What is On-Page SEO?

On-Page SEO in One Sentence

On-page SEO = optimising each page’s content and HTML elements so search engines and users immediately understand its relevance and value. 

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Why On-Page SEO Still Matters in 2025

• Relevance & Click-Through: Google still uses on-page signals like title tags and keyword placement as core relevance signals and better titles boost CTR. 
• User Experience Signals: Well-structured pages (clear headings, scannable content) improve dwell time and reduce bounce rate, both indirect ranking factors. 
• Intent Matching: Aligning your headings and body copy with user intent ensures you capture “zero-click” answer boxes and featured snippets. 
• Site Authority & Internal Linking: Thoughtful internal links help distribute link equity, keeping users (and crawlers) deeper in your site. 

Core Components of On-Page SEO

Component	Purpose	Tools / Techniques
Title Tag & URL	Signal topic & entice clicks	Semrush On-Page SEO Checker; Yoast/Rank Math; character-width tools
Meta Description	Summarise value & CTA (150–160 chars)	ChatGPT prompts; A/B test descriptions; SERP preview tools
Header Tags (H1-H3)	Structure content for readers & crawlers	Ahrefs toolbar; Screaming Frog; HTML outline checkers
Body Content	Match intent & cover subtopics exhaustively	Surfer SEO; Clearscope; related-keyword reports
Images & Media	Improve UX & rank in Image Search	TinyPNG/Squoosh; descriptive alt text; responsive-image settings
Internal & External Links	Distribute authority & cite resources	GSC Link reports; site: queries; authoritative external sources
FAQ & Schema Markup	Enable rich snippets & answer boxes	JSON-LD generators; Google Rich Results Test; CMS schema plugins

 

Drawn from Ahrefs, Backlinko, and Siege Media frameworks. (Ahrefs, Siege Media)

ChatGPT Power-Ups

Task	Prompt Example
Craft a title tag	“Rewrite this title to include ‘best vegan protein powder’ within 60 characters and boost CTR.”
Generate a meta description	“Create a 155-character meta description for a product page on ‘electric bikes for beginners.’”
Structure headings	“Outline H2s and H3s for an in-depth blog on ‘cold brew coffee benefits.’”
Optimize intro paragraph	“Rewrite the first 100 words of this post to match the intent ‘how to choose a DSLR camera for travel.’”
Produce FAQ schema	“Output JSON-LD FAQ schema for three common questions on ‘remote work productivity tips.’”

Use these prompts to turbo-charge every on-page task. 

Step-by-Step On-Page SEO Workflow

5.1 Optimize Your Title Tag & URL

• What to do: Insert your exact target keyword near the front; keep the title ≤60 characters or 600px.
• Example:
  • Keyword: “best vegan protein powder”
  • Title Tag: “Best Vegan Protein Powder 2025: Top 10 Plant-Based Picks”
  • URL: /best-vegan-protein-powder-2025/
• CMS Tips:
  • WordPress: Use Yoast/Rank Math’s snippet preview; adjust in the post editor.
  • Drupal: Configure the Metatag module’s Title and URL Alias settings.
  • Shopify: Edit Search engine listing preview under Online Store → Preferences.

5.2 Craft a Compelling Meta Description

• Rule of Thumb: 150–160 characters, value-led with a clear CTA.
• Example:
• “Discover the top 10 vegan protein powders of 2025, plant-powered, lab-tested, and under £30. Shop your perfect blend today!”
• Tool: Semrush On-Page SEO Checker shows if you’ve used the keyword and suggests improvements. 
• Prompt: “Rewrite this meta description to highlight a free shipping offer in 155 characters.”

5.3 Structure Content with Header Tags

• Why: H-tags signal hierarchy; help both users and Google skim.
• Example Outline for “Electric Bikes Guide”:
  • H1: Electric Bikes 2025: Complete Buyer’s Guide
  • H2: Types of Electric Bikes (Commuter, Mountain, Folding)
  • H3: Pros & Cons of Each Type
  • H2: How to Choose the Right Motor & Battery
• Tool: Ahrefs toolbar highlights existing headers; Screaming Frog exports an outline. 

5.4 Write Deep, Intent-Focused Content

• Best Practice: Cover subtopics exhaustively, use related keywords and answer real questions.
• Example: Under “cold brew coffee,” include “How long to steep,” “Best grind size,” and “Equipment needed.”
• Tool: Surfer SEO or Clearscope to surface semantically related terms and ideal word counts. 
• Prompt: “Draft a 200-word section on ‘choosing the perfect grind size for cold brew.’”

5.5 Optimize Images & Media

• Checklist:
  • Filename = descriptive, hyphen-separated (e.g., commuter-electric-bike.jpg).
  • Alt text = brief, keyword-rich description (e.g., “woman riding commuter electric bike in London”).
  • Compress images to <100 KB via TinyPNG or Squoosh.
• CMS:
  • WordPress: Use Smush or ShortPixel for automatic compression.
  • Drupal: Responsive Image module to serve proper sizes.
  • Shopify: Native image optimization in the theme editor.

5.6 Link Strategically

• Internal Links: Aim for 2–3 per 1,000 words link to relevant pillar pages.
  • Example: In a blog about “zero-waste beauty,” link to your “Sustainable Packaging Guide.”
• External Links: Cite authoritative sources (e.g., linking to Moz’s keyword research guide).
• Tools: Google Search Console’s Links report; site:yourdomain.com keyword for opportunities. 

5.7 Implement FAQ & Schema Markup

• Why: Enables rich snippets and voice-assistant answers.

• Example:

  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "How long does cold brew last?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Cold brew coffee stays fresh up to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container."
        }
      },
      …  
    ]
  }
  

   

• CMS:
  • WordPress: Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP plugin.
  • Drupal: JSON-LD module.
  • Shopify: Inject custom JSON-LD in theme.liquid. (Siege Media)

Monitor, Measure & Iterate

• Tools:
  • Google Search Console: track impressions, CTR, and page speed under Enhancements.
  • Ahrefs/Semrush: position tracking and on-page audits.
  • Cadence: Review performance monthly, re-optimize low-CTR pages, update content for freshness.

With this detailed roadmap bolstered by real examples and ChatGPT prompts, you can master on-page SEO in 2025 across any CMS and drive more organic traffic and conversions.