Let’s get this out of the way: yes, you need on-page SEO

On-Site SEO, content optimization, page-level SEO… Whatever you call it, here’s what you need to know

On-page SEO can make or break your website’s success. While it might sound technical, it’s really just about helping search engines (and real people) understand what your content is about.

Having a website without on-page SEO is like having a store with no signs – technically it exists, but nobody can find it. When your traffic isn’t where you want it to be, on-page optimization is often the missing piece.

You’ve got options, of course. You could hire an in-house SEO specialist (expensive), bring in a marketing agency (also expensive), or enlist a freelancer (hit or miss). But before you start writing cheques, wouldn’t it make sense to understand what you’re actually paying for?

That’s where this guide comes in. By understanding the basics of on-page SEO, you’ll be able to:

Make smarter decisions about who to hire (and avoid getting ripped off)
Tackle the simple stuff yourself before outsourcing the complex work
Speak the language of SEO so you can evaluate if someone actually knows what they’re talking about

On-page SEO explained (no-fluff)

Here’s the essential breakdown of on-page SEO without the industry jargon or unnecessary complexity. If you’re looking for the straightforward, actionable version that actually delivers results, you’re in the right place.

WTF are we talking about here? (definition)

Optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and attract relevant traffic through improved content, HTML source code, and user experience.

What’s this trying to accomplish? (goals)

Improve page visibility, relevance, and user engagement to increase organic search rankings.

What actually works? (best practices)

Keyword optimization in titles, headers, content, and meta tags.
High-quality, valuable, and relevant content creation.
Optimized URL structure.
Internal linking to related pages.
Fast page load speed.
Image optimization (alt texts, compression).
Mobile responsiveness.

Where do most people get it wrong? (common mistakes)

Keyword stuffing or unnatural keyword usage.
Duplicate content or thin content.
Poorly written or missing meta tags.
Slow page loading times.
Lack of mobile optimization.

When should you focus on on-page SEO? (use cases)

Launching new pages or content pieces.
Refreshing existing content for higher rankings.
Enhancing content relevancy for targeted keywords.

How much will this move the needle? (impact on rankings)

High impact.

How long until I see some movement? (timeframe for results)

Short to medium-term (weeks to a few months).

What should be in your SEO toolkit? (tools + software)

SurferSEO
Ahrefs
SEMrush
Yoast SEO or Rank Math (WordPress plugins)
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
PageSpeed Insights

How do you know if it’s working? (metrics to track)

Keyword rankings
Organic traffic
Click-through rate (CTR)
Bounce rate and dwell time
Conversion rate from organic visits

Who’s crushing it with on-page SEO? (examples of successful implementation)

HubSpot’s comprehensive blog posts (significant organic growth)

Ahrefs’ detailed keyword-targeted guides ranking highly for competitive terms

Who should you be listening to? (experts)

Brian Dean (Backlinko)
Cyrus Shepard (Zyppy SEO)
Kyle Roof (High Voltage SEO)

Is this something you can DIY? (difficulty level)

Easy to intermediate.

What’s this going to set you back? (cost considerations)

Low to moderate, primarily involving labor/time unless outsourcing content creation and audits.

On-page SEO: Where to go from here?

You’ve got the on-page SEO basics down, but the search landscape changes faster than Google can update its algorithm.

Stay ahead with these deep dives from the Loganix blog:

Or if you’d rather spend your time growing your business instead of obsessing over title tags and meta descriptions, get in touch with our team. We’ve helped hundreds of businesses just like yours climb the rankings with proven on-page optimization strategies.