Complete On-Page SEO Instruction List – Ranking is Guaranteed

After the Google algorithm updates in March 2025, On-Page SEO has become the dominant factor for achieving higher search rankings, even in a short time.

It’s now observed that, websites with strong & proper On-Page SEO are outperforming millions of older sites that previously relied mainly on backlinks.

What is On-Page SEO

The part of SEO done on the page is On-Page SEO. Let’s learn the opposite first. Backlink, social media posting, Google business profile etc. are a part of SEO, but are those done on the webpage? No, those are done outside of the webpage.

So whatever is done on the webpage to signal SEO, is called On-Page SEO.

Why On-Page SEO is Important

Google noticed that many websites were ranking higher simply by purchasing thousands of backlinks, while sites with genuinely valuable content were left behind. To fix this imbalance, Google’s new update now prioritizes high-quality content over backlink quantity. This shift makes the algorithm much more favorable for us (true content creators). Leave a kudos for Google 😍

As On-Page SEO is now more critical than ever, you have to enforce On-Page SEO more comprehensively. So…

What are the Factors of On-Page SEO

This is a comprehensive list of On-Page SEO factors:

1. Title Optimization

• Ensure title is under 60 characters.
• Ensure title contains the primary keyword.
• Better if the primary keyword is at the beginning.
• Make sure each page has a unique title tag.
• Add a power word (strong positive or negative word) to the title to create an emotional trigger.
• Include a number in the title. It’s not a rule, but study shows that titles containing a number tend to rank better!

Example of good SEO Titles:

❌ General Title	✅ SEO Title
How to Do On-Page SEO	On-Page SEO Basics: 10 Essential Steps for 2025
Improve Your SEO	7 Powerful On-Page SEO Techniques to Boost Your Rankings
Tips for Website SEO	9 Proven On-Page SEO Tips for Higher Google Rankings
Learn On-Page Optimization	Master On-Page SEO: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners (2025)

2. Meta Description Optimization

Meta description is the information that:

• Helps search engines understand what your content is about.
• Persuades visitors to click on your link instead of other links on the page.

The meta description appears directly under the page title in search results, as shown in the green-marked boxes in the image below.

Instruction for writing a good meta description:

• Write compelling meta descriptions (155-160 characters).
• Include the primary keyword naturally, and preferably at the beginning part.
• Keep it enticing to improve click-through rate. Don’t make it clickbait, which may increase clicks now, but will backfire later. Don’t promise anything that is not on your webpage.

3. URL Structure

• Use short, descriptive URLs. Keep URLs under 75 characters.
• Include target keyword in URLs.
• Use hyphens (-) to separate words.

Example:

❌ Bad URL	✔️ Good URL
https://johnlandingpage.com/categoty/web-design/2024/08/04/articles	https://nanybot.com/blog/ai-article-tools
https://your-awesome-website.com/tutorials/2023/04/26/article6283	https://nanybot.com/blog/humanize-ai-content
https://my-website.com/blog/category/seo/on-page-seo/how-can-i-write-a-perfect-seo-article-with-the-help-of-ai	https://nanybot.com/blog/write-a-perfect-seo-article-using-ai

4. Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)

• Ensure only one H1 tag per page that contains the primary keyword.
• Use H2 and H3 tags as subheadings instead of simply Bolding them.
• Include primary and secondary keywords in subheadings.

5. Keyword Optimization

• Use primary and secondary keywords naturally. Avoid keyword-stuffing, which means using the keyword too much. That instantly may/may not help but definitely hurts your site ranking in future.
• Maintain a keyword density of 1-2% for primary keywords. That means, in every 1000 words, use your keywords 10-20 times maximum.
• Include LSI keywords (LSI = Latent Semantic Indexing).

While search engines encourage writing content that puts users first, strategic keyword usage still plays a crucial role in visibility. Even if your content provides genuine value, failing to use the target keyword enough can delay or weaken your rankings in search results.

To ensure your content is both user-friendly and SEO-optimized, maintain a keyword density of at least 1%.

For example, if your target keyword is “Complete On-page SEO”, it should appear at least 10 times in a 1,000-word article to meet the 1% threshold.

