New On-Page SEO Checklist (for 2024) is an article that focuses on rapidly increasing website rankings by following a new on-page SEO checklist. Presented by Nathan Gotch, the article delves into the importance of having high-quality and original content that satisfies keyword intent. It covers various aspects such as keyword placement, grammar and spelling issues, page loading speed, user experience, and the incorporation of E-A-T factors (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness). The article emphasizes the significance of preliminary checks to ensure indexing, page age, and keyword relevance. Additionally, it highlights the importance of word count for added relevance and the utilization of original images with optimized loading speed.
In order to improve the rankings, Gotch suggests rebuilding the content to optimize it better, focusing on NLP (Natural Language Processing) for effective keyword integration. With previous successes in rebuilding content using NLP techniques, the article highlights the potential for enhanced rankings through this method. By following the provided on-page SEO checklist and making the necessary improvements, website owners can expect to see a significant boost in their rankings.
New On-Page SEO Checklist (for 2024)
Video By Nathan Gotch
Follow this on-page SEO checklist and watch your rankings climb fast.
So for this onpage SEO tutorial, I’m going to be looking at this page on got Seo.com and it’s targeting “does Google Penalize AI content”, so that is the keyword phrase that it’s going after. If we look at the keyword volume, it’s about 210 searches per month. It’s not super competitive, but if we do I’ll show you some stuff here in a second. There are some pretty heavy Authority Sites that are ranking, so we need to make sure we have good content. This is going to be the one that we’re going to be focusing on. You can see I’ve got some Benchmark Rankings here, so you can see in February 25th it was at about 49. It’s gone as high as about 15, so it’s never reached the first page. It’s been kind of sitting here in the third or fourth page typically. If we look in Semrush, you’ll see that it’s not actually performing super well. It kind of peaked out here in January and has been pretty flat overall. It’s not performing the way it needs to, and as we go through this checklist, you’re going to see there are a lot of reasons why it’s probably not performing.
Preliminary Checks
Before we dive into the deep on-page SEO stuff, we need to make sure we do our preliminary checks. First, we need to copy the URL and paste it into Google to check if it’s indexed. We can also go incognito to eliminate any personalized results. If the URL is not indexed, none of the following checklist items will matter, so it’s essential to ensure that the page is indexed.
Next, we need to verify if the page is older than 60 days. In this case, we know it’s older than 60 days as it was published in October 2023.
After checking the age of the page, we need to determine if the page is built to satisfy the intent of the keyword. Sometimes, even if the content is good, it may not align with what users are searching for. By analyzing the current search engine results, we can get a better idea of what we’re up against and identify any adjustments needed to meet the user intent.
Content Quality and Relevance
Now let’s look at the content and ensure its quality and relevance. The first thing we need to consider is whether the page is high-quality, original, helpful, and up-to-date. While it can be subjective, we want to ensure that the content provides value to the readers and remains relevant. In this case, the page is a case study providing data and allowing readers to come up with their conclusions. While it is helpful and original, it may benefit from being more in-depth.
Another factor to consider is the word count of the page. While word count itself is not a ranking factor, having sufficient words allows for more in-depth information and increases relevance. To determine the optimal word count, we can use tools like rankability that provide a median word count for the target keyword. If the word count is below the optimal range, it’s essential to add more content to enhance relevance.
Additionally, we need to ensure that the page is free of excessive grammar and spelling issues. Using tools like Grammarly can help identify and correct any errors that may negatively impact the user experience.
Page Speed and User Experience
Page speed and user experience significantly impact search engine rankings. A slow-loading website can frustrate users and lead to high bounce rates. To optimize page speed, it’s crucial to address any issues that may affect loading times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can provide insights into the website’s performance and suggest improvements.
In addition to page speed, user experience plays a vital role in SEO. Ensuring that the page is easy to navigate and read improves engagement and encourages users to spend more time on the website. Clear headings, subheadings, and well-formatted content contribute to a positive user experience.
Keyword Placement
Keyword placement is an essential aspect of on-page SEO. To optimize the page for the target keyword, we need to check if the keyword is present in important areas like headings and the first 100 words of the content. Including the keyword in these areas signals the topic’s relevance to search engines.
However, it’s crucial to maintain a natural keyword density and avoid keyword stuffing. Overusing the keyword can lead to a negative user experience and potentially harm the website’s rankings. Striking a balance between keyword optimization and readability is key.
Internal and External Linking
Internal and external linking are important for both user experience and SEO. Including internal links to relevant pages on the website helps users navigate and discover more content. It also signals to search engines the relationship between different pages on the site.
Additionally, linking out to trusted sources for added credibility can enhance the user experience. It shows that the content is well-researched and supported by authoritative sources. When adding external links, it’s essential to ensure that the anchor text is descriptive and relevant to improve user understanding and search engine visibility.
Image Optimization
Images are an integral part of web content, but they can also affect page loading speed if not optimized correctly. Using high-quality and relevant images can enhance the visual appeal of the page and engage users. However, it’s crucial to optimize the images for loading speed by compressing them and using the appropriate file formats.
Descriptive file names and alt tags are also essential for image optimization. These attributes provide context to search engines, making it easier for them to understand and index the image content.
E-A-T Factors
Expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) are crucial factors for on-page SEO. To showcase the author’s expertise and credibility, it’s essential to provide relevant external links to authoritative sources. These sources validate the information provided and increase the content’s trustworthiness.
Including an author bio and credentials can also enhance the perception of expertise. By highlighting the author’s qualifications, users and search engines can identify the content’s reliability.
Goal Completions
Goal completions are vital for measuring the success of a webpage. Whether it’s conversions or encouraging users to explore other pages on the website, goal completions indicate user engagement and satisfaction. By including clear call-to-action buttons and providing valuable resources, we can guide users towards the desired actions.
By following this comprehensive on-page SEO checklist, your website’s rankings are expected to increase rapidly. It’s essential to perform regular checks and optimizations to stay aligned with search engine algorithms and user expectations. With consistency and dedication, your website will have a better chance of ranking higher and attracting more organic traffic.