BEST PRACTICE METHOD FOR TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO

Understanding crawling

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Crawling refers to the process of a search engine discovering and indexing web pages on the internet. Search engines use crawlers, also known as spiders or bots, to crawl the web and gather information about web pages.

Here is a step-by-step overview of how crawling works:

• Search engines start by identifying a set of seed URLs that they want to crawl.
• The crawler visits the seed URL and extracts links from the page. These links are then added to a list of URLs to crawl.
• The crawler then visits each URL on the list and extracts more links. This process continues until all the links on the list have been crawled.
• While crawling each URL, the crawler also extracts information about the page, such as its title, meta description, and content.
• The information gathered during crawling is then indexed, which means it is added to the search engine's database.
• When a user enters a search query, the search engine uses its index to identify relevant web pages and display them in the search results.

Crawling is an essential part of the search engine optimization process, as it allows search engines to discover and index web pages on the internet. 

To ensure that a website is crawled and indexed correctly, it is important to optimize the technical aspects of the website, such as its URL structure, sitemap, and robots.txt file. This can help to improve the visibility and ranking of the website in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Submit sitemap XML to google

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Submitting a sitemap XML file to Google can help the search engine discover and crawl all the pages on a website more efficiently. Here are the steps to submit a sitemap XML file to Google:

• Sign in to Google Search Console (formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools) using your Google account.
• Click on the website for which you want to submit the sitemap.
• On the left-hand side, click on "Sitemaps" under the "Index" section.
• Click on the "Add/Test Sitemap" button on the top right.
• Enter the URL of your sitemap in the text box. The URL should be in the format of "http://example.com/sitemap.xml" where "example.com" is the domain name of your website.
• Click on the "Submit" button.

Google will now fetch and validate the sitemap. You can check the status of your sitemap in the "Sitemaps" section of Google Search Console.

Submitting a sitemap XML file to Google can help to ensure that all the pages on a website are crawled and indexed correctly. It is recommended to regularly update and resubmit the sitemap as new pages are added to the website.

Understanding indexing

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Indexing is the process of a search engine adding a web page to its database, also known as index. When a search engine crawls a web page, it extracts information about the page, such as its content, keywords, links, and other metadata. This information is then added to the search engine's index, which is a database of all the web pages that the search engine has crawled.

• Once a web page has been indexed, it can appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) when a user searches for keywords or phrases related to the content of the page. The search engine uses complex algorithms to rank the indexed pages based on their relevance to the search query, among other factors.
• Indexing is important for search engine optimization (SEO) because it determines whether or not a web page will appear in search results. To ensure that a web page is indexed correctly, it is important to optimize its technical aspects, such as its URL structure, meta tags, and content. This can help search engines understand the content of the page and rank it higher in search results.
• It's worth noting that not all web pages are indexed by search engines. Some web pages may be excluded from indexing for various reasons, such as low-quality content, duplicate content, or technical issues. It's important to regularly monitor and optimize a website to ensure that all relevant pages are being indexed and appearing in search results.

Noindex Tag

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: The noindex tag is an HTML tag that can be added to a web page to instruct search engines not to index the page. 

When a search engine crawler encounters a noindex tag on a page, it will not include the page in its search index, and the page will not appear in search results. The noindex tag is useful in several situations, such as when:

• A web page contains low-quality or duplicate content that should not be indexed.
• A web page is undergoing maintenance or is under construction and should not be indexed until it is complete.
• A web page contains sensitive or private information that should not be publicly available through search engines.
• To add a noindex tag to a web page, you can add the following meta tag to the HTML code of the page:

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

• Alternatively, you can add the following HTML tag to the header section of the page:

<meta name="googlebot" content="noindex">

• It's important to note that adding a noindex tag to a web page does not prevent other websites from linking to the page. It only instructs search engines not to index the page. 
• Therefore, if a page contains sensitive or private information that should not be publicly available, it's important to ensure that the page is not linked to from other publicly accessible pages.

