Fix These On-Page SEO Mistakes and Watch Your Website Traffic Climb Fast
- Tech
Brenda A. Hayden
- 0
- 6 minutes read
When it comes to getting found online, most people think of backlinks, social media, or ads, says Mark McDonald from The Search Equation.
But here’s the truth: if your on-page SEO isn’t right, none of that matters.
On-page SEO is the part you can control. It’s the content on your site, how it’s structured, and the little tweaks that make Google pay attention.
If your website isn’t ranking—or traffic has flatlined—this is where to start.
Here are simple ways to improve your on-page SEO today, even if you’re not a techie.
- Start with a Focused Search Phrase
Don’t try to rank for everything. Choose one main phrase for each page. Think about what your ideal visitor would type into Google.
Instead of “shoes,” go with something like “vegan running shoes for women.”
Put that phrase in:
- The page title
- The first heading (H1)
- The first 100 words
- At least one image alt tag
Keep it natural, not forced.
- Write for Humans First, Google Second
Google doesn’t buy from you. People do.
So yes, include your phrase—but don’t stuff it. Make your writing clear, useful, and easy to read.
Use:
- Short sentences
- Simple words
- Real answers to real questions
The longer people stay on your page, the better your rankings.
- Use Headings to Break Up Your Content
No one likes a wall of text.
Use H2s for subheadings and H3s if you need to break things down further. This helps both readers and search engines understand the structure of your content.
Bonus: include your target phrase in at least one subheading.
- Optimise Your Meta Title and Description
This is what shows up in search results. If it’s dull or unclear, people will scroll right past you.
Make your meta title eye-catching and include your main phrase near the start.
Write a meta description that tells people what they’ll get from clicking—ideally under 160 characters.
Think of it as your shop sign in the digital world.
- Use Internal Links
When you publish a new page or post, link to two or three other pages on your site.
Why? It helps search engines discover more of your content—and keeps visitors on your site longer.
Even better, update older pages to link to your new one. This tells Google the new page is important.
- Don’t Forget the Image Tags
Images can drive traffic too—if you use alt text correctly.
Describe the image in a few words and include a relevant phrase if it fits naturally. For example:
alt=”vegan running shoes for women in black”
Google reads this. So do screen readers. Everyone wins.
- Make Your URLs Clean and Descriptive
Avoid ugly URLs like this:
yourwebsite.com/page?id=3829
Use this instead:
yourwebsite.com/vegan-running-shoes
It looks better, makes sense to people, and helps Google understand your content.
- Check Your Page Speed
A slow site will cost you rankings. People won’t wait—and neither will search engines.
Use PageSpeed Insights to see what’s slowing you down. Compress images, limit plugins, and use fast hosting, like the guys at Smoking Chili Media have done.
Even small changes can shave seconds off your load time.
- Make It Mobile-Friendly
Most users are on mobile. If your site doesn’t work on a phone, you’ll lose traffic.
Use responsive design. Make buttons big enough to tap. Keep menus simple.
Google uses mobile-first indexing—so your mobile version matters most.
- Include a Clear Call to Action
You’ve done all this work to get visitors to your page. Now tell them what to do next.
- Want them to call you? Say so.
- Want them to read another post? Link it.
- Want them to buy? Add a button.
A page without a next step is a missed opportunity.
Final Thought
On-page SEO isn’t about tricks. It’s about clarity.
Make each page focused, helpful, and easy to read. Give it structure. Use plain language. Add real value.
If you fix your on-page SEO, you’ll build a strong foundation. The rankings and traffic will follow—naturally, and without the stress.
