Trying to figure out how to get your website to show up higher on Google? You’ve come to the right place. To really get your pages noticed, you need to master on-page SEO, and Semrush is like having a superhero sidekick for that. This isn’t just about throwing a few keywords onto a page. it’s about making your content and website so good that search engines want to show it to people, and users love to read it. By the time we’re done here, you’ll have a clear roadmap to using Semrush to not just understand on-page SEO, but to actually implement it and see real results.

On-page SEO, or on-site SEO, is essentially everything you do on your website to help search engines and users understand what your content is about. Think of it as decorating and organizing your house so guests users feel welcome and comfortable, and the mailman search engines knows exactly where to deliver the mail. This includes optimizing your content, title tags, meta descriptions, headings, images, internal links, and even your URLs. It’s crucial because it gives you direct control over how search engines interpret and rank your site. When you nail on-page SEO, you’re not just aiming for higher rankings. you’re creating a better, more useful experience for everyone who lands on your page. And frankly, , that’s non-negotiable if you want to stand out. Google, for instance, explicitly recommends focusing on “people-first content,” meaning valuable, user-aligned content is more important than ever.

So, why Semrush? Well, it’s a powerful toolkit that takes a lot of the guesswork out of on-page SEO. Instead of juggling multiple tools or guessing what might work, Semrush brings all the data and recommendations into one place. It helps you analyze your pages, understand what your competitors are doing, find the right keywords, and even gives you actionable steps to improve. Whether you’re optimizing an old blog post or crafting a brand new product page, Semrush can streamline your efforts and help you achieve those coveted top spots in search results. Let’s dive in and see how you can make it work for you.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Core Pillars of On-Page SEO

Before we jump into the tools, it’s good to remember what we’re actually trying to optimize. On-page SEO isn’t a single thing. it’s a combination of several key elements that work together to signal relevance and quality to search engines.

Content Quality and Relevance

This is the big one. At its heart, SEO is about providing valuable, unique, and helpful content that directly answers what someone is searching for. If your content is thin, repetitive, or just plain boring, it won’t matter how well you optimize your title tags. Google’s algorithms are smart enough to understand context and user engagement. High-quality content means you’re creating something that genuinely helps your audience, keeps them on your page, and potentially encourages them to take action. When your page is truly relevant and useful, Google is more likely to show it to users.

Keyword Optimization

Keywords are still the bedrock of SEO, but how we use them has changed a lot. It’s no longer about “keyword stuffing” shoving as many keywords as possible onto a page. Instead, it’s about strategic placement and understanding user intent. You’ll want to identify:

Primary Keywords: The main term you want your page to rank for.
Secondary Keywords: Closely related terms that support your primary keyword.
Long-Tail Keywords: More specific, longer phrases that often have lower search volume but higher conversion potential because they reflect more specific user intent.

The goal is to naturally integrate these keywords into your content and HTML elements so search engines understand your page’s topic and relevance.

HTML Elements

These are the bits and pieces of code that define your page’s structure and tell search engines important information. Semrush Stock Price: What’s the Deal with SEMR?

Title Tags: This is what appears in your browser tab and, most importantly, as the clickable headline in search results. It’s arguably the most weighted on-page element, so getting it right is crucial. It needs to be clear, compelling, and include your primary keyword, ideally near the beginning.
Meta Descriptions: That short summary text that appears under your title tag in search results. While it doesn’t directly influence rankings, a well-written, keyword-rich meta description can significantly improve your click-through rate CTR.
Header Tags H1, H2, H3, etc.: These act like an outline for your page, structuring your content and making it easier for both users and search engines to understand the hierarchy. Your H1 tag should be your main heading, clearly describing the content, and usually containing your primary keyword. H2s and H3s break down subtopics.
URL Structure: A clean, readable URL that includes relevant keywords helps users and search engines understand what the page is about. Short, descriptive URLs with hyphens are generally preferred.

User Experience UX

Google puts a lot of weight on how users interact with your site. A good user experience tells search engines that your site is valuable.

