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On-Page SEO Best Practices

July 24, 2023

On-Page SEO Best Practice Tips

SEO writing is not a one-and-done project. To optimize your work, you must continually update your keywords and utilize different SEO tools. When businesses incorporate on-page SEO into their website copy, it improves their rankings on search engines.

Embedding these SEO best practices increases organic traffic and boosts conversion rates. You can track your SEO website performance with analytical tools like Google Analytics 4 and use it for optimization.

Mastering SEO takes experience and skill, and we recommend using a trusted marketing agency specializing in search engine optimization to see maximum results. At Cork Tree Creative, our writers are adept at writing compelling SEO copy for any industry’s website. Our checklist encompasses the four most important on-page SEO practices we incorporate into each website.

1. Select Targeted Keywords

Finding and using targeted keywords throughout your website will elevate your rankings and visibility. When people search questions on the internet, Google uses those exact or similar words to find information that meets the user’s queries. Adding those specific words and phrases to your website copy will make it easier for Google to find and suggest your website to different users.

Before selecting targeted words, you must understand and develop your website content around these keyword categories. Every keyword is divided into categories based on its length and search volume.

Short keywords are the most competitive and popular because they are so broad, bringing in high search traffic. Mid-tail keywords are three descriptive words that show up in more specific searches. Long-tail keywords are highly descriptive phrases that target a particular client’s need.

Our team can find those trending keywords, determine which type of keyword is best, and optimize them using our SEO tools and industry experience. We work alongside and showcase many businesses by driving their rankings and brand awareness through targeted keywords.

A line graph showing the search volume in comparison with the number of keywords for short-tail, medium-tail, and long-tail keywords.

2. Enhance Your Website Copy

Your website copy should be organized and easy to read so your viewers can quickly find the information they seek. When people search for questions on Google, they want an immediate answer, or they will click on another page. Enhancing your copy with structure, clear paragraphs, short sentences, and simple vocabulary will make it easier for users to read and for search engines to rank your content.

An effective structure guides readers throughout your page, keeps them engaged, and increases conversion rates. We recommend adding headers to create smooth transitions to each topic.

Since most people skim through articles and company blogs, keeping your paragraphs and sentences short and concise allows readers to get information quickly. Start with your main idea, and then segue into the rest of your content.

Ensure your vocabulary is broad enough that anyone reading it can understand, not just someone within your industry. You can easily reach more audiences and higher website rankings with more universal words and content.

Use these tips to address the user’s intent and increase website traffic.

3. Use Keywords in URLs, Meta Tags, and Header Tags

When choosing a name for your web pages, check that you are still optimizing keywords and phrases. Adding keywords to your URLs, meta tags, and header tags makes it easier for Google to rank your website pages higher.

When Google crawls a site for the first time, it gets an idea of your website and services based on the keywords in the URL. If your website has a clunky URL with no primary keywords, it will be harder for Google to interpret, rank, and suggest its content to other users.

We recommend adding one or two keywords to your URL that tell Google how your page should appear in search results. Keep it concise so Google does not view it as spam and use a keyword already used in your page or blog title.

Meta tags are the titles and descriptions that appear on the results page. Search engines use your meta tags to see if the information on your website can answer a user’s question. Have a competitive meta tag under 60 words that make readers choose your website over others and incorporate keywords for SEO.

Header tags are HTML tags that tell a browser how content on a page should be displayed. Keywords in your header tags make it easier for search engines to rank based on their hierarchical structure. It also gives your readers a nice content preview.

Every header tag is written as H1 through H6 and should be strategically placed throughout a page. H1 tags are the dominant header and should relay the content’s main idea. H2 and H3 tags are subheadings that explain more detailed information. H4, H5, and H6 tags are subsections.

4. Write Concise and Descriptive Alt Text

Since Google cannot read images, they rely on alt texts to understand the idea of your website. Adding descriptive alt text to your pictures is vital because, without it, Google will not use it on image searches. Additionally, alt text can be read aloud to blind users on a screen reader, enhancing your website’s accessibility. We recommend keeping your text short and using minimal keywords so it is not cluttered.

On-Page Optimization Services

Utilizing on-page SEO will give your business higher ratings on Google and increase your visibility. With so many different websites and information out on the internet, it is vital to stay competitive by using SEO.

Hiring a professional on-page SEO agency to help with SEO practices and techniques will elevate your website. At Cork Tree Creative, we ensure that your website and blogs continually rank with our search engine marketing services, expertise, and knowledge. Let us find your targeted keywords, write optimized content, and utilize internal links to grow your business.


Let a trusted agency update, review, and enhance your website and copy by using SEO. Cork Tree Creative will ensure that each on-page SEO asset will be executed appropriately.

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