What is On-Page SEO? A Simple Guide for Health and Wellness Websites
TL;DR
On-page SEO is all about optimizing elements on your website to improve search rankings and attract more visitors. From keywords and headings to page speed and mobile-friendliness, these tweaks help search engines understand your content, making it easier for potential clients to find you. Simple updates can lead to better visibility and a smoother user experience, helping you grow your wellness business online.
Looking for some guidance on optimizing your website for search engines?
Download the free checklist below!
Imagine this: you’ve poured your heart into your wellness business and built a beautiful website. But if your site is buried in search results, you might be missing out on clients looking for your services. That’s where on-page SEO comes in. It’s a simple yet powerful way to boost your site’s visibility, helping more people find you and connect with your expertise.
What is On-Page SEO?
In short, on-page SEO is the art and science of optimizing elements directly on your website—think of it as a targeted wellness plan for your site’s health. While off-page SEO focuses on things like backlinks and social signals, on-page SEO is all about what you control on your website. You’ll optimize key elements like content, keywords, headings, and more to help search engines understand what each page is about.
Why is On-Page SEO Important for Health and Wellness Websites?
Connecting with the right audience is key to long term business success. On-page SEO helps your content get seen by potential clients looking for the solutions you offer. Search engines love content that’s helpful, well-organized, and user-friendly. By improving your on-page SEO, you make it easier for search engines to show your pages to the right people. Plus, your clients will have a better experience navigating your site, finding the information they need, and booking with you!
Top Elements of On-Page SEO for Your Website
Here are 15 key areas to focus on:
Keywords
Start with keywords that relate to your services. In essence, what do you want to be known for? Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify phrases potential clients are searching for. You can learn more about Google Keyword Planner here. Always be thinking in SEO terms — anywhere you can add text in the page (alt text, url, meta title, and description, etc), you want to add your keyword. Be sure you’re writing for humans first though!Content Quality
High-quality, informative content helps clients and search engines see you as an expert. Address common questions or offer wellness tips in your blog. With the rise (and acceptance) of AI programs like ChatGPT, it’s best practice to follow Google’s E-E-A-T guideline for writing SEO-viable content to rank.Headings (H1, H2, H3)
Clear headings guide readers through your content and help search engines understand it. Use H1 for main titles and H2, H3 for subheadings. For accessibility purposes, screen readers read out a page from top to bottom so it’s best to list your headings in order down the page.Meta Title & Descriptions
Meta descriptions are the small previews you see in search results. Craft these to entice users to click through to your page.URL Structure
Keep URLs simple, short, and descriptive (e.g., yoursite.com/meditation-tips). This is great for both search engines and users.Image Alt Text
Always describe your images with alt text. For example, instead of “image1.jpg,” use “meditation-room-with-candles.” This is accessible for visually impaired users and good for SEO.Internal Links
Link to other pages on your site where relevant (e.g., linking your blog post on “Benefits of Massage” to your “Massage Services” page). This keeps your visitors exploring your website and boosts SEO.User Experience (UX)
Good UX means easy navigation, quick page load times, and readable content. An intuitive website is always a winner. This is what helps keep your visitors engaged on your page and for longer times.Mobile-Friendliness
With the majority of people browsing websites on the go, it’s imperative your site looks good and functions well on mobile.Page Speed
Fast-loading pages improve user experience and SEO. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you test your speed. Check out tips to improve your Squarespace website load speed here.Call-to-Action (CTA) Optimization
Strong CTAs like “Book a Free Consultation” guide visitors to take action. Make them clear and easy to understand. Also, when you’re linking on your website and blog, be sure your links are descriptive for accessibility purposes.Google Analytics & Search Console
Use Google Analytics to track traffic and Google Search Console to monitor SEO. You’ll gain insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. Learn more about Google Search Console and how to get your website to show up on Google here.Content Updates & Maintenance
Regularly update your content with fresh information to keep your site relevant and engaging. Plus, search engines love fresh content. Every time you make major updates to your site, be sure to update your sitemap on Google Search Console. View the steps to submit and update your sitemap here.
How to Check If Your On-Page SEO is Working
To see how well your on-page SEO is working, check metrics in Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Look for increased organic traffic, higher search rankings, and a boost in user engagement metrics like time on page and click-through rate (CTR). Tools like Moz or SEMrush can also give deeper insights into keyword rankings and on-page performance.
On-page SEO might sound like technical jargon, but it’s really just about setting up your website to be understood by search engines and appreciated by visitors. With a few tweaks here and there, you’ll be creating a site that connects with clients, ranks higher in search results, and ultimately helps you grow your business. And remember, now that you’ve chosen to embark on the SEO journey, you’re playing the long game. Be prepared to wait a few months before you start seeing results.
Looking for some guidance on optimizing your website for search engines?
Download the free checklist below!
If this stuff seems overwhelming to wrap your brain around, you’re not alone!
Book a free 15-minute chat to see how I can possibly boost your SEO presence and attract more of your ideal clients!
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