On Page SEO Checklist: 19 Checks and What They Mean

What on page SEO means

On page SEO covers the parts of a page that you can edit: the title, the meta description, headings, body text, images, internal links and structured data. Off page signals such as links from other sites are separate. A page with weak on page basics gives search engines less to work with, even when the topic is good.

Run the On Page SEO Checker on any page to see a score and a fix list. The sections below explain what each check looks at.

Title and meta description

Title tag. Describe the page in a clear phrase that includes the main topic. Titles around 50 to 60 characters usually show in full on search results, though display depends on pixel width, so treat the number as a guide.

Meta description. This is a short summary that can appear under the title. Write one unique summary per page, around 120 to 155 characters, that tells the reader what they will get. Search engines may rewrite it, but a good one often helps clicks. Draft both with the Meta Tag Generator and preview them in the SERP Preview Tool.

Headings and content

One H1. Give the page a single main heading that matches its purpose. H2 and H3. Use them to split the page into logical sections. Check the outline with the Heading Structure Checker.

Content. Answer the question the page targets, early and clearly. Cover related questions people ask, use natural wording and avoid repeating a keyword just to hit a number. The Keyword Density Checker can show if a phrase is overused, but there is no ideal percentage.

Images, links and technical basics

Images. Give each meaningful image a short, accurate alt text and a width and height so the layout does not jump.

Internal links. Link to related pages with descriptive anchor text, not click here. Extract and review the links on a page with the HTML Link Extractor.

Technical basics. Check that the page has a canonical link, a viewport tag, a language attribute, a readable URL and a robots directive that allows indexing. Structured data should match what is visible on the page.

How to use the checklist

1. Pick one page and one main topic.
2. Run the checker and note every warning.
3. Fix the title, description and H1 first, since they are quick wins.
4. Improve the content so it answers the topic fully.
5. Add internal links to and from related pages.
6. Test again after the page is live and wait for search engines to recrawl.

A higher score does not guarantee a higher ranking. It shows that the basics are in place, which is the foundation for everything else.

More guides

• htaccess Redirects Explained: 301, 302, WWW, HTTPS and Rewrite Rules
• How to Write Meta Titles and Meta Descriptions That Earn Clicks

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