Page Speed: Slow-loading pages can frustrate users and lead to higher bounce rates, which negatively impacts your rankings.
Mobile-Friendliness: With so many people browsing on their phones, your site must adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes. If it’s not mobile-responsive, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of potential traffic.
Internal Linking: Linking related pages within your site helps distribute “link juice” page authority, guides users through your content, and helps search engines discover and crawl more of your site.
Images: Optimizing images means using descriptive, keyword-rich file names and alt text alternative text for screen readers and when images don’t load. It also means compressing images to improve page load speed.

Semrush Tools That Make On-Page SEO a Breeze

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about how Semrush can seriously level up your on-page SEO game. This platform has a bunch of tools designed specifically to help you with every single aspect we just discussed.

The On-Page SEO Checker: Your Personalized Optimization Guru

This is probably the most direct tool Semrush offers for on-page SEO, and it’s a lifesaver. The Semrush On-Page SEO Checker gives you a tailored list of recommendations to improve your specific web pages. It doesn’t just guess. it analyzes your page against the top 10 real-time organic competitors for your target keywords.

Setting Up a Campaign

Go to the On-Page SEO Checker: You’ll usually find this under the “On-Page & Tech SEO” section in the left-hand menu of Semrush.
Enter Your Domain and Target Keywords: You can add your domain and either auto-import your highest-ranking pages or manually enter specific URLs with their corresponding target keywords. Just remember, the tool won’t let you target the same keyword with multiple pages, as that can lead to keyword cannibalization your pages competing against each other.
Configure Crawler and Schedule: You can set up the crawler, choose your target location, and even schedule how often you want new ideas to be collected.
Integrate Data: For even richer insights, connect your Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts. If you’ve run a Site Audit which we’ll cover next in the same project, the On-Page SEO Checker will pull that data too, helping to generate technical SEO ideas.

Interpreting the Recommendations

Once the checker runs, you’ll get a report categorized into various types of ideas: What Exactly is Semrush, Anyway?

Strategy Ideas: Helps you identify your best-performing pages and suggests ways to optimize them for more traffic.
Content Ideas: Provides suggestions on how to use target keywords, improve readability, and ensure your content aligns with top performers. It will highlight if you’re using a keyword too much or too little compared to rivals.
Semantic Ideas: Discovers important semantically related words used by top-ranking competitors that you might be missing.
Technical SEO Ideas: Based on your Site Audit data, it suggests fixes for technical issues like duplicate content, missing internal links, or incorrect title/meta tags.
User Experience Ideas: If you’ve connected Google Analytics, Semrush will offer ideas based on bounce rate, time on page, and page load time.
SERP Features Ideas: Helps you understand what you can do to get your webpage featured in special Google search results, like featured snippets.
Backlinks Ideas: Identifies websites you should aim to earn backlinks from, based on competitor analysis.

Actionable Steps for Improvement

The beauty of the on-page SEO checker Semrush provides is that it doesn’t just point out problems. it gives you actionable steps. For example, if it flags a missing H1 tag or suggests a more relevant meta description, you’ll see concrete recommendations. You can then go through these ideas, prioritize them Semrush often uses a priority system, like gold marks for high importance, and implement the changes directly on your website.

Keyword Magic Tool: Unearthing High-Value Keywords

The Semrush Keyword Magic Tool is your go-to for finding the exact words and phrases your audience is searching for. It’s an indispensable part of any on page seo semrush strategy.

Finding Seed Keywords and Related Terms

Access the Tool: In Semrush, head over to “Keyword Research” and select “Keyword Magic Tool”.
Enter a Seed Keyword: Start with a broad term related to your topic. For example, if you sell specialty coffee, you might type in “coffee maker”.
Generate Ideas: The tool will generate a massive list of related keywords.

Filtering for Volume, Difficulty, and Intent

This is where the magic happens. You can filter the results to find the most promising keywords:

Search Volume: See how many people are searching for a term monthly. You generally want a good volume, but balance it with difficulty.
Keyword Difficulty KD%: This score tells you how hard it would be to rank in Google’s top 10 results for that keyword. Lower KD% means easier competition.
Search Intent: Semrush can help you understand the purpose behind a search e.g., informational, navigational, transactional, commercial investigation. Aligning your content with the correct intent is crucial for ranking.
Questions Filter: A neat trick is to use the “Questions” filter to find common questions people ask around your seed keyword. These are fantastic for content ideas and targeting featured snippets.