Here’s a quick reference for recommended keyword usage based on density:

Density %	Keyword Instances (per 1,000 words)	Recommendation
1.0%	10 times	Minimum for SEO effectiveness
1.5%	15 times	Optimal balance of SEO + readability
2.0%	20 times	Use with caution
2.5%+	25+ times	⚠ May trigger keyword stuffing

Pro Tip: Avoid overusing the exact phrase. Instead, use variations, synonyms, and related terms (LSI keywords) to maintain a natural flow while reinforcing topical relevance.

6. Content Quality

• Ensure high-quality content.
• Your article should contain a minimum of 800 words. A 1500-word article is better. And a 2500-word article is best.
• Focus user intent, with useful & informative content.

Factor	Basic	Better	Best
Word Count	Minimum 800 words	Around 1500 words	2500+ words with detailed coverage
User Intent	Partially aligned	Mostly aligned	Fully aligned with deep understanding
Content Depth	General overview	Clear explanations with examples	Comprehensive guide with case studies, examples
Information Quality	Basic facts only	Useful and informative insights	Actionable, research-backed, expert-level insights
Visual Elements	Few images	Proper images, bullet points	Images, charts, tables, videos, infographics
Structure	Simple headings	Proper subheadings and sections	Logical flow, optimized headers, smooth transitions
SEO Optimization	Basic keyword use	Keywords plus meta tags, headings	Full on-page SEO, internal linking, schema markup
Originality	Some originality	Mostly original content	100% unique ideas, fresh examples

7. Include Visuals

• Add a featured image.
• Insert at least one image in every section.
• Don’t take image from search engine, which may be subject to copyright. Try pexels.com or other source that has not set copyright.
• Embed a video if suitable. (preferably YouTube video, because it loads quite fast). Don’t auto-play video, which often creates a bad user experience.

8. Image Optimization

• All images should be of High Resolution and related to the content.
• Funny part is: even if your image is not related to the content, but creates an aesthetic & appealing feel, it has a good impact.
• If possible, make your own image using tools like Canva. It’s not a rule, but study shows that articles containing custom-made images rather than stock images tend to rank better!
• Before uploading image, rename it to a meaningful name that describes the image well. You may include some keywords in the file name.
• Implement Alt Text for all the images. Your Alt Text should contain the primary keyword.
• Alongside Alt Text, you can set a Title and/or Caption to your image.
• Implement Lazy-Load for images. Use a theme that supports lazy-load or use a plugin to enable lazy-load.
• Use any image compression tool/plugin that enables fast page loading.
• Use CDN for delivering images, which makes page loading fast.
• Instead of storing images in your default web server, it’s better to store images in a 3rd party storage like AWS S3.
• Make a consistent image URL structure across your entire website.

❌ Bad Practice	✔️ Good Practice
Image Name: download-weugu.jpg	Image Name: onpage-seo-checklist.jpg
No Alt Text	Alt Text: "On-Page SEO Best Practices Checklist"
No Compression (Heavy File)	Compressed Image (Fast Load Time)
No Lazy-Load	Lazy-Load Enabled

9. Internal Linking

An internal link is a hyperlink that connects one page to another within the same website or domain.

• Add 5-10 internal links for every 2000 words. That means 3-5 internal links for every 1000 words.
• Ensure links have anchor text with relevant keywords.
• Avoid excessive linking — keep it natural.
• Set internal link to open in the same tab

Practice	❌ Bad Example	✔️ Good Example
Avoid “this link”, “click here”	Read [this link]	Learn [On-Page SEO Techniques]
Use descriptive, keyword-rich text	Check [this page]	Explore [SEO Writing Tips]
Don’t overstuff links (5-7 links per 1000 words is ideal)	[SEO] [SEO] [SEO]	Smooth internal links, naturally spaced
Link relevant pages only	Link “SEO” page from a “Cooking” article	Link “Image SEO Tips” from an “On-Page SEO” article
Keep anchor text natural in sentence	For SEO, [click here].	Master SEO by [following these proven steps].

Internal linking is more impactful than you might have thought.

Internal linking is crucial for building topical authority. It signals to Google that your website offers deep, consistent coverage of a subject, which strengthens your site’s relevance and expertise in its niche.

