Top 21 "On-Page" SEO Factors

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by elixir, Nov 4, 2005.

  1. #1
    Hi,

    "On-Page" SEO is as important as "Off-Page" SEO is. In fact few months back, some search engines (specially Google) were giving more importance to "Off-Page" SEO factors, thinking that, as there is no direct control on "off-page" seo factors so genuine ranking of sites can be calculated. But because of link spamming, these search engine are again coming back for "On-Page" SEO factors.

    Few "On-Page" SEO factors of worth are:

    1. Keyword Selection: Keywords selection is the most important part. Picking up Idle keyword is more about seo skill and experience. Idle keyword is:
    • Least Competitive
    • Most Relevant
    • Most Popular

    2. Title Tag: Title Tag one the most important "On-Page" SEO factor which cannot be ignored.

    3. Meta Tag: Meta Tags are in use and of importance as they contain information of information on page.

    4. Design of Site: The use of images, flash, applets should be minimum. Frames should be avoided.

    5. ALT Text if IMG Tag: As ALT text describe the image, it is important for both search engine and user.

    6. Anchor Title: It is again an important tag, which describe the anchor and information on linked page.

    7. Theme of Page: The theme of page should be one and should be related be site as a whole.

    8. Site Navigation: Again, one of the most important "On-Page" SEO factor. It not only navigate user and search engine, but can also make some page of high priority and some of low priority.

    9. No of Links on Page: As PageRank distribute through links so it is always recommended to have least Outgoing Links.

    10. No of internal Links: Again, an important factor. The internal links and their count from specific pages to specific pages can give a big boost to your site.

    11. Anchor Text: As genuine anchor text describe the information on linked page, it is of high priority seo factor.

    12. Keyword Density: I prefer 7% to 12% keyword density.

    13. Keyword Prominence: keywords should be placed on prominent areas of page. i.e. on starting of page (1/4 top portion of page is most prominent) and at the end of page (1/10 bottom portion is second most prominent).

    14. Header Tags: The use of <H1>, <H2>, <H3> for keywords make them more prominent. Also heading of content of page describe the theme of information on page and hence given high priority by search engines.

    15. Bold, Italics and Underline: Like, header tags <B>, <I> and <U> make keyword prominent.

    16. Keywords in Content: Position of keywords used in content (in <P>, <Div>, <TR>, <TD> etc.) is also an indication of "How important particular keyword is for that particular page?"

    17. Site Structure: The build of site is an important factor. It should be as simple as possible.

    18. Page Size: This should be minimum.

    19. CSS and JS: The script code like CSS and Javascript should be written on separate file.

    20. Broken Links: There should be NO broken link on the site, as search engine mark a negative flag against them.

    21. HTML Code: The HTML used on the page should be validated as good HTML shows quality to search engines.

    This is just the beginning...

    Please feel free to increase the list.
     
    elixir, Nov 4, 2005 IP
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  2. heapseo

    heapseo Peon

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    #2
    Generally a good list, just a couple of points - page size - keep it less than 100k, google i think limits its spidering to 100k.

    HTML code - not relevant to SE's whether it validates. Its relevant to the actual appearance (sometimes) but not really an SEO issue.

    Site structure - generally try not to 'deep link' as in www...com/dir1/dir2/dir3/dir4/page.htm. The more levels the harder it is to spider.

    Meta tags - tend not to be used by the big 3 (G, Y, MSN). Meta description 'may' be used very slightly by some, definately not G though.

