On-page SEO refers to optimization techniques applied directly on a website, focusing on content, structure, and user experience to improve search engine rankings. Off-page SEO involves strategies outside of the website, like building backlinks, brand mentions, and social media engagement to enhance its online authority and reputation. While on-page SEO ensures a site’s foundational health, off-page SEO boosts its external visibility and credibility.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can be an overwhelming project. As website owners must pay attention to many aspects of a website, they may ask what SEO factors make the most difference. The common question is, “Which is more important – On-page SEO or off-page SEO?”
SEO experts reply that both are equally important but for different reasons. In fact, the answer to this question is more nuanced and detailed than a simple nod in their general direction. It involves understanding each practice, recognizing its unique elements, and admiring how they can work together to achieve SEO goals.
What Is On-Page SEO?
On-page SEO is the process that ensures a website will index on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) and improves the ranking on those SERPs. It refers to all SEO techniques and tactics employed on the website itself.
You may think of on-page SEO as the foundation for any SEO. Conducting on-page SEO will make it easier for search engines to crawl and understand your web pages, increase your SERPs rankings, or satisfy and delight your website visitors with design, content, structure, or performance.
On-Page SEO Factors
Website developers must consider various on-page SEO elements when designing, building, adding, or optimizing web pages. They must ensure that search engines can read and rank their website. Still, they must also take the user’s experience of the website into account. Ultimately, achieving both goals will establish higher visibility, better traffic, and more customer conversions.
1. Website Content
Value-driven website content is at the heart of on-page SEO. Webpage text needs to be relevant, well-written, and easily readable. In this way, search engines can identify your topics and corresponding keywords. Likewise, visitors will receive the information they are looking for when they search those terms; in terms of business goals, you’ll hit your conversion goals more efficiently.
2. Keywords
Carefully chosen and naturally-incorporated keywords are critical for SERPs indexing and ranking. Suppose a search engine understands that you are providing the answers for long-tail keywords and offering value for specific keyword searches. In that case, they will rank you higher for search results.
3. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
When browsing search results, your audience views title tags and meta descriptions as a website preview. Optimizing them for search intent makes individuals more likely to click on your page to view the content. In other words, your click-through rate depends on it.
4. Image Alt Texts
You may have high-definition images on your website, but how can you help search engines read your images and relate them to your website topic? How can you optimize the user experience for those who cannot load or see the photos correctly? Alt text or alt tags are the perfect solutions for all these situations, as they describe your image succinctly.
5. Navigation
Your navigation should be intuitive for the user, helping them achieve their search intent goals and enticing them to stay on your website. It should also be apparent to search engines how you structure your website and its content. A simple way to accomplish this is by adding navigation breadcrumbs, showing visitors exactly where they are on your website. For instance, you can include the steps hierarchy on the top of any given page (ex. Home > Clothing > Women’s Clothing > Pants > Leggings > Product).
6. Internal Linking
Similar to navigation, internal linking encourages users to explore more aspects of your website and allows search engines to understand corresponding web pages. Providing relevant internal links on different pages is an important on-page SEO technique.
7. Responsive Design
Website developers should never forget all the different ways a user can access their website. They may use their desktop computer or laptop but also prefer to use their smartphone or tablet. The website should respond and perform well from any device for an optimal user experience and higher search engine rankings.
8. Website Performance
Any user would rather spend time on a website that performs optimally; that means aesthetically-pleasing designs, intuitive content structures, easy navigation, fast loading times, and optimal page speeds. Since the user is likely to spend more time on this type of webpage, search engines will automatically rank them higher than those that perform poorly.
What Is Off-Page SEO?
Off-page SEO is a process that improves a website’s popularity and, in turn, increases SERPs rankings. However, these SEO practices occur off the initial website, through third-party websites, webpages, and social media platforms.
While you directly control on-page SEO, off-page may be more challenging. At the very least, it can take longer to accomplish. However, that does not mean it should be pushed to the back burner. When combined with on-page SEO, it can be a powerful way to boost exposure, gain better visibility, build credibility and authority, and drive organic traffic.
Off-Page SEO Factors
Content creators and marketers are the leading professionals involved in off-page SEO. They may spend time managing business directories or curating social media accounts. They may also reach out to third parties to request promotions or develop new content for them.
1. High-Quality Backlinks
High-quality backlinks are when reputable or popular websites link directly to your website. Search engines read one backlink as a vote of confidence or a vouch for your page authority and content value. Accordingly, the more backlinks, the higher your website ranks on relevant SERPs. Additionally, these websites may provide compelling content to your target audience; since that is the case, a link can go a long way toward bringing in new traffic. Guest blogs, media features, press releases, and event hosting are just a few ways to garner backlinks.
2. Mentions
While backlinks are powerful, unlinked mentions of your brand or business can be excellent too. They still serve as citations for your page. Although they may drive less traffic than a backlink, they increase brand awareness, reputation, and credibility.
3. Shareable Content
If you are actively creating content on your website, such as through your blog, it is technically on-page SEO. However, suppose you make it shareable, and other websites repost your content. In that case, you can generate buzz, gain backlinks, or receive citations.
4. Local SEO
If your website caters to a specific town or area, it is crucial to grasp local SEO. Local SEO involves incorporating localized keywords (ex. Bookstores in London) and creating local profiles for the business (ex. Google, Yelp, Whitepages). Search engines will rank your website higher on SERPs since competition is much less fierce for these keyword searches. Your website will rank as the second listing category (right after ads).
5. Social Media Platforms
Social media accounts are becoming one of the most powerful ways to drive traffic to a website. Many people use social media as a search engine, looking up information, products, or services through these means. Since this is the case, it can be an excellent place to promote your website and reach new customers. Likewise, search engines may rank social media profiles from famous providers, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
6. Social Proof
Improving your social credibility is a great way to increase your website’s popularity. Individuals and search engine algorithms like to see evidence that a website or business is reliable. Since this is the case, customer reviews or testimonials on platforms like Google Business and Yelp can make all the difference.
Should I Focus On On-Page or Off-Page SEO?
Now that you understand on-page and off-page SEO, it may be easier to understand why experts say both are equally important. However, if there is still some confusion, you aren’t alone; many people find that SEO can be confusing. Let’s clear up any misconceptions below:
On-page SEO ensures that search engines can index your website, users can find your website, and visitors enjoy your website. As a result, search engine algorithms rank your website higher on searches. Accordingly, on-page SEO is critical regarding visibility, exposure, traffic, and converting and maintaining customers.
Off-page SEO may only seem like a few extra things you could do to improve your SERPs rankings. While this is the goal, in today’s world, it is not an option; it’s a necessity. Your competition is likely completing off-page SEO, meaning you have to work just as hard (if not harder) to rank above them. Likewise, many of your target audience may be reading potential backlink websites and browsing social media. Ultimately, taking advantage of off-page SEO is better than going without.
In this light, you can understand how on-page and off-page SEO work together to achieve website visibility and traffic. That said, on-page SEO should be taken seriously first before moving on to off-page SEO. So, if you are designing and developing your website or just starting an SEO campaign, focus on on-page SEO. Then, move into a strategy that simultaneously takes on both forms of SEO.
Final Thoughts
When you are developing a robust SEO strategy, be sure to consider both on-page and off-page SEO. Remember that on-page SEO is an excellent foundation for any other SEO practices, yet, consider that other SEO practices may serve as walls and roofs (equally crucial to a strong house).
SEO can be challenging, but we have the tools and techniques to ensure you stay on the right track. Please read through our insightful articles or contact us for help today!