What's the difference between on-page and off-page SEO? Image of pink grapefruit and orange slices.

What’s the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is crucial for improving your website’s visibility and attracting the right audience. Understanding the difference between on-page and off-page SEO is essential for creating a well-rounded strategy.

But when you’re starting out with SEO, terms like “on-page” and “off-page” can feel pretty overwhelming. So what exactly is the difference, and how do they impact your online presence?

Let’s slice into these 2 key SEO terms and find out how they work together to improve your search rankings.

What is on-page optimisation?

On-page SEO refers to the actions you take directly on your website to optimise it for search engines and users. It’s all about making your site as user-friendly and search engine-friendly as possible.

While you definitely want to attract traffic from search engines, real people also need to read and understand your content. So always put quality content first, and the search engine traffic will follow.

On-page SEO checklist

  • Content optimisation: Writing high-quality, engaging content that answers your audience’s questions and includes relevant keywords naturally.
  • Meta tags: Crafting compelling title tags and meta descriptions that encourage clicks from search results.
  • Headings and structure: Using H1, H2, and H3 tags to organise content for both readers and search engines.
  • Internal linking: Connecting pages within your site to improve navigation and distribute link equity.
  • Image optimisation: Ensuring images are properly compressed and include descriptive alt text.
  • URL structure: Creating short, descriptive, and keyword-rich URLs.

Why it matters

On-page SEO helps search engines to understand the content on your website, while also ensuring visitors have a positive experience. It lays the groundwork for driving organic traffic.

What is off-page optimisation?

Off-page SEO is all about what happens outside the pages of your own website. Actions taken outside of your website impact search results and improve its authority and reputation.

More often than not, this focuses on building relationships and earning trust within your industry. There are several ways you can make this happen, from quality link building, to guest posting, to amplifying your social signals.

Off-page SEO checklist

  • Backlinks: Securing high-quality links from reputable websites that signal trust and authority to search engines.
  • Social signals: Engaging on social media platforms to drive traffic and increase brand awareness.
  • Brand mentions: Monitoring and encouraging mentions of your business online, even without direct links.
  • Guest posting: Contributing valuable content to other websites to establish yourself as an industry expert.
  • Directory listings: Ensuring your business is listed consistently in relevant directories and local search platforms.

Why it matters

Off-page SEO builds your website’s credibility. This can help improve its rankings in competitive search results. It’s about proving to search engines that others see your site as trustworthy and valuable.

How on-page and off-page SEO work together

On-page and off-page SEO are 2 halves of the same orange. While on-page optimisation ensures your website is honed for users and search engines, off-page optimisation helps establish your site’s authority and trustworthiness.

Together, they create a balanced strategy that improves your overall search rankings. Think of it like a shopfront: on-page is the well-organised display that attracts customers, while off-page is the word-of-mouth reputation that brings them to your door.

How Davison & Brain Digital can help

Navigating the difference between on-page and off-page SEO doesn’t have to feel like a mountain of work.

At Davison & Brain Digital, we help small businesses and entrepreneurs optimise their websites and build their online presence. Whether it’s refining your content, improving your site structure, or building authoritative backlinks, we’ve got you covered.

Improve your website SEO

If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, get in touch with Davison & Brain Digital today. Let’s create an SEO strategy that gets you noticed for all the right reasons.

Book a call

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