Why On-Page Optimization is the Mystery Meat
Online Marketing.
I remember when those two words caused people to look blankly at you within a crowded room after they had asked something like, “so what do you do for a living?”
Seems innocent enough.
Hearing the response, “I’m an Online Marketer” was always something they didn’t anticipate.
Then came the task of trying to explain what those two words meant.
Much has changed since those early days.
Oh yes, talking about the web surfing I was doing. That’s when I found The Bottom Line of SEO in 2017 which offered thoughts on where SEO is headed as we move into the year 2017.
There was great stuff in that article. Two key areas of focus included:
That area?
On-page optimization.
Wait!
Before you start telling me that Google wants content that is user driven.
Before you begin expounding upon all the reasons not to worry about keyword density or meta data.
And, before you get ready to click that “x” in the upper right corner.
Stop.
I need to share a secret with you.
Simply put, I know.
I know that the Google of yesterday is not the same as today.
I am aware that targeting keyword density in content today is a mistake, though I certainly believe there is a place for latency semantic indexing.
I know that spending great time dealing with meta keywords, descriptions and title tags simply doesn’t work anymore.
Yes, it is indeed the wrong approach to appeal to the spiders while ignoring the human equation when attempting to rank content on Google and other search engines in today’s world.
Though, I do ponder, what is to prevent the same people that gamed keywords to falsify comments or explode social media in underhanded ways?
Truth?
Nothing.
Yes, we move to the Google of today which has dramatically changed its algorithm updates compared to what they used to be. One has only to look at all the updates that have taken place along the way to understand the truth of that statement.
Even so, Google would be happiest if there was no one attempting to manipulate its search engine results. However, such is not the case.
We are here, and we are doing whatever we can to force Google into behaving the way that we want it to.
It’s just the way to do it has significantly changed.
Instead of focusing on keyword density, target amount of content created. 1500+ words are good. Even better if your content reaches 2500+.
Google likes long content.
Other strategies of today include having the keyword in the title and once in the body. Making sure your content is visually appealing with…
Backlinks.
No, not backlinks from outside your project but rather internal backlinks.
A backlink is simply a reference point that sends people from one place to another. It’s like when you stop someone, during their day, and ask them where such and such can be found.
Their description is a type of backlink that refers to whatever entity the two of you are speaking about. It is a reference point from one entity (the person), to another entity (the location).
As more and more people point to a given entity, it correspondingly grows in popularity. In a similar fashion, as more and more people refer to your web page or website it too grows in popularity.
Sometimes that growth can be the product of internal link building.
This is not to suggest that external link building strategies that involve properties outside your Website should be avoided. Such would not be the case.
With the WordPress blog sites that I build, I always choose themes that have a search option clearly available. This works great as a vehicle for your audience to be able to navigate around your side.
However, it works even better for me. Let’s say I’m writing an article that talks about internal backlinks. Using that search functionality, I can look for other articles that cover the same topic and quickly link them to the article I’m writing.
Do this every time you release a new piece of content and soon you will have an extremely dynamic linking system built into your site.
Unless that prescription included making sure that the links that go back to each individual page of her Website contain the keyword being targeted.
In other words, if I have an article about “internal linking” I will realize the best success of the backlink process if my link to that page contains those 2 words.
Imagine if each page contained 3 links to other pages within your site and all links followed this process which is called anchor text optimization.
It should be clear that it wouldn’t take long for such a strategy to create a powerhouse of results for all content involved.
When it does happen, the results can be amazing for you and your success on the Web.
However, there is a problem which has not yet been defined.
The problem is, no matter how advanced I am in this field. No matter how much knowledge I have. I simply don’t know everything.
That’s why this issue can only be solved by your leaving a quality comment below which expounds upon other thoughts I missed within on-page optimization strategies for 2017.
Perhaps you have a question rather than a topical point of reference.
Feel free to ask that below to receive answers that simply make sense.
I remember when those two words caused people to look blankly at you within a crowded room after they had asked something like, “so what do you do for a living?”
Seems innocent enough.
Hearing the response, “I’m an Online Marketer” was always something they didn’t anticipate.
Then came the task of trying to explain what those two words meant.
Changing Tides of SEO
Anyway, where was I?
There was great stuff in that article. Two key areas of focus included:
- The Future of Social Networking
- The rage of mobile media
That area?