For new websites, internal linking is one of the fastest ways to boost rankings without relying on external backlinks. By strategically connecting related content, you help search engines crawl your site more effectively. It helps distribute link equity and establish authority, That accelerates growth even with a backlink profile.

I know managing internal linking in a large website is time-consuming and troublesome. To easily manage internal linking, use any tool. If you use WordPress, you can use plugin like Internal Link Manager :

10. External Linking

Explaining and providing information is not enough. What is the source of your claim? Google wants you to mention that. Cite/Link from high authority websites.

• Link to high-authority external websites. The easiest way is to search related things on Google, copy the first or second link, and use that. In general first few links are high authority websites.
• Ensure outbound links are relevant and add value. Check the content of that link, if it doesn’t contain relevant information – don’t link it.
• Set external links to open in new tab.
• If you want your readers to jump directly to specific lines inside an external article — and even highlight that exact segment — use this Text Fragment tool.

11. Mobile Optimization

• Ensure responsive design across all devices. Check your website pages from both PC and mobile.
• Prioritize mobile-first indexing.
• Enable Google AMP. You will find AMP plugin for your CMS, or implement custom solution if needed.

12. Table of Content

• Use a table of contents. It creates a better user experience and better SEO.
• If you are using WordPress, my personal suggestion is “Easy Table of Contents” (the one used at the top of this article)

13. Page Speed Optimization

Website loading speed is a crucial factor of SEO.

• First, use a good hosting and domain provider.
• Use a fast-loading and SEO friendly theme.
• Use an aesthetic theme. As aesthetics is a part of user experience, it’s indirectly related to SEO.
• Utilize browser caching and content delivery networks (CDNs).
• Compress files (images, scripts) to improve load time.

14. Sitemap.xml

You have a website and valuable content. But how will search engines know that? Search engine knows about your content through sitemap file.

If you use a CMS like WordPress, and use an SEO plugin like Yoast or RankMath, it will automatically generate a sitemap file for you. Alternatively you can create a sitemap by your own.

If you want to see what a sitemap file looks like, just visit the sitemap of NanyBot.

When you submit a sitemap, search engines will automatically crawl and index all your webpages. But for new websites even sometimes for aged websites, search engine doesn’t automatically crawl. That case manually submit every webpage – one by one.

• Ensure a sitemap.xml file exists.
• Update sitemap file regularly to reflect the latest content.
• Submit sitemap URL to Google Console and to other search engines.
• Manually submit each webpage URL, don’t wait for Google console.

15. Schema Markup

Your website content is raw content, while search engine wants you to provide content in a specific structure. Schema markup is that structure. If your content is a blog post, you will have to structure in a Blog Post Schema, if your webpage contains a product description, you will structure by Product Schema etc.

• Implement structured data for rich snippets in SERP (Search Engine Result Page).
• Use schema types like FAQ, Review, Product, etc. that is applicable.
• Ensure schema is properly tested using tools like Google’s Rich Result Testing Tool.

16. Content Readability

• Use short paragraphs and bullet points for easy scanning.
• Implement clear, concise language.
• Incorporate transition words for better flow.
• Choose simple language over smart language. Not all your readers are expert or native speakers, consider all kinds of readers.

Aspect	✔️ Better Readability Example	❌ Less Readable Example
Paragraph Length	“We built the tool. It saved time. Clients loved it.”	“We have developed a comprehensive tool that significantly reduced the operational workload, thereby impressing our esteemed clients.”
Bullet Points	– Save time – Reduce cost – Improve workflow	“Our services are aimed at saving operational time, reducing financial expenditures, and enhancing internal workflow structures.”
Language Simplicity	“Start small. Grow faster. Focus on results.”	“Commence operations at a minimalistic scale with the ultimate objective of achieving accelerated corporate growth and maximized outcome-based results.”
Transition Words	“First, plan your project. Then, set deadlines. Finally, launch.”	“The project should be conceptualized, followed by the establishment of deadlines and, eventually, the formal launch thereof.”

