SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It refers to the strategies and techniques used to help a website rank higher in search engines like Google.
The key on-page SEO factors to consider include:
- Page titles – These should be descriptive, concise and contain relevant keywords.
- Meta descriptions – These short descriptions under page titles should provide a summary of the page content and include key phrases.
- Headings tags – Proper heading hierarchy helps indicate to search engines what the page content focuses on.
- Image optimization – Images should have descriptive alt text, title tags and file names containing keywords.
- Page speed – Faster loading pages are better for SEO, so optimizing images and minimizing code can help.
- Internal links – Linking to other helpful pages on your site helps search bots crawl it more efficiently.
- URL structure – URLs should be short and contain relevant keywords if possible.
The key off-page SEO factors include:
- Backlinks – Getting quality links to your site from external reputable sources helps improve rankings.
- Social signals – Mentions and shares of content on social media platforms can boost SEO.
- Local listing optimization – Building citations and reviews for a local business helps improve local SEO.
- Domain authority – An aged domain name with a history of quality content performs better in SERPs.
- Trust signals – Things like SSL certificates and positive user experience indicators like time on site improve SEO.
So in summary, on-page optimization is about the content and technical structure of the site itself, while off-page covers external signals and citations that build authority and relevance.