On-page SEO is an essential component of any successful digital marketing strategy. It refers to optimising individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. On-page SEO is crucial because it helps search engines understand your website and its content, as well as identify whether it is relevant to a searcher’s query.
That said, despite its importance, many website owners and digital marketers still make common on-page SEO mistakes that can negatively impact their website’s search engine ranking, user experience, and overall online visibility:
Mistake 1. Poor or Duplicate Content
One of the most common on-page SEO mistakes is having poor or duplicate content on your website. Search engines like Google value high-quality, original content that provides value to users. If your website has low-quality or duplicate content, search engines may not rank it highly or even penalise it in search results.
To avoid this mistake, always create unique, valuable, and informative content that is relevant to your target audience. Focus on addressing their needs, questions, and concerns. And don’t forget to update your content.
Mistake 2. Missing or Poorly-Written Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Title tags and meta descriptions are critical on-page SEO elements that provide a brief summary of your web page’s content. They appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) and can significantly impact click-through rates (CTR). A missing or poorly-written title tag or meta description can result in lower CTRs and reduced organic traffic.
To make sure you don’t commit this mistake, always write unique and compelling title tags and meta descriptions for each page on your website. Ensure they accurately describe the content and include relevant keywords, and also keep title tags within 50-60 characters and meta descriptions within 150-160 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
Mistake 3. Keyword Stuffing
While using relevant keywords in your content is essential for on-page SEO, overusing or “stuffing” them can have negative consequences. Keyword stuffing can make your content appear spammy and unnatural, leading search engines to penalise your website and decrease its rankings.
Avoiding this mistake means focusing on creating high-quality content that naturally incorporates relevant keywords without overusing them.
Don’t forget to use LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords, which are related terms and phrases that provide context to your main keywords. This helps search engines better understand your content and can improve your website’s ranking.
Mistake 4. Ignoring Image Optimisation
Images can significantly impact your website’s load time, user experience, and SEO. Large, unoptimised images can slow down your website, leading to higher bounce rates and lower search engine rankings.
To ensure your website doesn’t run into long load times, compress and resize images to reduce their file size without compromising quality. Tools like TinyPNG or Compressor.io can help with this. Also, use descriptive file names and include relevant keywords in your image file names and alt tags, and use the appropriate image format (JPEG, PNG, or GIF) depending on the type and purpose of your image.
Mistake 5. Neglecting Internal Linking
Finally, internal linking is the practice of linking to other pages on your website. It helps search engines discover and index your content and can improve your website’s SEO by allowing search engines to understand your site’s structure and hierarchy.
To avoid this, create a logical and organised website structure with clear navigation menus and categories. Additionally, regularly review and update your internal links to ensure they are accurate and relevant.
Conclusion
Avoiding common on-page SEO mistakes can significantly improve your website’s search engine ranking, user experience, and overall online visibility. By focusing on creating high-quality, unique content, optimising your title tags and meta descriptions, and more, you can ensure your website is well-optimised for search engines and users alike. So, what are you waiting for? Get started with on-page SEO today and avoid the mistakes we’ve shared in this article.
The SEO Room offers holistic website-related services, from SEO to web design, to help businesses get the most out of the digital landscape. If you are looking for a Perth SEO agency, work with us today!
