On-page SEO checklist

Small websites on shared hosting—like WordPress blogs or tool sites—often miss basic on-page SEO, keeping them buried in search results. This simple checklist fixes titles, content, speed, images, and links in just one afternoon (2-4 hours) using free tools, no coding required. You’ll see impressions in Google Search Console within days and higher rankings soon after. Perfect for sites like seofreegenius.com building authority around free SEO tools.

Why On-Page SEO Matters for Small Sites

On-page SEO optimizes elements directly on your pages that Google uses to understand and rank content. For sites with free keyword tools and backli nk checkers, it builds topical authority quickly. Expect impressions in Search Console within days after fixes. semrush

Step 1: Perfect Your Title and Headings (15 minutes)

Google shows your title tag in search results—make it clickable.

Set one H1 matching your main topic: <h1>On-Page SEO Checklist for Small Websites</h1>.
Use H2 for main steps (like this one) and H3 for sub-tips.
Front-load your key topic in the title tag (under 60 characters); keep unique per page.

Example: Poor: “SEO Tips”. Good: “On-Page SEO Checklist for Small Websites”. reddit

Step 2: Nail Keyword Placement and Content (45 minutes)

Content tells Google what your page is about—keep it scannable.

Place your main topic phrase in the first 100 words and 1-2 times per 100 words after.
Aim for 1,200+ words: short paragraphs (3 lines max), bullets, bold key terms.
Write for users: Solve “how to do on-page SEO fast” with real steps.

Internal links boost relevance: Research keywords with our free keyword tools, check competitors using the backlink checker, or monitor progress with tracking tools. Start at the homepage. searchlogistics

Step 3: Optimize Images and Media (20 minutes)

Images slow sites but add engagement—fix them right.

Compress to <100KB each via TinyPNG.com.
Alt text: “on-page SEO checklist for small websites infographic”.
Filename: on-page-seo-checklist-small-sites.jpg (lowercase, hyphens).
Limit to 3-4; add one checklist graphic.

This improves speed scores and accessibility signals. Use our keyword tools to find image search opportunities. swydo

Step 4: Clean URLs and Add Links (10 minutes)

Short, descriptive URLs help crawling.

Use a clean slug like /on-page-seo-checklist-small-websites—no dates or random numbers.
Add 3-5 internal links (as above) and 1-2 external to Google docs.
Anchor text: Natural phrases like “free keyword tools”.

Links from your homepage and backlink checker speed indexing. brachadesigns

Step 5: Fix Technical and Mobile Issues (30 minutes)

Google prioritizes fast, mobile sites.

Test at search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly.
Speed up: Enable caching (via hosting panel), defer non-critical JS.
Add FAQ schema via plugin:

Core Web Vitals improve post-fixes. Track changes with tracking tools. semrush

{
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "How long does this on-page SEO checklist take?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "One afternoon (2-4 hours)."
    }
  }]
}

Step 6: Submit for Indexing (10 minutes)

Get Google to notice changes immediately.

Update in WordPress, then submit URL to Google Search Console (URL Inspection > Request Indexing).
Check: No noindex tag, XML sitemap includes page.
Share on social/X for crawl signals.

Monitor Performance report for your topic queries. Return to seofreegenius.com for more free SEO help. searchlogistics

Quick Wins Checklist Table


Element	Action	Time	Tool/Link
Title Tag	Topic first, <60 chars	5m	Yoast plugin
Content	1-2% density, scannable	45m	Keyword tools
Images	Compress + alt text	20m	TinyPNG.com
Internal Links	3-5 to tools/homepage	10m	Homepage
Mobile/Speed	Test + cache	30m	Google PageSpeed Insights
Indexing	Submit to GSC	10m	Search Console

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keyword stuffing: Sounds robotic, hurts rankings.
Duplicate content: Rewrite in your voice.
Ignoring mobile: 60%+ traffic is mobile.

FAQs

How often update on-page SEO? Yearly audit, plus after content changes.

Does this work on WordPress? Yes—plugins handle 80%.

See results when? Impressions in 1-7 days; rankings in weeks.

Publish this, link from your homepage and tools, and track in Search Console. Your small site will rank better for SEO queries fast. swydo

"Master complete Beginner SEO Cluster → start with SEO basics."
https://seofreegenius.com/beginner-seo-cluster/

On-Page SEO Checklist for Small Websites (You Can Do This in One Afternoon)