Digital Marketing Academy · Lesson

On-Page SEO Basics

Titles, headings, internal links.

On-Page SEO Basics is a free Digital Marketing Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Digital Marketing Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

What Is On-Page SEO?

On-page SEO is everything you control on the page itself to help it rank and earn clicks. It covers titles, headings, content, URLs, links, and images.

Off-page factors like backlinks matter too, but on-page is where you have full power and quick wins.

The Title Tag

The title tag is the clickable headline in search results and the single strongest on-page signal. Put your primary keyword near the front.

Keep it around 50 to 60 characters so it does not get truncated, and make it compelling enough to earn the click.

TEMPLATE:
<title>Primary Keyword - Benefit | Brand</title>

GOOD:
<title>Cold Brew Ratio: The Simple Guide | BrewLab</title>

BAD (keyword stuffed):
<title>cold brew ratio coffee ratio cold brew coffee</title>

The Meta Description

The meta description is the snippet under the title. It is not a ranking factor, but it heavily influences click-through rate.

Write a clear 140 to 160 character pitch that includes the keyword and a reason to click.

<meta name="description"
 content="Learn the perfect cold brew ratio in minutes. A simple, tested guide to strong, smooth coffee at home. Get the exact grams here.">

One H1 per Page

The H1 is the on-page headline that tells readers and Google the main topic. Use exactly one H1 per page and include the primary keyword.

It can differ slightly from the title tag; the title targets the SERP, the H1 targets the reader.

<h1>The Perfect Cold Brew Ratio (Step by Step)</h1>

Rules:
- exactly ONE h1
- contains the primary keyword
- describes the whole page

Heading Hierarchy

Headings structure content for skimmers and crawlers. Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subpoints, nested logically.

Work secondary keywords and related questions naturally into subheadings.

<h1>The Perfect Cold Brew Ratio</h1>
  <h2>What Is the Best Cold Brew Ratio?</h2>
  <h2>How to Measure Coffee and Water</h2>
    <h3>By Weight (grams)</h3>
    <h3>By Volume (cups)</h3>
  <h2>Common Mistakes to Avoid</h2>

Clean, Readable URLs

URLs should be short, descriptive, and contain the primary keyword. Avoid dates, IDs, and stop words that add no meaning.

Use hyphens to separate words and keep everything lowercase.

GOOD:  /cold-brew-ratio
BAD:   /p?id=8842&cat=12
BAD:   /2019/06/the-best-and-perfect-cold-brew-coffee-ratio-guide

Using Keywords Naturally

Place your keyword in the title, H1, first 100 words, and a subheading or two. Then write for humans, not a density target.

Modern search understands synonyms and context, so cover the topic thoroughly instead of repeating one phrase.

PLACE PRIMARY KEYWORD IN:
- title tag
- meta description
- H1
- first ~100 words
- one or two H2s
- naturally in body + image alt

Image Optimization

Images need descriptive file names and alt text for accessibility and image search. Alt text should describe the image and, when relevant, include the keyword.

Compress images so pages load fast, since speed is a ranking and UX factor.

file: cold-brew-ratio-chart.jpg   (not IMG_4821.jpg)

<img src="cold-brew-ratio-chart.jpg"
     alt="Cold brew coffee-to-water ratio chart">

Internal and External Links

Link internally to related pages with descriptive anchor text to spread authority and guide readers. Link externally to credible sources to build trust.

Both help Google understand context and improve the user experience.

Content Depth and Freshness

Cover the topic completely enough to satisfy intent better than the current top results. Answer the obvious follow-up questions on the same page.

Update older content periodically; freshness and accuracy keep rankings from decaying.

An On-Page Checklist

Before publishing, run every page through a quick checklist. It catches the easy misses that cost rankings.

Make this routine and your on-page SEO becomes consistent and reliable.

[ ] primary kw in title (front, <60 chars)
[ ] compelling meta description (~155 chars)
[ ] one H1 with keyword
[ ] logical H2/H3 structure
[ ] clean keyword URL
[ ] alt text on images
[ ] internal + external links
[ ] satisfies search intent

Quick Check

Pick the best on-page practice.

Recap

On-page SEO is what you control: a keyword-led title tag, a click-worthy meta description, one H1, a logical heading hierarchy, and a clean URL.

Use keywords naturally, optimize images, link internally and externally, cover the topic deeply, and run a checklist before publishing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “On-Page SEO Basics” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “On-Page SEO Basics” is free to read here on the web, and the Digital Marketing Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Digital Marketing Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “On-Page SEO Basics”?

Titles, headings, internal links. You practise Digital Marketing Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Digital Marketing Academy?

No prior experience is required. Digital Marketing Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “On-Page SEO Basics” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Digital Marketing Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Digital Marketing Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

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