On-Page SEO Essentials with Semrush

via Semrush Academy

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You've researched keywords—now put them to work on your website. Learn Semrush's most powerful on-page SEO practices through hands-on optimization of meta tags, content, and internal linking that directly boosts your organic traffic and search rankings.

Syllabus

Strategy: Course Intro

Meet Rita, your guide through the most powerful on-page SEO practices. Learn what to expect and download the course worksheet that will help you implement real improvements to your site as we optimize the Good Dog Shirts website together.

Strategy: What is On-Page SEO and Why Should You Сare?

Discover why on-page SEO is about making your website speak two languages fluently: human and algorithm. See real examples of what makes content valuable to both users and search engines, and why great user experience equals better rankings.

Walkthrough: On-Page SEO Tools Tour in Semrush

Get your first look at Semrush's on-page SEO tools and see how they guide you through each step of optimization. This quick tour shows you the powerful features that will help prime your pages for search success.

Strategy: Key Back-End Elements for On-Page SEO

Master the HTML tags that matter most to search engines without needing programming skills. Learn to optimize title tags, meta descriptions, and URL slugs—the foundation elements that help crawlers understand and index your content properly.

Walkthrough: Finding Pages to Update Using Semrush

Learn how to prioritize the right pages for on-page SEO updates using Semrush. This walkthrough shows you three smart ways to identify high-impact pages—starting with Site Audit insights, focusing on H1 and image issues, and then using Position Tracking to target keywords your site is already ranking for.

Walkthrough: Understanding Which Pages Rank for Your Target Keywords

See how to turn keyword insights into action by creating a competitive page structure. In this example, we identify “dog sweater” as a high-potential keyword cluster and build a collections page to match what’s ranking—setting the stage for stronger SEO performance.

Walkthrough: Writing and Implementing Meta Titles, Descriptions and H1

Put theory into practice as we create compelling title tags and meta descriptions that include target keywords. Follow along with real examples and learn to balance search optimization with user appeal.

Strategy: What Makes Good Content?

Understand Google's "Helpful Content Update" and discover how to create content that resonates with both humans and algorithms. Learn to match search intent, strategically place keywords naturally, and build content that establishes expertise and trust.

Walkthrough: Optimizing Your Content for SEO

Use Semrush's On-Page SEO Checker to identify and fix content issues holding your site back. See step-by-step how to analyze existing pages and implement recommendations that boost your search visibility.

Strategy: What is Google E-E-A-T?

Learn what Google’s E-E-A-T really means and how to apply it to your content strategy. This video breaks down Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, and shows how to improve each one using real-world examples and three Semrush tools you can start using right away.

Walkthrough: Create New Content and Briefs with the Content Toolkit

Discover how to generate fresh content ideas and create new pages using Semrush's Content Shake tool. Learn to build content that targets valuable keywords while delivering genuine value to your audience.

Strategy: Pillar Pages/Clustering

Transform your optimized pages into a powerful content ecosystem. Learn to build pillar pages that establish topical authority, create strategic internal linking structures, and avoid keyword cannibalization through smart content organization.

Expert: Pillar-Cluster Model

Learn how Semrush’s SEO expert Alex Lindley uses internal linking and topic clusters to organize massive content libraries and build topical authority. Find out why the pillar-cluster model still matters—even in the age of AI search—and how you can apply it to your own site.

Expert: Generative Engine Optimization

Hear how SEO expert Alex Lindley is adapting to the AI era with smarter content structure, NLP-friendly writing, and fresh editorial opportunities driven by changing search behavior. Get three practical insights you can apply to your own generative engine optimization strategy.

Strategy: Optimizing Images

Unlock the SEO potential of your visual content through proper image optimization. Learn to rename files strategically, write effective alt text, and help search engines understand your images to capture traffic from image search.

Walkthrough: Identifying and Fixing Issues with Image Alt Text

Master the art of writing descriptive, keyword-rich alt text that serves both accessibility and SEO. See real examples of effective image optimization and learn to implement changes across your site.

Walkthrough: How to Find Broken Internal Links with Semrush

Learn how to quickly find and fix broken internal links using Semrush’s Site Audit tool. In this short walkthrough, you'll see exactly where to spot link issues that could hurt your SEO—and how to resolve them fast.

Strategy: Avoiding Duplicate Content

Stop keyword cannibalization before it hurts your rankings. Understand why multiple pages targeting the same keywords work against each other, and discover strategies to consolidate content and create clear topical authority.

Walkthrough: On-Page SEO Checker

Wrap up your learning with a powerful shortcut: the Semrush On-Page SEO Checker. This tool scans your pages and instantly delivers optimization ideas—from content tweaks to backlink tips—so you can take action fast and improve your site’s performance with confidence.

Strategy: Make Your Content Easy for AI to Understand

Transform your content into LLM gold. Learn AI-preferred formats like tables, Q&As, and step-by-step guides. Master content chunking, header hierarchy, and the pillar/cluster model to maximize your chances of becoming a trusted AI source.

Expert: Examples of LLM Optimized Content

Leigh McKenzie showcases real examples of content that consistently appears in LLM responses, breaking down the specific elements that AI systems like.

Strategy: Congratulations and Next Steps

You've mastered on-page SEO essentials! Review your journey from keyword research to optimized content, discover your next steps in SEO mastery, and learn about advanced courses that will take your skills even further.

Would You Recommend This Course?

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