On-Page SEO Checklist

On-Page SEO Checklist – Everything You Need to Optimise Your Website

When it comes to ranking well in Google, strong on-page SEO is the foundation. While backlinks and authority matter, your on-site structure, content, and usability are what help Google understand your pages and deliver them to the right audience.

This comprehensive on-page SEO checklist will help you optimise each part of your website for higher rankings, better click-through rates, and more organic traffic.

At Healy Web Design, every SEO campaign and website build includes these core practices to ensure strong performance from day one.

1. Optimise Your Page Title

• Include your primary keyword close to the start
• Keep it under 60 characters to avoid truncation
• Make it readable and click-worthy, not just keyword-stuffed

2. Write a Compelling Meta Description

• Use keywords naturally to match user intent
• Keep it between 120–160 characters
• Use action language (e.g. Discover, Learn, Get a Quote)

3. Use a Clear H1 Tag

• Each page should have a single, descriptive H1 tag
• Include the focus keyword within the H1

4. Structure Content with H2–H6 Tags

• Break content into sections with relevant H2, H3 etc.
• Use headings to guide readers and Google crawlers

5. Optimise URL Structure

• Use short, readable URLs with your main keyword
• Separate words with hyphens, not underscores
• Remove unnecessary numbers, symbols, or stop words

6. Add Internal Links

• Link to related pages to improve site structure
• Use descriptive anchor text (e.g. “our SEO services in Essex”)
• Include links to high-value service or location pages

7. Use External Links to Authoritative Sources

• Link to one or two high-quality, relevant websites
• Make sure links open in a new tab and use rel=”noopener”

8. Optimise Images

• Use descriptive filenames (e.g. web-design-chelmsford.jpg)
• Compress images for fast loading (under 150kb where possible)
• Add relevant alt text that includes keywords naturally

9. Include the Target Keyword in the First 100 Words

• This helps signal topic relevance to search engines early

10. Improve Readability

• Use short paragraphs (2–4 lines)
• Add bullet points, numbered lists, and headings to break content up
• Use plain, accessible language—write for humans

11. Optimise for Featured Snippets

• Use question-based subheadings (e.g. “What is SEO?”)
• Answer questions directly in the next paragraph
• Use tables, numbered steps, and bullet lists where relevant

12. Include Schema Markup (If Applicable)

• Add structured data for FAQs, products, services, or reviews
• Helps enhance search results with rich snippets

13. Check Page Speed

• Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify issues
• Minify CSS/JS, enable caching, and use fast hosting

14. Make Sure Your Site Is Mobile-Friendly

• Test across devices and screen sizes
• Ensure buttons are large enough and menus are easy to navigate

15. Use SEO-Friendly Plugins or Tools (If Using WordPress)

• Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or SEOPress for metadata
• JetEngine or ACF for structured custom fields

Let’s Optimise Your Website

Want help ticking off this checklist? Our team will review your site, identify gaps, and implement changes that boost your rankings and user experience.

Request a free on-page SEO audit and we’ll show you exactly how to improve your website performance in search.