“Making your website Google-friendly.”
On-page SEO is everything you control directly on your website. Title tags, meta descriptions, headings, content structure, images, and internal links. This module teaches you what actually matters (and what you can safely ignore) when it comes to making each page on your site rank as well as it possibly can.
On-page SEO is the part of search optimisation you have the most control over. It is everything on your actual web pages that helps Google understand what each page is about and whether it deserves to rank. The good news is that most of these changes are straightforward and can be done in an afternoon. The even better news is that most of your competitors have not done them properly, so there are quick wins waiting for you.
Title tags are the single most important on-page element. Your title tag is what appears as the blue clickable link in Google search results. It tells both Google and the searcher what the page is about. A good title tag includes your target keyword, is under 60 characters (so it does not get cut off), and is written for humans, not robots. For example, 'Emergency Plumber Inner West Sydney, Same Day Service' is far better than 'Home Page, Aqua First Plumbing' or a generic 'Welcome to Our Website.' Your meta description is the text underneath the title in search results. While it does not directly affect ranking, it absolutely affects whether someone clicks on your result or your competitor's.
Heading structure matters more than most people realise. Your page should have one H1 tag (your main page title), and it should include your target keyword naturally. Under that, use H2 tags for major sections and H3 tags for subsections. This is not just for Google; it makes your content scannable for visitors. Think of it like a table of contents. If someone landed on your page and only read the headings, would they understand what the page covers? If not, your heading structure needs work.
Images are an often overlooked SEO opportunity. Every image on your site should have descriptive alt text that explains what the image shows. This helps Google understand your content and is also important for accessibility. Beyond alt text, image file size directly affects page speed, which is a ranking factor. Compress your images, use modern formats like WebP where possible, and never upload a 5MB photo straight from your phone. For internal linking, think of each link between your pages as a vote of confidence. Link your service pages to related blog posts, link blog posts to relevant services, and make sure your most important pages have the most internal links pointing to them.
Write title tags and meta descriptions that improve click-through rates
Structure your content with proper heading hierarchy
Optimise images with alt text, compression, and modern formats
Build an internal linking strategy that distributes authority across your site
Work through each prompt below. Take your time; these questions form the foundation of your SEO strategy.
Right-click on your page and select 'View Page Source,' then search for '<title>' to find your title tag. Or check it in your website builder's SEO settings. Write down exactly what it says, then write an improved version that includes your target keyword and is under 60 characters.
Service Example
Current: 'Home | Aqua First Plumbing' Improved: 'Emergency Plumber Sydney Inner West, Licensed & Same Day'
Ecommerce Example
Current: 'Welcome to Our Store' Improved: 'Australian Natural Skincare, Vegan & Organic | Brand Name'
Your answer goes here...
Right-click each image on your homepage and select 'Inspect' to check the alt attribute. Write down how many images have no alt text, generic alt text (like 'image1.jpg'), or proper descriptive alt text. Most sites have the majority of images with no alt text at all.
Your answer goes here...
Count the internal links on your most important page. Not navigation menu links, but links within the content itself that point to other relevant pages on your website. If there are fewer than three, identify which pages you should link to and where in the content those links would fit naturally.
Service Example
Our main plumbing page links to: Emergency Plumbing, Hot Water Systems, and Blocked Drains. It should also link to our 'Areas We Service' page and a relevant blog post about common plumbing issues.
Your answer goes here...
Put It All Together
See how Create & Grow applied this exact approach for real clients and their own brands.
When we planned the website for Dip Bathhouse in North Brisbane, we built on-page SEO into the structure from the start rather than trying to retrofit it later. Every page was planned with a specific target keyword, a unique title tag, a compelling meta description, proper heading hierarchy, and compressed images with descriptive alt text. The homepage title tag was crafted to include 'bathhouse North Brisbane' naturally, not stuffed with keywords. Each service page (float therapy, sauna, cold plunge) had its own targeted title tag. Internal links connected related services. This approach means they launch with a strong SEO foundation instead of spending months fixing problems after the fact, which is the situation most small businesses find themselves in.
Here's a taste of the hands-on work you'll do in this module.
Pick one page on your website and run through our on-page SEO audit checklist. You will check the title tag, meta description, headings, images, content length, and internal links. Most businesses find at least five quick wins on their first audit.
PREVIEW
Page URL: _______________ Title tag includes target keyword? Yes / No Title tag under 60 characters? Yes / No Meta description includes a call to action? Yes / No H1 tag present and unique? Yes / No All images have descriptive alt text? Yes / No
Dip Bathhouse is a pre-launch brand in North Brisbane. During the branding phase, we audited their planned website structure and identified common on-page SEO pitfalls: generic title tags, missing meta descriptions, unoptimised images, and no internal linking strategy. These are issues we see on the majority of small business websites.
The Result
By building the site with proper on-page SEO from day one, unique, keyword-rich title tags, proper heading hierarchy, compressed images with descriptive alt text, and a clear internal linking strategy, they will launch with a strong SEO foundation rather than having to fix problems after the fact.
On-page SEO audit checklist
Title tag and meta description rewrite exercise
Deliverable: A completed audit of one key page with a prioritised list of improvements
What is the most impactful on-page SEO element?
Ready to learn the full SEO system?
Join the waitlist and get notified when SEO Foundations launches.