The first thing you need to start ranking high in Google is good On Page SEO. Search Engine Optimization consists of on page and off page, and if you are hoping to rank in a niche of even medium competition you will need to nail both. In this post, I will talk about some basic on page SEO tips to help you get started on the right foot!
On Page SEO Tips
In today’s Google, one thing you DO NOT want to do is over optimize. This holds true for both on page and off page, but since this post is about on page I will talk more about what that means.
The days of ranking domains based on exact match domains are gone. That does not mean you cannot rank with an EMD, it just means you have to approach it much differently than you did before.
It is fine to have an EMD, but if you do make sure you don’t overdo it with your content. The EMD alone is enough to tell Google what you are trying to rank for, so take it easy as far as getting that keyword into your content. In a 100 word article, just 1 or 2 times would suffice.
If you are not using an EMD, getting your target keyword in your URL is huge. This is a VERY important factor in On Page SEO, in fact it is one of the two most important things you can do.
For example, if you are targeting the keyword Detroit plumber, you would want to create a page on your site like this:
http://YourAwesomeSite.com/detroit-plumber/
So as far as on page goes, you have gotten off to a good start getting your target keyword in the URL.
The next most important thing you can do is to get that same keyword in an H1 tag. H1 tags weigh heavily in the eyes of Google, and you should definitely get your target keyword in an H1 if you want to nail your on page SEO.
Let’s just assume you nail those, so what next?
There is a lot of debate about your meta description. Matt Cutts from Google states that the meta description plays no role in ranking, however, that has been debated fiercely for some time. In fact, I have done some test pages/posts on existing sites of mine, and have noticed that when I have my target keyword in my URL, H1, and my meta it ranks better than if I don’t. Now I am not gonna say it is a must, because I have achieved great rankings while not using it in the meta as well.
One thing I can say for sure is, if you put your target keyword in all 3, pump the brakes and use it sparingly (if at all) in your content. Remember, the main thing nowadays is to NOT over optimize. If you are over optimized you will NOT get past page 2, it just won’t happen. The best bet would be to sprinkle in related/LSI keyword as opposed to using the keyword you are using in the URL and H1 tag. Create your content based on a topic, not just 1 keyword and you will achieve better rankings for your target keyword and other related searches.
Conclusion
Getting you on page right is a relatively easy task. Get your main keyword in your URL, work it into an H1, and experiment with using it in your meta description. See what works best for you, and then proceed accordingly.
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Til next time!
Josh Parker