On-page optimization.
Optimizing Pages for Google
Before you start telling me that Google wants content that is user driven.
Before you begin expounding upon all the reasons not to worry about keyword density or meta data.
And, before you get ready to click that “x” in the upper right corner.
Stop.
I need to share a secret with you.
Simply put, I know.
I know that the Google of yesterday is not the same as today.
Reflections Upon Yesterday’s Google
I know that spending great time dealing with meta keywords, descriptions and title tags simply doesn’t work anymore.
Yes, it is indeed the wrong approach to appeal to the spiders while ignoring the human equation when attempting to rank content on Google and other search engines in today’s world.
Though, I do ponder, what is to prevent the same people that gamed keywords to falsify comments or explode social media in underhanded ways?
Truth?
Nothing.
Yes, we move to the Google of today which has dramatically changed its algorithm updates compared to what they used to be. One has only to look at all the updates that have taken place along the way to understand the truth of that statement.
Even so, Google would be happiest if there was no one attempting to manipulate its search engine results. However, such is not the case.
We are here, and we are doing whatever we can to force Google into behaving the way that we want it to.
On-Page Optimization Strategies
To say that on-page optimization strategies are not a major factor in ranking high on Google’s search engines of today would be a mistake.It’s just the way to do it has significantly changed.
Instead of focusing on keyword density, target amount of content created. 1500+ words are good. Even better if your content reaches 2500+.
Google likes long content.
Other strategies of today include having the keyword in the title and once in the body. Making sure your content is visually appealing with…
- headings
- sub-headings
- bullets
- numbers
- short paragraphs
The Most Powerful On-Page Component
While all the above helps increase the user experience and thus your organic rank, there is one strategy that remains a powerhouse.Backlinks.
No, not backlinks from outside your project but rather internal backlinks.
A backlink is simply a reference point that sends people from one place to another. It’s like when you stop someone, during their day, and ask them where such and such can be found.
Their description is a type of backlink that refers to whatever entity the two of you are speaking about. It is a reference point from one entity (the person), to another entity (the location).
As more and more people point to a given entity, it correspondingly grows in popularity. In a similar fashion, as more and more people refer to your web page or website it too grows in popularity.
Sometimes that growth can be the product of internal link building.
Yes, You Can Be Your Own Best Friend
If you build an internal linking strategy that includes links from one location to another within your site and do this for every page, then your whole website takes on a synergy of its own.This is not to suggest that external link building strategies that involve properties outside your Website should be avoided. Such would not be the case.
With the WordPress blog sites that I build, I always choose themes that have a search option clearly available. This works great as a vehicle for your audience to be able to navigate around your side.
However, it works even better for me. Let’s say I’m writing an article that talks about internal backlinks. Using that search functionality, I can look for other articles that cover the same topic and quickly link them to the article I’m writing.
Do this every time you release a new piece of content and soon you will have an extremely dynamic linking system built into your site.
Upping the Ante in Style
Notice that I said ante and not auntie. That is because this article has nothing to do with some type of prescription or non-prescription remedy to make her feel better.Unless that prescription included making sure that the links that go back to each individual page of her Website contain the keyword being targeted.
In other words, if I have an article about “internal linking” I will realize the best success of the backlink process if my link to that page contains those 2 words.
Imagine if each page contained 3 links to other pages within your site and all links followed this process which is called anchor text optimization.
It should be clear that it wouldn’t take long for such a strategy to create a powerhouse of results for all content involved.
Concluding Thoughts About 2017 On-Page Optimization Strategies
As you can see, ranking on Google today continues to be an art and a science combined. It takes both talent and tenacity to make it happen.When it does happen, the results can be amazing for you and your success on the Web.
However, there is a problem which has not yet been defined.
The problem is, no matter how advanced I am in this field. No matter how much knowledge I have. I simply don’t know everything.
That’s why this issue can only be solved by your leaving a quality comment below which expounds upon other thoughts I missed within on-page optimization strategies for 2017.
Perhaps you have a question rather than a topical point of reference.
Feel free to ask that below to receive answers that simply make sense.
Guest contribution by: Guy Siverson a Guest Blogger who has spent over 20 years helping people succeed on the Web. His latest work empowers Affiliate Marketer’s to prosper financially.