Discovering Long-Tail Opportunities

The Keyword Magic Tool excels at helping you find long-tail keywords. These longer, more specific phrases often have lower search volume but are easier to rank for and can bring in highly qualified traffic. For instance, instead of just “running shoes,” you might find “best women’s trail running shoes for beginners”. Naturally including these long-tail variations throughout your content can significantly improve your relevance for niche searches.

Site Audit: Spotting and Fixing Technical Glitches

While Semrush’s Site Audit isn’t exclusively for on-page SEO, it uncovers many technical issues that directly impact how well your on-page efforts perform. Think of it as a comprehensive health check for your website. Setting Up N8n: Your Ultimate Guide to Self-Hosted Automation

Setting Up and Running an Audit

Go to Site Audit: In your Semrush dashboard, under “On-Page & Tech SEO,” select “Site Audit”.
Create a Project: Enter your domain, choose how many pages to crawl, and select your crawl source e.g., website, sitemap. You can also specify the device type for the audit desktop or mobile.
Run the Audit: Semrush will then meticulously scan your entire website for over 140 technical and SEO-related issues.

Identifying On-Page Related Issues

The Site Audit report gives you a “Health Score” and prioritizes issues. Look for problems that affect on-page SEO, such as:

Broken Links: Both internal and external broken links can hurt user experience and SEO.
Slow Page Speeds: Identifies pages that are loading slowly, which is a major UX and ranking factor.
Duplicate Content: Multiple pages with identical or near-identical content can confuse search engines.
Missing or Poorly Optimized Meta Tags: Flags pages lacking meta descriptions or title tags, or those that are too long/short.
Mobile Usability Issues: Checks if your site is mobile-friendly and flags any problems.
HTTPS Implementation Problems: Ensures your site is secure, as HTTPS is a ranking factor.
Missing Alt Tags: Helps you find images without descriptive alt text.

Prioritizing Fixes

Semrush provides a detailed report, allowing you to prioritize fixes based on their impact. Addressing critical errors first, especially those related to crawlability, core web vitals page speed, and mobile usability, lays a strong foundation for your on-page SEO.

SEO Content Template: Crafting Content That Ranks

This tool is incredibly useful when you’re starting to write new content or revamping an old piece. The Semrush SEO Content Template helps you create content that’s optimized from the get-go by analyzing top-ranking pages for your target keywords.

Generating a Template for Your Target Keywords

Go to SEO Content Template: Find this under “Content Marketing” in Semrush.
Enter Target Keywords: Type in the keywords you want your article to rank for you can add up to 30 at once!.
Generate Template: Semrush will then analyze the top 10 results for those keywords.

Understanding Recommendations

The template provides actionable recommendations, including:

Semantically Related Keywords: A list of important words and phrases your competitors are using that you should include naturally in your content. This helps you cover the topic comprehensively.
Recommended Text Length: Gives you an idea of how long your content should be to compete with top performers.
Optimal Readability Score: Suggests a readability level to aim for, ensuring your content is easy for your audience to understand.
Title, Meta Description, and H1 Tag Suggestions: Provides guidance on how to optimize these crucial HTML elements.
Backlink Acquisition Ideas: Shows you domains that link to your competitors, giving you ideas for potential link-building opportunities.

Integrating Competitor Insights

This tool essentially reverse-engineers what’s working for your rivals. It shows you how often your competitors are using target keywords, what headlines they’re using, and the overall structure of their pages. You can use these insights to create content that’s even better, filling gaps they might have missed or developing topics more deeply. Unlocking SEO Insights with Semrush’s Network Graph: Your Ultimate Guide

SEO Writing Assistant: Real-Time Content Optimization

Once you have your content drafted, the Semrush SEO Writing Assistant helps you fine-tune it in real-time. This is like having an SEO expert looking over your shoulder as you write.

How it Works

The SEO Writing Assistant is available as a browser extension and can integrate directly with Google Docs or WordPress.

Input Keywords: Enter your target keywords for the piece you’re working on.
Start Writing/Editing: As you write, the assistant analyzes your text.

