White Hat SEO BASIC ON PAGE SEO - AND CHECKLIST - TO BEGIN

[Mr.Brilliant]

BASIC ON PAGE SEO - AND CHECKLIST - TO BEGIN

1. Begin with a Purpose-Driven Page Title

• Primary keyword must appear close to the beginning.
• Keep it under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off on Google.
• Craft it like a mini-pitch, spark curiosity, but stay clear and honest.
  
  Important is to write a human-friendly title first, THEN weave the keyword naturally.

2. Create a Meta Description That Sells the Page

• Think of it like your elevator pitch in 155 characters.
• Highlight the benefit or solution your page offers.
• Few people recommend including one or two variations of your keyword.

Make it a little bit clickbait so users want to click.

Example:
Instead of "Learn about SEO today,"
write "Discover proven SEO strategies to boost your site's traffic and outrank your competition."

3. Use SEO-Friendly URLs

• Short. Simple. Descriptive.
• Always lowercase, hyphen-separated.
• Include your main keyword only once, no stuffing!

Avoid: /best-seo-tips-seo-2025-search-engine-optimization Use: /seo-tips-2025

4. Organize Content with Clear Headings (H1-H6)

• Each page should have one H1 the main title.
• Subtopics should be structured with H2 and H3.
• Always use headings to make your content scannable.

SEO bots love a clean header structure because it tells them what’s important.

5. Write High-Quality, Comprehensive Content

• Write for depth, not just word count.
• Address what, why, how, and what’s next about your topic.
• Sprinkle secondary keywords naturally.
• Break text into short paragraphs (2-4 lines).
• Add bullet points or numbered lists for easier reading.

Keyword stuffing is not the solution, is a thing of past. Mostly people stuff a ton of keywords thinking it will boost the rank.

6. Boost Internal Linking

• Link to other relevant pages on your own site.
• Use descriptive anchor texts , no lazy or generic "click here" links.
• 3–5 internal links per 1000 words is a good benchmark.
• Internal links help distribute authority and keep users exploring your site.

7. Use High-Quality Outbound Links

• Link to trusted, authoritative sources.
• Ensure the outbound links add real value for readers.
• If needed, use nofollow on promotional or untrusted links.
• Outbound links make your page seem connected and legitimate.

8. Make Images SEO-Friendly

Use descriptive file names (example: seo-ranking-guide.png).
Fill alt text for each image (describe what the image shows).
Compress images for faster loading without losing quality.
Images matter — Moz considers both their technical quality and contextual relevance.

9. Speed and Mobile Optimization are Non-Negotiable

• Compress files (CSS, JS, HTML).
• Implement browser caching.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
• Test on mobile devices (responsive layout is a must).

Mobile Optimization is very important, it should be done in all possible way.

10. Implement Basic Schema Markup

• Add Schema for articles, FAQs, local business, reviews, etc.
• Helps search engines understand your content faster.
• Can improve CTR with rich snippets in search results.

Even basic schema boosts your credibility in SEO audits.

11. Focus on User Engagement Signals

• Add interactive elements: FAQs, videos, polls, quizzes.
• Encourage users to stay longer (better dwell time).
• Improve navigability with a Table of Contents for long pages.

Rank Brain understands that engagement = value = better rankings.

12. Fix All Technical SEO Errors

• No broken links (404 errors)
• Properly structured internal redirects (301s)
• No duplicate title tags or meta descriptions
• Use HTTPS encryption (SSL certificate)

SEO audits flags technical issues that seem small but greatly affect your grade.

Quick Checklist to A-Grade Your On-Page SEO

Category	Action
Titles	Short, keyword-first, human-readable
Meta Description	Engaging, benefit-driven, keyword-included
URL	Short, clean, keyword-based
Headings	One H1, clear H2-H3 structure
Content	Deep, useful, engaging, scannable
Internal Links	3–5 links, descriptive anchors
Outbound Links	Trusted sites, value-adding
Images	Alt text, compression, relevance
Mobile	Fully responsive, fast loading
Schema	Basic structured data implemented
Technical SEO	No 404s, SSL, correct redirects

Finally-
You don't need a magic trick to earn an A grade on page SEO
You need clarity, organization, speed, and genuine value.

I always feel, a webpage is based on the concept of human body, where Google bots read it from top to bottom. Identify the keywords and rank. This is just the basic one can easily do and get listed in top 100 with little bit of efforts even with difficult keywords

 

[Zwielicht]

Nice write-up, thank you for sharing this, @Mr.Brilliant!

I've added it to the newsletter going out next Sunday.

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