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On-Page SEO Techniques to Improve Your Rankings

Let’s get intentional about what happens on your site—together.

Improving your website’s visibility starts with what you can control directly: The content and structure of each page. While it’s easy to get caught up in algorithm updates and off-site tactics, the foundation of any sustainable SEO strategy is strong On-Page SEO.

At Bloom, we’ve worked alongside startups, nonprofits, and growing businesses who all ask the same question: How do we get found without playing games? This guide is our honest, practical response.

What Is On-Page SEO?

On-Page SEO refers to the practice of optimizing individual pages of your website so they rank higher in search results and attract the right traffic. It includes everything from your headlines and content to internal links and meta descriptions.

According to Moz’s On-Page Ranking Factors, “On-page SEO is about both the content and HTML source code of a page that can be optimized, as opposed to off-page SEO which refers to links and other external signals.”

1. Start With Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

Your page title is the first handshake with a search engine. Keep it clear, relevant, and front-load your primary keyword. For example, if your post is about website security, lead with that: “Website Security Tips for Small Businesses”.

Meta descriptions don’t directly impact rankings, but they do influence clicks. And every click is a signal to search engines that your content matters.

Google’s own documentation recommends writing meta descriptions that summarize the page’s content and align with user intent.

2. Use Headers to Create Structure

Good content is scannable. Header tags like <h1>, <h2>, and <h3> organize your content and help search engines understand what matters. Each page should have one <h1> and a hierarchy that makes sense.

It’s not about stuffing keywords in every heading—it’s about creating a clear roadmap. Think of it as outlining before writing.

3. Optimize Content With Intent in Mind

Let’s be honest, most people don’t have time for fluff. Your content should be written for humans first, with SEO baked in through thoughtful keyword placement, internal links, and clarity. Tools like Surfer SEO or Yoast SEO can guide your keyword use, but they don’t replace human connection.

Ask yourself: What is my visitor trying to learn or solve? Then answer that with content that’s helpful, concise, and well organized.

4. Use Internal Links Strategically

Linking to related content helps search engines understand your site’s structure, and it keeps visitors moving through your content.

As Ahrefs explains in their actionable guide on internal links, internal linking is “super critical for SEO,” helping guide both users and search engines through your site effectively. 

5. Image Optimization Isn’t Just About File Size

Yes, compress your images. But also use descriptive filenames and alt text that reflects what the image shows and why it’s there. This improves accessibility and helps with image search results.

According to Google’s Image SEO best practices, you should write alt text that is “concise and descriptive,” support context, and ensure filenames are informative

We also suggest choosing images intentionally—stock photos won’t carry your message the same way something custom or branded can.

6. Make Your URLs Clean and Clear

Avoid random strings of numbers. A good URL is readable, keyword-focused, and easy to share. For example:

✅ example.com/on-page-seo-techniques
❌ example.com/page?id=4392048xv

Shorter, clearer URLs are easier for both people and bots to navigate.

7. Prioritize Mobile and Page Speed

None of your hard work matters if your site doesn’t load or work well on mobile. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to assess performance. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing, so your mobile experience should never be an afterthought.

We’ve worked with clients who were surprised how much bounce rate improved just by shaving a second or two off their load times.

8. Add Schema Markup Where It Counts

Schema markup helps search engines understand the context of your content. Whether it’s a product, article, recipe, or event, structured data helps enhance your listings with rich snippets.

Try Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to get started without touching code.

Final Thought: On-Page SEO Is a Practice

Like anything worth doing well, On-Page SEO isn’t a one-time checklist. It’s a craft that gets better the more you refine it. We won’t pretend to know all the answers, but we’re always willing to dig into the process with you.

Let’s build this together.

Want a partner who thinks through SEO with you—not just for you?
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