Semalt: The Difference Between On-Page And Off-Page SEO
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Differences Based on Definitions
- Differences Based on SEO Elements Involved
- Differences Based on Benefits
- Differences Based on Procedure for Implementation
- Conclusion
Introduction
Unless you have all the time in the world, most users simply click on the first two to three results on a search engine to find the answer to their questions. Among other things, this is a major reason SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is important. Though it doesn't happen overnight, it is the most organic method to getting your website from invisible to visible and on top of the result charts for that matter. But SEO is not just that. It is divided into different components - all categorized to handle and optimize specific parts of your website. That is why it is essential to utilize not just one - but all components of SEO for all-around optimization.
So what are these components? There are tons of SEO types ranging from local SEO to mobile SEO and even content SEO, but all of these subtypes can be divided into two: on-page and off-page SEO. There is a third wheel though; technical SEO but that type of SEO is usually challenging to handle without the help of an SEO expert. But what about on- and off-page SEO? What are they? What are the differences and how can you adopt them by yourself? That is what this article is all about.
Differences Based on Definitions
Starting with their definitions - what is on-page SEO and off-page SEO? It has already been established that SEO itself is the process of optimizing a website using certain tools and techniques to help such a web page rank for a specific keyword. But when it comes to the two branches of SEO, the definition is divided into two.
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing a website using some SEO elements and techniques from the website itself. Here, all the components of the website are under your control and can be modified at will. Some of these factors include your content, internal links, website design, page speed, and so much more. As long as you can make changes to these components from within your website, it is on-page SEO.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, is simply off-the-page SEO. That is the process of optimizing a website using some SEO elements and techniques around a third-party site, brand, and the web. Here, all the components can either be found on another website (blogs, vlogs, podcasts, social media platforms, etc.) or through web tools. As long as the component is not directly modified on your website (but will affect your site's metrics in some way), then it is off-page SEO.
Differences Based on SEO Elements Involved
From the definitions, on-page SEO is 'on the page' and off-page SEO is 'off' the pages of your website. So what are the elements of both?
Elements of On-page SEO are:
- Core Web Vitals: This is a new on-page SEO element introduced by Google to webmasters all over the world. Though Core Wed Vitals is a combination of other on-page SEO elements like page speed, visual stability, and website interactivity; Core Web Vital is still an element on its own.
- Page Speed: This refers to how fast or slows your website loads. Also referred to as load time, you can tweak your page speed by compressing some web images, caching files, and JavaScript files.
- Content Quality: This refers to everything on your site from the texts to the images - especially blogs, captions, product descriptions, and so on.
- Title Tags: The meta title of your blog posts and texts are title tags. They can also be called page titles and they are part of on-page SEO elements.
- Mobile SEO: This is a sum of how well your website operates on a mobile device. How easy is it for your users to navigate through? Do they have to repeatedly zoom in and out to reach their interest?
- Internal Linking: The quality and (to an extent) quantity of your internal link is also a crucial part of your on-page SEO. Make positive changes to this aspect and your website's SEO will be moving in the right direction.
- Meta Descriptions: Like title tags, a meta description is a summary of what a page is about.
- Image Alt Text: The attribute to an image's HTML tag is also important and counted as an element that affects your page's SEO.
- Navigation: Finally, the ease of navigation (or its complexity) should also be taken into account.
Elements of Off-page SEO are:
- Backlinks: Backlinks are links that lead a user from a third-party app to your site. They are the most important off-page SEO element because Google sees backlinks as a 'vote of trust'. Have a lot of QUALITY backlinks and your website's off-page SEO would juice up.
- Social Media: Social media platforms are good resources that can help to increase the awareness and impressions of your website. By optimizing your social media account(s), you would do a little something for your off-page SEO as well.
- Mentions: Note that this should be unlinked mentions should also not be affiliated. Finding sites that mention your website in a non-spammy format might not be easy but it does good for your website's SEO.
- Google My Business: Finally, Google My Business (or GMB) is Google's special package for businesses to put all crucial elements and information in a place where customers can see them at a glance. A fully-optimized GMB profile is a vital off-page SEO factor, especially for local businesses, and helps to drive traffic.
Differences Based on Benefits
Both on-page and off-page SEO have benefits that can be likened to the benefit of SEO for a website. But the two still offer separate packages for a website.
Benefits of On-page SEO:
- On-page SEO, especially improving content quality will directly affect your rank on search engine result pages (SERPs).
- When you work on your website's on-page core web vitals, you will improve your website's local search.
- Proper website navigation and mobile SEO also help to boost organic traffic to your site.
- On-page SEO: internal linking, proper title tags, meta descriptions, and so on will help to increase your conversion rate and your potential for earnings if you sell services or products.
- Working on your meta description and title tag will directly affect your click-through rate (CTR).
- By giving your on-page SEO a creative touch, you can make your website unique and that gives you a competitive edge - one that sets you apart.
Benefits of Off-page SEO:
- Off-page SEO helps to improve a website's online value and domain authority thereby leading to more traffic to the site.
- It also aids a business's online branding - especially for awareness creation.
- Off-page SEO is a tool for growing online reach as its factors help to reach more people.
- Better search ranking and exposure.
From the above listings, it can be deduced that on-page SEO is great for a website that needs to develop its standing from within. It is also great for a startup business with no online footing. Off-page SEO on the other hand is best for companies that need exposure, domain authority, and increased brand awareness. This does not mean that the two are too different from each other - it only means that one comes before the other.
Differences Based on Procedure for Implementation
The final category - is based on how to implement it on your website. You can simply follow the list below to know how to incorporate each SEO type on your website by yourself.
How to do On-page SEO:
- Audit your site as regularly as possible.
- Ensure your website design is interactive, stable, and easy to navigate.
- Add and update title tags, meta descriptions, and alt tags.
- Keep the title short (under 70 characters and match search intent - don't use clickbait words).
- Use keywords but don't stuff.
- Compress your files for faster load time.
- Optimize for featured snippets.
- Define your target audience and valuable & engaging content for them.
- Plan your content before publishing.
- Review and edit old content (content pruning).
- Add and optimize images, videos, and infographics.
- Add internal and external links - quality should rule over quantity.
- Use H1 and H2-H6 for the page title and subheading respectively.
How to do Off-page SEO:
- Promote your site by asking your friends and customers to link back to your site naturally.
- Engage in social media marketing to encourage clicks and visits.
- Guest posts on various platforms - text, audio, and video.
- Post on numerous forums and ensure to create value so that new customers can mention you for natural backlinking and mentions.
- Take advantage of local SEO by submitting your business to a local listing or opening an optimized GMB profile.
Conclusion
Despite the differences, it is recommended to have a fully effective on-page SEO before working on your website's off-page SEO. Else, what is the use of announcing an empty or poorly-optimized website for the world to see? In that case, you can either use the steps above to improve your website's on- and off-page SEO or better still - for better results, outsource your SEO needs to an expert. This would be the most cost-effective, time-saving, result-guaranteed decision you'll make for your website and business. Not only would you be handing over the future of your business to a professional, but you'll also be able to focus on other aspects of your business. So try Semalt today and begin your journey to better SEO.