Search engine optimization is at the core of every website. It helps the website rank higher and allows people to find what they are looking for. While many different SEO elements need to be optimized, we can split everything into two main groups: on-page SEO and off-page SEO. When it comes to on-page vs. off-page SEO, many people don’t know what the difference is. With that in mind, let’s learn more about these two types of SEO and how they affect your website.
On-page SEO elements
On-page elements of search engine optimization include everything located directly on the website:
- content;
- metadata;
- keywords;
- page titles;
- tags;
- backend code;
- links;
- images;
- web design;
- website loading speed.
Your website is made of on-page SEO elements. Furthermore, on-page SEO directly affects the quality of the user experience.
Let’s talk a bit more about how to optimize on-page SEO elements.
Content
There are many SEO mistakes you should avoid in 2022. The most common ones are connected to the content. Content is king, and it is the only thing that matters. The only thing that visitors come for.
You should always strive to consistently produce quality, relevant, and engaging content that adds value to your customers. Furthermore, make sure not to duplicate your content. Finally, every piece of content should have an engaging title and relevant keywords.
Metadata
Metadata includes unseen elements of HTML code that create a direct connection between your website and the search engine. You can find all of the metadata by viewing the page source. All of these meta tags need to be filled in.
Some of the most common meta tags are:
- page titles;
- tags;
- page descriptions;
- canonical tags;
- alternative text tags;
- header tags;
- responsive design meta tags.
Keywords
Keywords are one of the most critical SEO elements. People use keywords to search for things online. When optimizing keywords, you always need to aim for relevance and value.
Keyword research is a vast topic, and we could talk about it for hours. When it comes to keyword research, you need to create a list of relevant topics and research customer intent. Then, you need to create combinations of words most likely to be used in search engines.
Always remember to work on local SEO, and include location in your keywords.
Backend code
When we talk about optimizing backend code, we talk about reducing the number of lines of code, using proper tags and nesting rules, and arranging all elements, so the website loads quickly. If you are using WordPress or another CMS engine, you don’t have to think about these things.
If you are building a website from scratch, it is best to leave backend code optimization to the web designer.
Links
Links connect different sections of your website. They allow clients to switch from one page to another and browse the website. All links should have a meaningful name. Let’s look at a structure of a bad URL name:
https://websitename.com/blog/774985jfd9ujd9ijf9e8r
This URL address is not defined correctly. This is what a good URL name looks like:
https://websitename.com/blog/how_to_create_url_names
The second URL clearly tells the engine what’s on it. Always give meaningful names to your URLs and properly organize the structure of URLs.
Images
When optimizing images, you need to be mindful of a few things:
- image relevance;
- image format;
- size;
- caption tag;
- alternative text tag.
These elements will help with proper image optimization.
All of the above is what makes web design. And, if all of the elements are properly optimized and placed, your website loading speed will also improve.
Off-page SEO elements
Off-page SEO elements are a collection of strategies you use to promote your website and content on 3rd party sites. It increases the awareness of your website and makes people talk about it more.
The most common off-page SEO elements are:
- backlinks;
- social media engagement;
- various types of mentions;
- local business directories.
Per MoversTech CRM, off-page SEO is also beneficial because it can help with collecting customer data. This is especially important if you use a CRM system to manage leads.
Backlinks
If there is one thing that Google values, that’s backlinks. Backlinks connect your website with other websites. They are a sign of quality content. If another website publishes your links, that means you are creating something relevant. The more quality backlinks your website has, the better.
Social media engagement
Social media has the power to make your business go viral. It is a vast network connecting people worldwide and is a perfect platform for advertising your business. Furthermore, if you create quality content, your subscribers or followers may share that content on their social media profiles and increase the visibility of your website.
Mentions
Mentions, or citations, are another critical element of SEO. Whenever someone mentions your home page or business name, that boosts your website’s importance. You can build citations in many different ways:
- using forums and providing professional help;
- asking clients to do reviews and mention your company;
- pay professionals to write citations for your business.
Local business directories
You need a profile on Google My Business and in local business directories as they help people find businesses more efficiently. They provide basic information like business name, address, working hours, contact information, price, and location.
On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO: the Difference Explained
Simply speaking, on-page elements build your website and affect customer experience. You have complete control over every on-page SEO element and can change anytime.
Off-page SEO elements are out of your control. These are various strategies that you use to build a reputation and increase awareness of your business. None of these elements are directly located on your website; they can be found on 3rd party websites.
Both on-page and off-page SEO elements are essential for your business because they help to build a complete picture, push your website to the first page of search engines, and increase traffic.
We should not be talking about on-page vs. off-page SEO in terms of which one is more important. They have equal importance, but you need to understand the difference, so you don’t mix one with the other. And we hope that you now clearly understand what each of these SEO strategies includes and why they are so vital for the success of your online business.