Understanding On-Page SEO VS. Off-Page SEO

Let’s Get on the Same Page

The simplest way to understand the difference between on and off-page SEO is that on-page SEO is what you can directly control and optimize on your website while off-page SEO is how many people use you as a resource by linking or sharing.

Each has its own unique elements and strategies. Knowing what these are is the first step in being able to optimize both to your advantage.

What is On-Page SEO?

If you have any experience in SEO, on-page SEO is probably what you’ve worked with the most or, at least, have some familiarity with. On-page optimization is what most people think of when they consider SEO and their search engine ranking.

Whatever you can control and change on your website plays a role in on-page SEO. This includes visual elements such as:

• Headings
• Keyword Usage
• Titles
• URL Slug

It also takes into account your website speed and if your website is mobile-friendly.

On-Page Importance

On-page SEO is essential for the search engine to know what queries your website should appear for. Imagine you want to rank for a specific keyword, but you don’t use it in your headings or utilize them throughout your copy. The search engine may still show your site, but you would have less control over what queries and keywords you’re appearing for.

It is also important for user experience. The last thing you want is users exiting your website because it was too slow to load or it wasn’t mobile-friendly. You can simplify and humanize the user’s experience through well-written meta descriptions or easy-to-read slugs.

What is Off-Page SEO?

Off-page optimization most commonly comes from link building. Say someone comes across your website, and they decide you’re a great resource and link your page in their blog or article. This is an example of off-page SEO.

The more people who decide to link or share (either through blogs, forums, or social media) your website the better your off-page optimization will be. There are other forms of off-page SEO that you can have more control over. These include:

• Participating in collaborations for mutual link exchange
• Writing for article submissions
• Working with influencers popular in your industry
• Managing reviews on Google, Yelp, or any other review site relevant to your industry
• Utilizing business management tools like Google Business Profile and Apple Business Connect
• Sharing key landing pages and articles on social media for others to reshare
• Including your information in industry-related business directories

Off-Page Importance

After working hard on writing and creating your website, you want others to be able to find it and get value out of it. This is where off-page SEO plays a role.

It tells the search engine that your site is a popular resource for your keywords, so the search engine boosts your ranking for more people to find. Since it is based on your website’s popularity and value as a resource, it’s recommended to optimize on-page before you begin off-page optimization.

Off-page SEO will also improve your position on local SEO rankings. If you want to appear when people search for your industry “near me,” off-page optimization is vital to ensure you are a top result.

What’s the Big Deal?

You may be wondering which is more important, on-page or off-page, when it comes to optimizing your website. But the answer is, they’re both equally important. They work off of each other.

Even if you’ve utilized keywords perfectly, you have an appropriate heading structure, and your website lightning fast, you still may not rank as high without proper off-page optimization. And vice versa, even if you have raving reviews, stellar link building, and active social media engagement, you’d still feel the consequences of poor on-page SEO.

It is vital you don’t make the mistake of prioritizing one and neglecting the other. Both working in tandem will significantly increase your website’s value both for your audience and the search engine.

Ready to Begin Optimizing?

Knowing the difference between on-page and off-page SEO and how to implement both is a key step in pushing your content above the rest. If you want a trusted partner in your brand’s growth, we’re here to help with all of your SEO needs.

We’d love to hear from you and build an on-page and off-page SEO strategy to best suit your needs. We’re ready to optimize your content and celebrate as your rankings soar.