17. User Experience (UX)

UX is the soul of SEO

• Keep your design neat & clean.
• Background color and text color should maintain proper color contrast, which looks professional and is easily readable.
• Font size, font family should not look odd. See other websites from the search result page, learn from them.
• Advertisement, announcement, offer, notification, newsletter box etc. should not irritate your users. Of course, you will implement those – but strategically, that doesn’t irritate users.
• Ensure easy navigation with a clear menu structure.
• Add a search bar for easy access to content.

18. Social Sharing Integration

• Include social sharing buttons on content.
• Encourage users to share content to increase reach.

Learn the importance of social media sharing from marketing guru Neil Patel:

19. Content Freshness

• Regularly update existing content with new information.
• Add new pages or blog posts frequently.

20. HTTPS Implementation

• Ensure your website is secure with SSL certificates.
• Check for mixed content errors (non-HTTPS elements on HTTPS pages).

21. User Engagement Metrics

• Monitor bounce rates, time on page, and click-through rates.
• Improve engagement with interactive content like polls and quizzes.

22. Breadcrumbs

So what is breadcrumbs and how do breadcrumbs help rank faster.

• Implement breadcrumb navigation to improve user experience and site structure.
• Ensure they are visible and functional on all pages.

21. Anchor Text Optimization

• Use descriptive anchor text for internal and external links.
• Avoid generic phrases like “click here” or “read more.”

❌ Bad Anchor Text	✅ Good Anchor Text	💡 Why It’s Better
Click here	Download our SEO guide	Descriptive, keyword-rich, helpful for SEO
Read more	Learn more about breadcrumbs	Provides context and helps Google understand the topic
Link	Internal linking strategy guide	Explains exactly what the user will find
More info	Compare AI article writer tools	Improves usability and relevance
This page	Our blog on AI content ranking tips	Helps search engines and users navigate meaningfully

22. Multimedia Integration

Multimedia content on the website not only creates aesthetics but also increases average session time, which in turn fuels your site SEO.

• Include relevant videos, audio, and infographics.
• Optimize multimedia content for SEO by adding metadata and captions.

23. Canonical Tags

• Use canonical tags to avoid duplicate content issues.
• Ensure the correct version of the page is indexed.

24. Geo-Targeting (for Local SEO)

• Include location-specific keywords for local businesses.
• Claim and optimize Google My Business profile.

GMB (Google My Business) profile is a game-changer for Local SEO. GMB plays a dominant role to effectively compete with local businesses.

25. Robots.txt Optimization

Robots.txt file is another file SiteMap.xml. Robots.txt file tells search engines which pages or folders they are allowed to crawl or not allowed to crawl on your website. To know what it looks like, have a look at the robots.txt file of NanyBot.

• Ensure robots.txt file is configured to allow search engines to crawl important pages.
• Block any unnecessary pages or duplicate content.

24. 404 Error Page Customization

• Create a user-friendly 404 page with links to popular content or categories.
• Ensure the 404 page is designed to encourage further exploration.

25. Text Formatting and Styles

• Use bold, italics, and other formatting to emphasize key content.
• Break up text with images or videos to improve user engagement.

26. Optimize for Featured Snippets

What Is a Featured Snippet

A featured snippet is a highlighted answer box shown at the top of Google search results, pulled directly from a webpage that best answers a user’s question.

• Use question-based headings to target featured snippets.
• Provide clear, concise answers to questions in your content.

27. Multilingual SEO (if applicable)

• Implement hreflang tags for multilingual content.
• Translate content accurately, considering local nuances and cultural context.

28. Core Web Vitals Optimization

• Improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
• Monitor web vitals through Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights
• Prioritize improvements based on performance metrics

Learn more about Core Web Vital from Google Search Central.

29. E-E-A-T Implementation

• Experience refers to whether the content creator has first-hand or real-life involvement with the topic.
• Expertise measures the depth of knowledge or skill the creator has in the subject area.
• Authoritativeness looks at the reputation of the creator or website as a recognized source in its field.
• Trustworthiness evaluates how reliable, honest, and safe the content and website are for users.

So, you should –

• Demonstrate Expertise, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness
• Include author bios with credentials and expertise. For example, see the author bio at the bottom of this article.
• Add clear contact information, Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, About page, Address/Location, Google map location embeddings etc.