Key Metrics

It provides live feedback on several important metrics:

Readability: Helps ensure your content is easy to understand for your target audience.
SEO Score: Checks for keyword usage, ensuring you’re including your target keywords naturally and not over-stuffing. It also looks at related keywords.
Originality: Helps detect potential plagiarism issues, ensuring your content is unique.
Tone of Voice: If applicable Can give you feedback on whether your tone matches your brand or the content’s purpose.

Using this tool helps you optimize your content before you even publish it, saving you time and ensuring it’s ready to perform well in search results.

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Implementing On-Page SEO Best Practices with Semrush

Now, let’s put it all together. Here’s how you can use Semrush to implement those on-page SEO best practices we talked about earlier.

Optimizing Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

These are often the first things a user sees in search results, so they’re incredibly important for attracting clicks.

Keyword Placement: Use the On-Page SEO Checker to see if your title tags include your target keywords and if there’s any keyword stuffing. Aim to place your primary keyword near the start of your title.
Click-Through Rate CTR Focus: Don’t just stuff keywords. write titles and meta descriptions that are compelling and entice users to click. The On-Page SEO Checker or SEO Content Template can give you ideas by analyzing what works for competitors.
Character Limits: Google often truncates titles and meta descriptions that are too long. Keep titles to around 60 characters/600 pixels and meta descriptions to 155-160 characters to avoid truncation.

Structuring Content with Headings H1, H2, H3…

Headings break up your content, making it scannable and digestible for readers, and signaling structure to search engines.

Hierarchy and Clarity: Every page should have one H1 tag that clearly describes the content. Use H2s for main subtopics and H3s for sub-sections within those. The On-Page SEO Checker can flag issues like missing H1s or multiple H1s, and help you ensure your headers are in hierarchical order.
Keyword Integration: Include your primary keyword in your H1 tag, ideally near the start. Integrate secondary and related keywords naturally into your H2s and H3s where appropriate.

Crafting High-Quality, Relevant Content

This is where your writing skills shine, backed by Semrush’s data.

Matching Search Intent: Use the Keyword Magic Tool to understand the intent behind your target keywords. Is the user looking for information, a product, or a solution? Tailor your content to match that intent.
Incorporating Semantically Related Keywords: The SEO Content Template and On-Page SEO Checker will provide lists of semantically related keywords. Weave these into your content naturally. This helps search engines understand the broader context of your topic, improving your topical authority.
Content Length and Depth: The SEO Content Template gives you a recommended text length based on top-ranking articles. While word count isn’t a direct ranking factor, comprehensive content that covers a topic thoroughly often performs better. Aim for detail and offer unique insights.

Image Optimization

Images enhance user experience, but if not optimized, they can slow down your site. Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs vs. Semrush: Which SEO Tool Rules in 2025?

Alt Text Best Practices: Every image needs descriptive alt text. Use the Site Audit or On-Page SEO Checker to identify missing alt tags. Include relevant keywords naturally in your alt text, describing what the image is.
File Size and Format: Compress images before uploading them to minimize file size, which improves page load speed. Ensure you load images at the size they’ll be displayed.

URL Structure and Internal Linking

These elements help define your site’s architecture and guide both users and search engines.

Clean, Descriptive URLs: Your URLs should be easy to read and include relevant keywords. The Site Audit can check your URLs for length and ensure they are SEO-friendly. Use hyphens to separate words.
Strategic Internal Links: Link to relevant pages within your site using descriptive anchor text. This boosts user engagement and helps distribute authority across your site. The Site Audit can help you identify internal linking issues.

Page Speed and Mobile-Friendliness

These are critical user experience factors that directly influence rankings.

Importance for UX and Rankings: Google uses Core Web Vitals which include page load speed as ranking signals. A slow site or one that’s hard to use on mobile will drive users away.
Identifying and Resolving Issues: The Site Audit tool is excellent for flagging pages with slow loading times or mobile usability problems. Semrush provides actionable suggestions to enhance speed, such as compressing images or improving server response time.

Tracking Your On-Page SEO Progress with Semrush

Doing all this work is great, but you need to know if it’s actually paying off. Semrush makes tracking your progress straightforward.