Canonicalization

• TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Canonicalization is the process of selecting a preferred URL from multiple URLs that lead to the same content. In other words, it is a way to tell search engines which version of a web page to index and display in search results when multiple versions of the same page exist.
• The need for canonicalization arises when a website has several URLs that lead to the same content, such as when a website uses multiple URL variations for the same page, or when the same content is accessible through both HTTP and HTTPS protocols. This can lead to duplicate content issues, which can negatively impact a website's search engine rankings.
• To address this issue, website owners can use the canonical tag, also known as the rel=canonical tag, to indicate the preferred URL for a page. The canonical tag is an HTML tag that is added to the head section of a web page and specifies the URL that should be considered the canonical or primary version of the page.
• For example, if a website has two URLs that lead to the same content, such as:

https://www.example.com/page.html

https://example.com/page.html

• The website owner can add the following canonical tag to the head section of the page to specify the preferred URL:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/page.html">

• By doing so, search engines will understand that the preferred URL for the page is the one with "www" in the domain name, and will index and display that URL in search results, while ignoring the other URL.
• Using canonicalization can help to prevent duplicate content issues and improve a website's search engine rankings by consolidating the search engine ranking signals for multiple URLs into a single canonical URL.

Use HTTPS

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol used to transfer data between a web server and a web browser. 

HTTPS encrypts the data that is transferred between the server and browser, making it more secure and protecting it from interception or tampering.

Using HTTPS on a website has several benefits:

• Security: HTTPS encrypts the data transferred between the server and browser, making it more difficult for hackers to intercept or tamper with the data. This is particularly important for websites that handle sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information.
• Trust: Using HTTPS signals to visitors that the website is authentic and trustworthy, as it indicates that the website owner has taken steps to secure the website and protect users' data.
• Search engine rankings: Google has stated that HTTPS is a ranking factor in its search algorithm, meaning that websites that use HTTPS are more likely to rank higher in search results than websites that use HTTP.

To use HTTPS on a website, a website owner needs to obtain an SSL/TLS certificate, which is a digital certificate that verifies the identity of the website and encrypts the data transferred between the server and browser. The SSL/TLS certificate is installed on the web server, and the website is configured to use HTTPS.

It's important to note that using HTTPS can have implications for website design and functionality, such as the need to update internal links and URLs, and the potential impact on website speed. 

However, the benefits of using HTTPS typically outweigh the drawbacks, particularly for websites that handle sensitive information or rely on search engine traffic for their success.

Ensure Your Website Is Mobile-Friendly

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly is essential in today's digital landscape, as more and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet. 

A mobile-friendly website is one that is optimized for viewing on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, with a responsive design that adjusts to the size and orientation of the device screen.

There are several reasons why having a mobile-friendly website is important:

• Improved user experience: A mobile-friendly website provides a better user experience for visitors who are accessing your website from a mobile device. The website is easier to navigate, and the content is optimized for viewing on a smaller screen, which leads to increased engagement and a lower bounce rate.
• Higher search engine rankings: Google has stated that mobile-friendliness is a ranking factor in its search algorithm, meaning that websites that are mobile-friendly are more likely to rank higher in search results than websites that are not.
• Increased mobile traffic: As more and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet, having a mobile-friendly website can help to increase your mobile traffic and reach a wider audience.

To ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, you can take several steps, such as:

• Use a responsive design: A responsive design ensures that your website will adjust to the size and orientation of the device screen, providing an optimal viewing experience for mobile users.
• Optimize images: Large images can slow down the loading speed of your website on mobile devices. Optimize your images for mobile devices by compressing them or using smaller file sizes.
• Simplify navigation: Navigation should be simple and easy to use on mobile devices. Use clear, concise labels for navigation links and use a hamburger menu or other mobile-friendly navigation style.
• Use mobile-friendly fonts: Fonts that are too small or difficult to read on mobile devices can deter users from staying on your website. Use fonts that are legible on small screens and use a font size that is large enough to be easily read.

By ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly, you can improve user experience, increase search engine rankings, and reach a wider mobile audience.

Find & Fix Duplicate Content Issues

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Duplicate content issues occur when the same content appears on multiple pages on your website or on other websites. This can be unintentional, such as when a website owner copies content from another website, or it can be caused by technical issues, such as the presence of multiple versions of a page with different URLs.

Duplicate content issues can have several negative impacts on your website, such as:

• Reduced search engine rankings: Search engines like Google penalize websites that have duplicate content, as it can make it difficult for them to determine which version of the content is the original.
• Lowered user experience: Duplicate content can confuse users and make it more difficult for them to find the information they are looking for, which can lead to a lower user experience and increased bounce rates.