30. AI Content Optimization

You do NOT need to bypass AI detection, but you should care about the readability score. Google happily ranks AI content, if you know how?

• Balance AI-assisted content with human editing and original insights.
• Focus on providing unique value beyond what AI can generate.
• Add human touch to AI content.

31. Voice Search Optimization

If you use a lot of voice search, you know it well. Even if you don’t use voice search, you should consider that people nowadays frequently use voice search.

Do you know how voice search differs from general search? For example, you may write on Google: rank website fast. But when people use voice typing, they are more likely to speak like: Is it possible to rank a new website in Google without building backlinks.

So don’t think people won’t search for long phrases or sentence.

• Include conversational keywords and question-based content
• Optimize for featured snippets that are voice-search friendly
• Focus on natural language patterns people use when speaking

32. Video SEO

If you add your own video instead of a YouTube video URL, optimize it.

• Add transcripts to video content
• Create descriptive video titles and descriptions with keywords
• Use video structured data markup

33. Semantic Search Optimization

• Implement topic clusters around main pillar content
• Focus on entities and concepts rather than just keywords
• Use natural language processing (NLP) insights to refine content

Search engines have evolved significantly. In the past, even top-ranking websites focused heavily on keyword-based optimization.

However, in today’s AI-driven era, especially with advancements like Google’s BERT, search engines now better understand context, concepts, and natural language. As a result, optimizing for semantic search and user intent is more important than just targeting exact keywords.

34. PWA Implementation

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a type of web application that combines the features of a website with the capabilities of a native mobile app. PWA offers an app-like user experience, and works reliably even in low-network conditions.

• Develop Progressive Web App functionality for better mobile experience
• Enable offline access to content where appropriate
• Implement app-like features for better user engagement

35. User Intent Analysis

Search intent is more important than keywords because keywords may drive traffic, but only intent-driven content drives relevant traffic that converts. You must understand why a user is searching — whether to learn, buy, compare, or solve a problem.

Aligning your content with the user’s intent ensures higher engagement, lower bounce rates, and better SEO performance. Simply attracting clicks means nothing if the content doesn’t satisfy what the visitor came for.

• Map content to specific user journey stages (awareness, consideration, decision)
• Create content tailored to different intent types (informational, navigational, transactional)
• Use search analytics to understand the “why” behind searches

36. Privacy Compliance

• Implement cookie consent mechanisms
• Ensure GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulation compliance
• Create clear, accessible privacy policies

37. Accessibility (A11Y) Optimization

• Meet WCAG guidelines for accessibility
• Use proper heading structure and alt text for screen readers
• Ensure keyboard navigation and appropriate color contrast

38. Content Pruning Strategy

• Identify and improve or remove underperforming content
• Consolidate similar content to prevent cannibalization
• Implement redirects for removed content

39. Page Experience Signals

• Minimize intrusive interstitials and pop-ups
• Reduce interface friction points
• Create intuitive navigation paths

40. Content Depth and Topical Authority

In the evolving landscape of SEO, especially following Google’s March 2025 algorithm updates, establishing topical authority has become paramount. This involves creating comprehensive content that thoroughly covers a subject, demonstrating expertise and providing significant value to readers.​

Why It’s Important:

• Enhanced E-E-A-T Signals: Google’s emphasis on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) means that in-depth content can better showcase your knowledge and reliability in a particular domain.​
• Improved User Engagement: Comprehensive content keeps users engaged longer, reducing bounce rates and signaling to search engines that your site provides valuable information.​
• Better Ranking Opportunities: By covering a topic extensively, you increase the chances of ranking for a broader set of related keywords and search queries.​

Implementation Tips:

• Conduct Thorough Research: Understand the questions and concerns your target audience has about a topic.​
• Use Structured Formatting: Employ clear headings, subheadings, bullet points, and other formatting tools to make content easily digestible.​
• Incorporate Supporting Media: Use images, videos, infographics, and other media to enhance understanding and engagement.​
• Update Regularly: Ensure your content remains current by revisiting and updating it as new information becomes available.​

By focusing on content depth and establishing topical authority, you align with Google’s current ranking priorities and provide genuine value to your audience.

Thank You ❤️