Top 10 SEO Best Practices Every Website Should Follow

Struggling to get your website noticed on search engines? Whether you’re aiming for higher rankings, more traffic, or better user engagement, following the top 10 SEO best practices every website should follow can make a big difference. These proven techniques help search engines understand your content and improve how users experience your site. 

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what steps to take—from keyword research to technical SEO—to boost visibility, attract the right audience, and grow your online presence.

Here are the top 10 SEO best practices every website should follow: 

Conduct Proper Keyword Research

Keywords become the words people type into a search engine to navigate to a website. Hence, it is necessary to use the appropriate keywords on your website so that people can find your content. 

• Use keyword research tools, such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest.
• Identify keywords that align with what your target audience searches for
• The long-tail type of keywords is something that needs to be focused on, e.g., “best shoes for walking long distances.”
• Use keywords naturally within your content without overloading or forcing them. 

This is the first for both on-page SEO and off-page SEO. 

Create High-Quality and Relevant Content

Content quality is the most important part of SEO. If your content helps users find answers to their questions, then it will be ranked in search engines. 

• Write for people, not for search engines
• Provide answers, tips, and useful information
• Use short passages with simple language
• Break up content using bullet points and subheadings
• Update content with new and accurate information

Good content also builds trust and supports the E-E-A-T principle

• Experience: showcase real examples or results
• Expertise: offer tips or insights with the help of an expert
• Authoritativeness: cite stats or link to reliable sources
• Trustworthiness: Be truthful and give clear contact information

Optimise Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Title tags and meta descriptions are like the front doors of your listing on Google. These attract users to click on your link.

• Keep the title less than 60 characters.
• Keep the meta description less than 160 characters.
• Put the main keyword in both of them.
• Make them clear, catchy, and helpful.

For example:

• Title: Best Digital Marketing Tools for Small Businesses
• Meta description: Discover top tools to grow your small business online. Easy, affordable, and effective.

Use Proper Heading Structure (H1, H2, H3)

The headings make content accessible and useful for both the user and the search engine.

• Use one H1 tag per page (usually the page title)
• Use H2 tags for main sections
• Use H3 tags for the sub-sections under H2

Using the correct heading structure ensures readability and makes it easier for Google to understand your content. This in itself is a form of on-page SEO.

Implement On-Page SEO Techniques

On-page SEO comprises everything you can do directly on your website to increase rankings.

• Use your keywords naturally within the content, titles, and headings
• Optimise images with alt text containing appropriate keywords
• Use short and clean URLS such as yoursite.com/seo-tips
• Make your website mobile-friendly
• Increase loading speed for your website
• Use internal links connecting related pages

All these things, in one way or another, provide clues to search engines about what your website is really about.

Build High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks appear when one website points to another from within its pages. They are genuine off-page SEO markers that state the trustworthiness of your content.

• Write guest articles for various websites in your niche
• Promote your content on social media and forums
• Submit your site to online directories
• Seek mentions by bloggers, influencers, or news sites

Make Local SEO Improvements for Location-Based Searches

Local SEO helps you target nearby customers when you have a business to serve a local area. It increases visibility in location-based searches like “best dentist near me” or “SEO services in Delhi“.

Create and verify a Business Profile on Google

• Use NAP (name, address, phone number) on your website
• Request your customers to provide reviews on Google
• Use local keywords like “SEO services in Coimbatore“

Local SEO is especially useful for businesses with physical locations or time-bound service areas.

Monitor Website Performance and Analytics

You need to determine whether your SEO efforts are working. In doing so, utilise Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor the performance.

• Check the number of visitors coming to your site and how they came to it. 
• Track the keywords generating traffic 
• Find issues and fix broken links or missing pages
• Understand user behaviour on your site
• Using data to make better decisions and improve SEO strategies along the way.

Perform Regular SEO Audits and Fix Any Technical Issues

SEO audits help identify issues that may be preventing your website from ranking well in search engine results.

• Test for broken links and 404 errors
• Ensure all pages load very fast
• Use with HTTPS for a secure site
• Ensure the mobile-friendliness of your site
• Fix duplicate content or missing tags

Tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush allow you to perform in-depth site auditing. By performing regular audits, you stay one step ahead in search rankings.

Keep Your Content Fresh and Updated

Search engines favour sites that remain active and provide current information.

• Update outdated blog posts by adding new statistics, images, or links to keep the content fresh and relevant.
• Insert new pages or topics according to recent trends
• Update your home page or service pages periodically

SEO Best Practices

Conclusion

SEO requires ongoing effort—it’s not a one-time task. When implemented correctly, continuous SEO practices can deliver long-term, meaningful results. At the core of successful SEO is consistently creating high-quality, valuable content that meets user needs and enhances your website’s performance.