To find and fix duplicate content issues on your website, you can take the following steps:

• Use a plagiarism checker: Use an online plagiarism checker to scan your website and identify any instances of duplicate content.
• Consolidate similar pages: If you have multiple pages on your website with similar content, consider consolidating them into a single page with all the relevant information.
• Use canonical tags: If you have multiple versions of a page with different URLs, use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of the page to search engines.
• Rewrite content: If you have copied content from another website, rewrite the content in your own words or seek permission from the original content owner to use the content.
• Set up redirects: If you have duplicate content on your website, set up 301 redirects to the preferred version of the content to ensure that search engines and users are directed to the correct page.

By finding and fixing duplicate content issues on your website, you can improve your search engine rankings, enhance user experience, and avoid potential penalties from search engines.

Find & Fix Broken Pages

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Broken pages, also known as 404 pages, occur when a page on your website cannot be found or accessed by users. Broken pages can be caused by a variety of factors, such as incorrect URL formatting, deleted pages, or broken links.

Having broken pages on your website can negatively impact your user experience and search engine rankings. Users may become frustrated and leave your website, leading to increased bounce rates, while search engines may penalize your website for having broken pages.

To find and fix broken pages on your website, you can take the following steps:

• Use a broken link checker: Use an online tool to scan your website and identify any broken links or pages. Some popular broken link checkers include Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console.
• Check server logs: Check your server logs to see if any pages are returning a 404 status code. This can help you identify pages that are not being properly redirected or have been deleted.
• Use a redirect plugin: If you have recently deleted a page or changed its URL, set up a 301 redirect to redirect users to a new page or URL.
• Update internal links: Check your internal links to ensure that they are pointing to the correct pages. Update any links that are pointing to broken pages.
• Monitor for broken pages: Regularly monitor your website for broken pages using a broken link checker or Google Search Console.

By finding and fixing broken pages on your website, you can improve your user experience and search engine rankings. Users will be able to navigate your website more easily, and search engines will view your website as more reliable and trustworthy.

Optimize for Core Web Vitals

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the user experience of a website, such as page load time, interactivity, and visual stability. 

Google has recently announced that these metrics will become a ranking factor for websites in their search engine results. To optimize for Core Web Vitals, you can take the following steps:

• Measure your website's performance: Use tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, or Web.dev to measure your website's performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Optimize images: Optimize your images by compressing them and reducing their size. This can help improve your website's page load time.
• Minimize CSS and JavaScript: Minimize your CSS and JavaScript files to reduce the amount of data that needs to be downloaded and improve your website's page load time.
• Use lazy loading: Implement lazy loading for images and videos so that they only load when they are visible on the user's screen. This can help improve your website's interactivity and reduce its page load time.
• Improve server response time: Improve your server response time by using a reliable hosting provider, caching content, and minimizing HTTP requests.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN): Use a CDN to distribute your website's content across multiple servers around the world. This can help improve your website's page load time for users in different regions.

By optimizing for Core Web Vitals, you can improve your website's user experience and search engine rankings. Users will be able to navigate your website more easily, leading to increased engagement and lower bounce rates, while search engines will view your website as providing a high-quality user experience.

Use Hreflang for Content in Multiple Languages

TECHNICAL OPTIMISATION IN ON-PAGE SEO: Hreflang is a HTML attribute that tells search engines which version of a webpage to display to users based on their language and location. 

If you have content on your website that is available in multiple languages, using hreflang tags can help search engines understand which version of the content to display to users in different regions. To use hreflang tags for content in multiple languages, you can take the following steps:

• Identify the languages and regions: Determine which languages and regions your content is available in. This will help you determine which hreflang tags you need to use.
• Add hreflang tags to your HTML code: Add hreflang tags to the HTML code of your web pages. The hreflang tag should be included in the head section of the HTML code and should specify the language and region of the page.
• Use the correct format: Make sure that you use the correct format for the hreflang tag. The format should be language-region, where language is the ISO 639-1 language code and region is the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code.
• Check for errors: Use a hreflang checker tool to check for errors in your hreflang tags. Common errors include missing or incorrect hreflang tags and inconsistent language and region codes.

By using hreflang tags for content in multiple languages, you can improve your website's visibility in search engine results and provide a better user experience for users in different regions. Users will be able to find and access your content in their preferred language, leading to increased engagement and lower bounce rates.