On-page ranking factors refer to the elements on a webpage that can affect its ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). These factors can have a significant impact on the visibility and success of a website, as they are directly related to the content and structure of the webpage itself. Here are the top five on-page ranking factors for SEO:
- Title tags
Title tags are the text that appears in the tab of a browser and are also used as the title of a search engine result. They should be concise, relevant, and accurately describe the content of the webpage. Title tags should also include primary keywords to help the page rank for those terms.
- Meta descriptions
Let’s get this out of the way because there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to meta descriptions in the context of SEO. Extensive research from Safari Digital found that meta descriptions do not directly impact the ranking of a webpage, but they can influence the click-through rate (CTR) from the search results, which can indirectly affect the ranking.
Meta descriptions are short summaries of the content on a webpage that appear in the search engine results. They should be unique, informative, and include relevant primary and secondary keywords.
- Headings
Headings, or subheadings, are used to break up the content on a webpage and make it easier to read. They should be used effectively to organize the content and should include relevant primary and secondary keywords. Headings are also used by search engines to understand the content of a webpage, so it is important to use them appropriately.
- Content quality
The quality and relevance of the content on a webpage is one of the most important on-page ranking factors, says Yoast.
Google has consistently placed a high value on the quality of the content that appears in its search results. In order to deliver the most relevant and useful results to its users, the company has implemented a number of algorithm updates designed to reward websites that produce high-quality content and penalize those that do not. These updates, which are known as content quality algorithm updates, are aimed at ensuring that only the most useful and accurate information is shown to users.
To achieve this, Google uses a combination of automated algorithms and human reviewers to assess the quality of content on websites. In addition to this, the company also encourages website owners to produce high-quality content by providing guidelines and best practices for creating and optimizing content. By continuously updating its content quality algorithms and encouraging websites to produce high-quality content, Google is able to maintain its position as a leading search engine and provide its users with the most relevant and useful information.
- URL structure
The URL structure of a webpage can also impact its ranking in search results. URLs should be clear, descriptive, and include relevant primary keywords. They should also be easy to read and understand for both users and search engines.
Summary
In addition to these top five on-page ranking factors, there are many other elements that can impact the ranking of a webpage, such as internal and external links, image alt tags, and the overall design and usability of the website. It is important to consider all of these factors when optimizing a webpage for search engines and to continuously monitor and update them to ensure the best possible ranking.
