Search engine optimization, back 10 years ago, was all about on-page optimization. Back in the early days, it was simply a contest to see who could put the most keywords on their site. If you had the most keywords, you won. But things have changed.
Today, stuffing your site with keywords is actually a good way to get penalized by Google, but that doesn’t mean that on-page optimization is dead. It just means that it is more nuanced than it once was. Here are some tips from a top internet marketing company that will help you optimize your on-page SEO to rank better in the SERPs.
1) Optimize Keywords
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but optimizing your keywords is about more than filling a page with a keyword.
In fact, top SEO packages from professional SEOs will suggest that you use your keywords naturally. Most people can tell when a webpage has been stuffed with keywords because it either becomes too difficult to read or it repeats the word so much that it becomes obvious to the reader that the text is not meant for then, but rather search engines.
So work your keywords in naturally to the page text and don’t overuse them. If your readers don’t notice what keyword you’re targeting, you’re probably doing it right.
2) Evaluate All the Page Elements
Google no longer evaluates simple page text to determine search relevancy. It measures the depth and relevancy of text as well as the design and more. So if you have only been measuring keywords, you’re way off base.
Overall, Google rewards sites that have an all-around positive user experience. If you have a low bounce rate and people seem to link to your content more than comparable sites (because it’s so awesome!), you’ll be rewarded and you’ll move up in the SERPs.
3) Target Users
The introduction of the Google Panda update saw a big shift away from Google simply crawling page text, now they use algorithms to determine if a page will actually be useful to a human user (they’ve developed these algorithms by studying actual users).
So instead of targeting search engines, target users. If your page elements and overall quality give a user confidence and make them want to stay on your site, you’ll probably do well on Google.
4) Target Pages
Instead of trying to optimize your home page for every keyword and every possible use, try splitting everything down so that specific pages on your site target specific users and searches.
That way you’ll be able to better write and optimize individual pages instead of trying to make your homepage a monstrous page that tries to capture everyone and every search at the same time. Not only will this help your page rank, but when you target pages to specific users, you’ll get better conversions.
On-page SEO isn’t a matter a tricking the search engines. It’s about getting people interested in your site. If you can do that, you won’t have to worry about the search engines.
Guest Author Byline: Shane contributed this guest post. Passionate about all things Internet Marketing related, he writes on everything from the best SEO plans to how to find the right Internet marketing company for your needs.
