If you're trying to get more organic traffic from Google, on-page SEO is still one of the highest-ROI places to start. Here's a practical checklist I use on every page before it goes live.
One clear primary keyword per page – Don't try to rank for five unrelated phrases on the same URL.
Keyword in the title tag – Ideally near the front, under 60 characters.
Compelling meta description – It won't boost rankings directly, but it drives click-through rate.
Single H1 that matches search intent – Not just the keyword, the actual question the user is asking.
Logical H2/H3 structure – Breaks content into scannable sections and helps Google understand topic coverage.
Keyword in the first 100 words – Confirms relevance early.
Internal links to related content – Keeps users (and crawlers) moving through your site.
Descriptive, keyword-aware anchor text – Avoid "click here."
Image alt text – Helps accessibility and image search.
Fast page speed – Core Web Vitals still matter for rankings and conversions.
Mobile-friendly layout – Most search traffic is mobile now.
Clean, readable URL slug – Short and descriptive beats long and parameter-heavy.
Schema markup where relevant – Especially for reviews, FAQs, and how-tos.
Original content, not reworded competitor pages – Google's helpful content system penalizes thin rewrites.
Clear call to action – Tell the reader what to do next.
What's on your own on-page SEO checklist? Curious what other webmasters here prioritize.
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