This is Part Five in a Six Part Series. Here are the other parts.

So far in this series we’ve looked at why semantics is important for search engine optimization, how to research semantic keywords on Google, how to create a Semantic Map for your web site content and how to structure your web site linking for semantic relevance.

Now it’s time to take a look at on-page content and the best tips and techniques to organize individual pages for semantic relevance.

Techniques For Organizing Pages For Semantic Relevance

These include the following practices:

• correct use of page titles

• use keywords in url naming conventions

• proper use of Heading tags

• use of synonyms and keyword stems in page copy

• use of synonyms and keyword stems in internal linking

• linking out to authority topic sources

The On-Page Semantic SEO Guide

• Correct use of page titles: Create unique, accurate page titles for each page. Choose a title that accurately reflects the content of the page and avoid using a title that has no relation to your on-page content.

• Use keywords in URL naming conventions: If your page is about ‘best fruit recipes for easy desserts’ then use those keywords in the URL name, separated by hyphens rather than underscores. Avoid using a numerical naming structure (e.g. powered by a database) for URL’s.

• Proper use of heading tags: The most important Heading tag for SEO is the H1 tag. Always use this for the page title, then use H2, H3 etc. down the page for section headings in importance order. Always use headings in proper order from H1 through H6, i.e. do not put an H6 tag toward the top of the page and then an H2 tag lower down.

• Use of synonyms and keyword stems in page copy. Research your synonymous keyword alternatives using the Google Semantic Operator by placing the ~ Tilde symbol immediately before the keyword, e.g. ~Recipes. In this example you can include other semantically relevant keywords such as menus, food, cooking, meals, diet plus the singular stem of the word recipes (recipe) within the page copy.

• Use of synonyms and keyword stems in internal linking. Use semantically alternative keywords such as menus, cooking, meals etc. as additional internal pages and link them back to your primary page of ‘recipes’ ensuring that you use the semantic word/s as the anchor text pointing into the main page. This helps to create a strong semantic theme for your web site and re-enforces the value of the primary page through alternate semantic word variations pointing to it.

• Linking out to authority topic sources. For years the focus in SEO has been strong inbound links, i.e. getting links from authority web sites that are on-topic. The new semantic SEO is in linking out to strong authority sources for a topic. This tells the search engines that you’re an expert source for your content and provides the groundwork for you to become an Authority Site on the subject. Choose web sites to link to that are already ranking Page 1 Google for your subject term.

In our next article we’ll examine the proper use of semantic mark-up code for web sites.

More Useful Reading For On-Page SEO Relevance

Google search engine optimization starter guide

Perfecting keyword targeting for on-page optimization

Google Ranking Factors

Chris Lewis is the author of this post. Chris Lewis is the Founder of Search Engine Semantics, a site which offers consulting services, information guides and online resources for the correct implementation of Semantics for SEO.
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