Onsite and offsite SEO are two different, yet interrelated sets of strategies.
It’s hard to define SEO. Yes, SEO is “search engine optimization,” and deals with increasing your position and visibility in search engines, but what strategies comprise SEO? This is harder to pinpoint.
You could make an exhaustive list of every strategy and tactic that could possibly increase your search ranks, but to do so would list several strategies that stand apart on their own as independent marketing campaigns—such as content marketing or local review optimization.
To make things easier, it’s better to think about broad categories of techniques, broken down into “onsite” and “offsite” optimization. But what’s the difference, exactly?
Onsite Optimization
Onsite optimization revolves around making sure your site is structured properly, indexed in major search engines, and visible in the right way to potential searchers. It also includes maximizing the quality of your site to ensure a higher domain authority.
Strategies here include:
- Proper design (e.g., mobile optimized) and navigation (e.g., menus and submenus)
- Optimized title tags and meta descriptions
- Sufficiently detailed and optimized onsite content
- Site performance optimization (e.g., site speed)
- Internal linking
- Ongoing content marketing strategy
Offsite Optimization
Offsite optimization all occurs away from your website, and revolves around structuring third party ranking signals that indicate your domain as being authoritative.
Strategies here include:
- External guest posting on relevant blogs
- Link building
- Social media content syndication
- Local citation building
- Local review optimization
Both of these segments of strategies are necessary if you want to rank.
Now that you know the difference between onsite and offsite optimization, you can start prioritizing your campaign effectively. If you need help getting started, or have questions along the way, reach out to us—we’re here for you.
