TOP FIFTY ON-PAGE SEO CHECKLIST
1. Title Tag Optimization
- Ensure the primary keyword is in the title tag.
- Keep the title tag under 60 characters.
- Use unique, compelling titles for every page.
2. Meta Description Optimization
- Write a unique meta description under 160 characters.
- Include your primary keyword.
- Make the meta description engaging to encourage click-throughs.
3. URL Structure
- Keep URLs short and clean.
- Include primary keywords in URLs.
- Use hyphens to separate words.
4. Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3)
- Only use one H1 tag per page, which includes the primary keyword.
- Use H2 and H3 tags for subheadings and include variations of secondary keywords.
5. Content-Length
- Aim for a content length of 1,000-2,000 words depending on the topic.
- Focus on quality and value, not just word count.
6. Keyword Placement
- Include the primary keyword in the first 100-150 words of the content.
- Naturally, incorporate secondary keywords throughout the content.
7. Content Uniqueness
- Avoid duplicate content on your site.
- Use plagiarism checkers to ensure originality.
8. Keyword Density
- Maintain a natural keyword density (1-2%).
- Avoid keyword stuffing.
9. Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords
- Use related keywords and phrases that provide context to your main keyword.
- Tools like LSIGraph can help you find LSI keywords.
10. Internal Linking
- Link to other relevant pages on your site.
- Use descriptive anchor text (include relevant keywords when appropriate).
11. External Linking
- Link to high-authority external websites to add value to your content.
- Ensure the links are relevant to your content.
12. Mobile-Friendliness
- Ensure your website is fully responsive and provides a good user experience on all devices.
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check.
13. Page Load Speed
- Aim for a page load time of under 2 seconds.
- Compress images, leverage browser caching, and reduce server response time.
14. Image Optimization
- Use descriptive file names for images.
- Include alt text for each image, incorporating relevant keywords.
15. Schema Markup
- Implement schema markup (structured data) to enhance the appearance of search results.
- Use JSON-LD format.
16. Canonical Tags
- Set canonical URLs to avoid duplicate content issues.
- Ensure that pages with duplicate content have canonical tags pointing to the original.
17. HTTPS/SSL Security
- Ensure your website uses HTTPS (SSL certificate).
- Google prefers secure websites.
18. Breadcrumbs
- Use breadcrumbs to enhance navigation and user experience.
- Add structured data for breadcrumbs for better search results.
19. Readability
- Write content that is easy to read and understand.
- Use shorter sentences, simple language, and paragraphs.
20. Content Formatting
- Use bullet points, numbered lists, and bold/italics for key points.
- Break up long blocks of text to improve readability.
21. Content Freshness
- Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and relevant.
- Use the most recent data and statistics.
22. Multimedia Integration
- Use videos, infographics, and images to increase user engagement.
- Include multimedia with descriptive alt tags.
23. Social Sharing Buttons
- Add social sharing buttons to make it easy for users to share your content.
- Place them prominently near the content.
24. Target Search Intent
- Ensure your content matches user search intent (informational, transactional, etc.).
- Focus on answering user queries comprehensively.
25. Bounce Rate Optimization
- Reduce bounce rate by improving content engagement and user experience.
- Use engaging CTAs and optimize page speed.
26. Use Descriptive Anchor Text
- Make anchor text descriptive and relevant to the linked page.
- Avoid using generic terms like "click here."
27. Rich Snippets
- Use rich snippets (reviews, FAQs, etc.) to stand out in search results.
- Implement structured data markup to enhance rich snippet generation.
28. Optimize for Featured Snippets
- Answer questions directly and clearly to target featured snippets.
- Use question-based headers (e.g., “What is SEO?”).
29. Pagination
- If you use pagination, implement rel="next" and rel="prev" attributes.
- Avoid duplicate content issues with pagination.
30. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)
- Consider implementing AMP to improve mobile page speed.
- Optimize your AMP pages for SEO.
31. Robots.txt File
- Ensure your robots.txt file is properly configured.
- Block pages that should not be crawled (e.g., admin pages).
32. XML Sitemap
- Submit an XML sitemap to search engines.
- Regularly update it when adding new content.
33. 404 Error Page
- Create a custom 404 error page to retain visitors.
- Include links back to important pages or a search function.
34. User Engagement Metrics
- Monitor metrics like dwell time, click-through rate (CTR), and time on page.
- Optimize content based on user behavior.
35. Noindex Tags
- Use noindex tags for pages that shouldn’t be indexed (e.g., thank-you pages, admin areas).
- Ensure important pages are indexable.
36. Crawlability
- Make sure all important pages can be crawled by search engines.
- Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor crawl errors.
37. Optimize for Local SEO
- Include your location in titles, descriptions, and content if relevant.
- Add your business to Google My Business.
38. Content Hierarchy
- Maintain a clear content hierarchy with proper use of headings (H1, H2, etc.).
- Ensure content is organized logically.
39. Multilingual Optimization
- If applicable, use the hreflang attribute for multi-language or multi-regional pages.
- Provide localized content.
40. Avoid Thin Content
- Ensure every page has substantial, valuable content.
- Avoid pages with very little or no content.
41. Optimize for Voice Search
- Include conversational, long-tail keywords to optimize for voice search.
- Focus on natural language queries.
42. Optimize for Core Web Vitals
- Improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
- Use Google PageSpeed Insights to monitor Core Web Vitals.
43. Optimize for E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
- Showcase author credentials and expertise.
- Use authoritative sources and provide fact-checked content.
44. Local Business Schema
- Implement LocalBusiness schema for local SEO.
- Provide business information like name, address, and opening hours.
45. Optimize for Mobile Indexing
- Ensure all content is visible and accessible on mobile.
- Google uses mobile-first indexing, so mobile optimization is key.
46. Fix Broken Links
- Regularly check and fix broken links on your site.
- Tools like Ahrefs and Screaming Frog can help identify broken links.
47. Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
- Include a clear CTA on your page that drives user action.
- Optimize your CTA for conversions.
48. Anchor Links for Long Pages
- Use anchor links (jump links) for longer content to improve navigation.
- Add a table of contents to help users jump to sections quickly.
49. Optimize Comment Section (If Applicable)
- Ensure comments add value and are not spammy.
- Allow comments to be indexed if they provide useful information.
50. Track SEO Performance
- Use tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and third-party tools to monitor SEO performance.
- Continuously improve based on insights from analytics.