    Anchor title - how important is that? I have never really used it, just concentrated on text. Maybe I should start using it!
     
    heapseo, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  3. heapseo

    heapseo Peon

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    #3
    On any given page I try to have my keywords:

    once in the title
    once in H1
    once in H2
    once in H3 (sometimes)
    once in bold
    once in italics
    at the top of the page
    at the bottom of the page
    several times in the body
    in any img alt tags

    If you have a navigation system that is the same throughout the site make sure you have the right keywords in the anchor text linking to the right pages
     
    heapseo, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  4. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #4
    Keywords Categorization:

    Primary Keyword (PK): ONE
    Secondary Keyword(SK): TWO or THREE
    Tier I Keyword (TK): THREE to FIVE


    Keywords in Content:*

    ------------------------------PK--------------- SK---------------TK

    Title ---------------------- 2 Times ----------2 Times ----------1 Times
    First <P>**-----------------2 Times-----------1 Times----------1 Times
    Other <p>------------------1 Time-------------1 Time-----------1 Time
    Top <H1> **---------------1 Time-------------1 Time-----------0 Time
    Top <H2>------------------2 Times-------------1 Time-----------1 Time
    <B>------------------------1 Time-------------1 Time-----------1 Time
    <I>------------------------1 Time--------------1 Time-----------1 Time
    Bottom <H1>***-----------1 Time--------------0 Time-----------0 Time
    Bottom <H2>***-----------1 Time--------------1 Time-----------1 Time


    * This is NOT standard. But can be used.
    ** Starts with PK
    *** <H1> and <H2> can be replaced with <B> PLUS <A>
     
    elixir, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  5. sachin410

    sachin410 Illustrious Member

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    #5
    Even if all SEs start ignoring Description Tag for determining relevancy, still it will be a very important tag.

    After all it is the decription tag that tells the users, in search results, what the page is about . It is not just important to show up on first page of results.. it is equally important to make users come to the site. A well written Description tag may bring many more users than a poorly written one.
     
    sachin410, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  6. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #6
    This is important tag as it describe the link and the content on linked page.
     
    elixir, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  7. mdvaldosta

    mdvaldosta Peon

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    #7
    Really, really good info here. About the title anchor, I've only ever seen that used on Images :/
     
    mdvaldosta, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  8. heapseo

    heapseo Peon

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    #8
    important from an SEO view or from a user's view?
     
    heapseo, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  9. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #9
    Anchor Titile is important for search engines.

    Regarding images, When images are used as anchor, than the alt text act as anchor text and is as important as text anchor text.
     
    elixir, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  10. mdvaldosta

    mdvaldosta Peon

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    #10
    No what Im saying is, is their really such a thing as "title" tags for text links? That doesnt make any sense. The anchor text is the title tags.

    Now, I've seen title tags on images... but don't see the purpose. When I used them, they overrode what was in the alt tag.
     
    mdvaldosta, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  11. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #11
    Okay, just write a test page and have a text link on it, also write title="This is anchor title" as an attribute of <A>. Now see preview and hold you mouse over the link, you will see the text written in title attribute of <A> tag.

    It make sense, as it describe the link.

    The title attribute if <IMG> overrides the alt attribute. you are right here.

    Hey, one more tip---

    You can use <IMG> tag within the <H1> tag. It will put more weight to alt attribute of <IMG> tag.

    Just use it, let the search engine index your page, and see the cache of that page. You will notice the difference.
     
    elixir, Nov 4, 2005 IP
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  12. heapseo

    heapseo Peon

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    #12
    Interesting, the first time I have heard the benefits of this talked about, will definately give it a go :D
     
    heapseo, Nov 4, 2005 IP
  13. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #13
    Tips that can help:


    1. Page code should not bigger than 100 K
    2. Use css instead of color, size and font tags
    3. Change the js links in to text links
    4. Have a site map page
    5. Use menus as text links at the bottom of each page
    6. Submit your site to big directories like ODP
    7. Use the robots meta tag
    8. Put the robots.txt in your root dir

    :)
     
    elixir, Nov 7, 2005 IP
  14. Peanut

    Peanut Peon

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    #14
    From what i have read in the past i thought the keyword density was supposed to be arround 3-7%? If its much higher than that it can be classed as spam? Or have i been reading the wrong things!!
     
    Peanut, Nov 8, 2005 IP
  15. elixir

    elixir Banned

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    #15

    I have seen good results with 8% - 12% density.

    Keyword prominance is more important than density. What I have seen !!
     
    elixir, Nov 9, 2005 IP