Introduction: The Problem with Ignoring On-Page SEO
You’ve published great content, but your WordPress blog (rashidwajeeh.com) isn’t ranking. Why?
The Problem: Poor on-page SEO = Invisible content.
Agitation: 75% of pages ranking in the top 10 have optimized title tags, meta descriptions, and internal links (Ahrefs, 2023). Without a checklist, you’re guessing—and losing traffic.
Solution: This 16-point on-page SEO checklist fixes gaps, boosts rankings, and aligns with Google’s 2024 guidelines.
Table of Contents
- What is On-Page SEO?
- Case Study: A 16-point checklist resulted in a dramatic traffic increase of 210%
- The Complete On-Page SEO Checklist (2024)
- How to Implement This Checklist on WordPress (Rank Math Guide)
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Tools to Automate Your On-Page SEO
1. What is On-Page SEO?
On-page SEO involves optimizing elements within your control on a webpage (e.g., title tags, content, URLs) to rank higher. Unlike technical SEO, Technical SEO differs because it relies directly on content quality and relevance.
Why It Matters:
- 93% of online experiences start with a search engine (BrightEdge).
- Pages with optimized on-page SEO rank 3x faster (Backlinko).
2. Case Study: 210% Traffic Growth in 90 Days
Problem: A travel blog (WordPress + Rank Math) had 500 monthly visitors despite publishing 50 posts.
Agitation: 80% of their pages lacked meta descriptions, and only 20% used internal links.
Solution: They followed this 16-point checklist.
Results After 3 Months:
- Organic Traffic: 500 ➔ 1,550 (+210%).
- Avg. Ranking Position: #28 ➔ #9.
- CTR: 1.8% ➔ 4.5%.
Key Fixes:
- Rewrote title tags with focus keywords.
- Added FAQ schema using Rank Math.
- Fixed broken internal links.
3. The Complete 16-Point On-Page SEO Checklist (2024)
Follow these steps for every blog post:
1. Title Tag
- Action: Include the focus keyword (e.g., “On-Page SEO Checklist”) in the first 60 characters.
- Example: “16-Point On-Page SEO Checklist: 2024 Guide by rashidwajeeh.com”.
- Rank Math Tip: Use the “SEO Title” field to preview length.
2. Meta Description
- Action: Write a 150-character summary with the keyword and a CTA.
- Example: “Follow this 16-point on-page SEO checklist to boost rankings. Includes Rank Math hacks for WordPress users.”
3. Subheadings (H2/H3)
- Action: Use keywords naturally (e.g., “How to Optimize Images for SEO”).
- Data: Pages with 5+ subheadings get 2x more organic traffic (SEMrush).
4. Content Quality
- Action: Write 1,500+ words with stats, examples, and bolded key takeaways.
- Case Study: Backlinko found long-form content (2,000+ words) earns 3x more backlinks.
5. Keyword Research
- Action: Use Rank Math’s “Focus Keyword” tool to target low-competition phrases.
- Example: “On-page SEO checklist for WordPress” (Volume: 880).
6. Image Optimization
- Action: Add alt text like “On-page SEO checklist infographic” + compress images to <100KB.
- Tool: Rank Math’s image SEO analyzer.
7. Internal Linking
- Action: Link to 2–3 related posts (e.g., “Advanced SEO Techniques”).
- Data: Internal links improve crawlability and reduce bounce rates by 30% (HubSpot).
8. External Links
- Action: Link to 3–5 authoritative sites (e.g., Google Search Central).
9. URL Structure
- Action: Use short, keyword-rich URLs (e.g.,
/on-page-seo-checklist).
10. Mobile Optimization
- Action: Test pages with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
11. Page Speed
- Action: Achieve <3-second load time using WP Rocket + CDN.
12. User Experience (UX)
- Action: Use bullet points, white space, and a table of contents.
13. Social Sharing
- Action: Add Social Warfare plugins for click-to-tweet boxes.
14. Schema Markup
- Action: Enable Rank Math’s “Schema” tab for FAQs or How-To guides.
15. Google Analytics
- Action: Track “Behavior Flow” to identify weak pages.
16. Regular Audits
- Action: Use Rank Math’s “SEO Analysis” tool monthly.
4. How to Implement This Checklist on WordPress (Rank Math Guide)
- Install Rank Math: Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Search “Rank Math SEO”.
- Optimize Titles/Descriptions:
- Edit any post > Scroll to Rank Math’s meta box > Enter focus keyword.
- Let Rank Math score your SEO (aim for 90+/100).
- Add Schema:
- Under “Schema Markup”, select “FAQ” or “Article”.
- Bulk Edit:
- Use “Edit SEO Meta” to fix titles/descriptions across multiple pages.
5. 3 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Mobile Users: 60% of searches happen on mobile (Statista).
- Skipping Alt Text: 35% of traffic comes from image searches (Jumpshot).
- Duplicate Content: Use Rank Math’s “Content AI” to rewrite copied sections.
6. Tools to Automate Your On-Page SEO
- Rank Math SEO: Audit titles, meta descriptions, and internal links.
- Ahrefs: Track keyword rankings and competitor gaps.
- Surfer SEO: Compare your content with top-ranking pages.
Conclusion: Your Action Plan
Now that you have the 16-point on-page SEO checklist, here’s how to start:
- Audit 5 Pages: Use Rank Math’s SEO analysis.
- Fix Titles/Descriptions: Follow the PAS framework.
- Add Schema: Boost CTR with rich snippets.
CTA: Ready to dominate SEO? Download our free checklist PDF [insert link] and tag #rashidwajeeh when you hit page 1
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