On-Page SEO: How to Optimise Every Page of Your Website

On-page SEO refers to the elements on your actual website pages that you can optimise to improve search rankings. Unlike building backlinks (off-page SEO), this is entirely within your control.

Here's a complete checklist for every page.

1. Title Tag

The title tag is the clickable blue headline in Google search results. It's one of the most important on-page SEO factors.

Best practices:

• Include your primary keyword near the start
• Keep it under 60 characters
• Make it compelling — it's your ad in Google's search results
• Each page should have a unique title

Example: Web Design Surrey | Affordable Websites from £60 | OWD Web Design

2. Meta Description

The meta description appears below your title tag in search results. It doesn't directly affect rankings but does affect click-through rates.

Best practices:

• Include your primary keyword
• Keep it under 160 characters
• Include a clear value proposition and call to action
• Make it unique for each page

3. H1 Heading

Your H1 is the main headline on the page. Every page should have exactly one H1 that includes your primary keyword.

Example: Web Design in Surrey — Affordable Websites Built to Rank

4. Heading Structure (H2, H3)

Use H2 and H3 headings to structure your content. Include secondary keywords naturally in some of these headings.

5. Keyword Usage in Content

• Include your primary keyword in the first 100 words
• Use it naturally throughout the page (don't overstuff)
• Include related terms and synonyms
• Aim for at least 400–600 words of useful content per page

6. URL Structure

Keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.

✅ /web-design-surrey ❌ /page?id=547

7. Image Optimisation

• Use descriptive file names: web-design-surrey.jpg not IMG_1234.jpg
• Add alt text to every image describing what it shows
• Compress images to keep file sizes small

8. Internal Linking

Link to other relevant pages on your website. This helps Google understand your site structure and spreads page authority.

9. Page Speed

Faster pages rank better. Check your speed using Google PageSpeed Insights.

10. Mobile Optimisation

Ensure every page looks perfect and loads fast on mobile devices.

The SEO Checklist Summary

• [ ] Unique, keyword-rich title tag
• [ ] Compelling meta description
• [ ] Single H1 with primary keyword
• [ ] Structured H2/H3 headings
• [ ] Keyword naturally in content
• [ ] Descriptive, clean URL
• [ ] Optimised images with alt text
• [ ] Internal links to related pages
• [ ] Fast load speed
• [ ] Mobile-friendly

Need Help With SEO?

Contact our SEO team for a full website audit and optimisation service.