Also, users are less likely to leave if they have a positive browsing experience.
Schema markup is a code added to websites to help search engines provide more informative results for users. It also enhances the SERP display with rich snippets, like reviews and star ratings.
For instance, a recipe site will use Schema to specify ingredients, cooking time, and ratings. Google may display rich snippets in search results, like star ratings or preparation time.
Schema markup enhances your page listing in search results. It also provides users with more details upfront, which can influence their decision to click your link.
Rich snippets also grab more SERP space, catching eyes and boosting click-through rates.
Also Read: 10 Content Optimization Tips to 3x Your Rankings
Your onsite SEO effort is more than ticking boxes on a checklist. Content optimization is about crafting a digital presence that resonates.
Gravitate is your co-pilot in this journey. Leverage our deep SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive IMPACTFUL results.
Ready to elevate your online presence? Partner with Gravitate. Let’s accelerate your business success together.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Want to learn more SEO tips for startups? Gain incredible insight into effective marketing strategies that get results.
This comprehensive SEO for startups guide includes ten chapters of invaluable information:
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