Position Tracking: Once you’ve optimized your pages, use Semrush’s Position Tracking tool to monitor your keyword rankings over time. You can see how your target keywords are performing, track changes in position, and measure your search visibility. This helps you understand the direct impact of your on-page SEO efforts.
Organic Research: Keep an eye on your overall organic traffic trends and keyword performance using the Organic Research report. This gives you a broader view of how your site is doing in search results.
Google Search Console Integration: Remember to connect Google Search Console to your Semrush project. This integration provides even more granular data on how your pages are appearing in search, including clicks, impressions, and CTR, which can inform further optimization.

Regularly reviewing these reports and making adjustments is key. SEO isn’t a one-time task. it’s an ongoing process of improvement and adaptation. By consistently using Semrush, you can stay on top of your on-page SEO, keep your website healthy, and continue attracting more organic traffic. Unlocking Market Secrets with Semrush Market Analysis (MA): Your Ultimate Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?

On-page SEO refers to all the optimization efforts you make directly on your website, such as optimizing content, title tags, meta descriptions, headings, images, and internal links. Off-page SEO, on the other hand, involves actions taken outside your website to improve its ranking, primarily building high-quality backlinks from other reputable sites, but also including social media promotion and public relations. Both are crucial for a strong overall SEO strategy, but you have direct control over on-page factors.

How often should I perform an on-page SEO audit?

For most websites, performing a comprehensive site audit with Semrush every 1-3 months is a good practice. However, if your website is very large, undergoes frequent changes, or you notice significant drops in traffic or rankings, you might want to run it more often, perhaps monthly or even weekly. Regularly running the Semrush On-Page SEO Checker for your key pages can provide ongoing optimization ideas.

Can Semrush help with local on-page SEO?

Yes, Semrush can certainly help with local on-page SEO. While the tools we discussed like Keyword Magic Tool and On-Page SEO Checker are broadly applicable, you can use them with a local focus. When conducting keyword research with the Keyword Magic Tool, you can filter results by specific locations down to city level to find local search terms. The On-Page SEO Checker also allows you to specify a target location for its recommendations. Additionally, optimizing your local business listings like Google Business Profile and ensuring your website includes local address, phone number, and schema markup which Semrush’s Site Audit can check are important components of local SEO. Unlocking Client Trust: Your Guide to the Semrush Client Portal

Is Semrush On-Page SEO Checker free to use?

Semrush offers a free account with limited access to its tools. You can often run a certain number of checks or view limited data with the free version. To fully utilize the On-Page SEO Checker and other comprehensive tools discussed, including running detailed audits and getting full reports, you will typically need a paid Semrush subscription Pro, Guru, or Business. However, even with a free account, you can get a taste of its capabilities and understand the kinds of insights it provides.

What are the most important on-page SEO factors in 2025?

While Google’s algorithm constantly evolves, the core on-page SEO factors remain consistent in their importance:

High-Quality, Relevant Content: Content that matches user intent and provides genuine value is paramount.
Strategic Keyword Integration: Naturally placing primary, secondary, and long-tail keywords in content, title tags, H1s, and meta descriptions.
User Experience UX: This includes fast page loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and easy navigation.
Optimized Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Compelling, keyword-rich, and within character limits to maximize CTR.
Structured Content with Headings: Proper use of H1, H2, H3 tags for readability and semantic understanding.
Internal Linking: Guiding users and search engines through your site with relevant internal links.

These factors prioritize user satisfaction while also providing clear signals to search engines.

How do I avoid keyword stuffing with Semrush?

Semrush tools are designed to help you avoid keyword stuffing.

The On-Page SEO Checker analyzes your keyword density compared to your top competitors and will flag if you’re over-using a keyword.
The SEO Writing Assistant gives you real-time feedback on your keyword usage as you write, helping you maintain a natural flow.
Focus on incorporating semantically related keywords provided by the SEO Content Template rather than just repeating your main keyword. This helps you cover the topic comprehensively without being spammy.
Always prioritize writing for your human audience first. If your content sounds unnatural or repetitive, it likely is, and search engines will pick up on that.

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Mastering On-Page SEO with Semrush: Your Ultimate Guide