SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is essential for anyone wanting to climb search engine rankings. SEO is crucial for your business as it can help you stand out against your competition. But if you’re new to the digital marketing world, you may be wondering about the two main types of SEO: On-Site and Off-Site and the differences between them. So what is the difference between on-site and off-site SEO?
The difference between on-site and off-site SEO is that on-site is completely within your control but off-site is not. On-site SEO refers to the optimisation of your website through keywords, quality content, title tags, H1s, meta descriptions and more. Off-site SEO refers to the efforts on other platforms to refer back to your content such as backlinks, digital PR and local SEO.
Read on to learn more about the differences between on-site and off-site SEO with Wildcat Digital.
When you are implementing an SEO strategy, it’s important to recognise what type of SEO you need to reach your goals. The difference between on-site and off-site is that on-site SEO is the process of directly optimising your website for your users. It’s all about implementing strategies on your website that will help to build your domain authority and rank higher over time.
Off-site SEO are techniques implemented away from your website to build SEO. Off-site SEO is all about working with other websites and forms of media to build your brand, encourage backlinks, and get ahead of your competitors.
On-site SEO is everything that you can directly do to your website to optimise it. On-site SEO is completely within your control and it’s what you implement on your site to make it the most optimal. By using on-site SEO, you can make your website more appealing to both your clientele and search engines. Some of the core on-site SEO practices include:
Keywords are a crucial element of on-site SEO. They indicate how your page is currently ranking and what you need to target. Keyword difficulty can help you to determine what keywords are best suited to the content you are producing.
Writing unique content can help you stand out and is a key element to on-page SEO. It can help you gain quality backlinks, improve media exposure and develop your E-E-A-T.
Title tags are important for SEO, they are what Google uses to display what’s on your site. If you make them compelling and relevant you are more likely to gain organic traffic. They are a key ranking factor and can help you to appear higher on search engines by targeting your keywords.
Meta descriptions can encourage users to click through to your site, creating organic traffic. By including your target keywords, you can better match users’ search intent and stand out against competitors.
H1 tags are important for SEO as they give search engines an indication of the content on your page. They clearly define what your content is and improve how users read your website.
Content marketing is the process of sharing your content both on your own site and across different platforms. A great way of implementing this is through blogs which can help to build your domain authority, gain organic traffic and, ultimately, get you noticed.
Linking your pages together, referred to as internal linking, helps search engines understand how your site is structured and what pages are the most important. It also builds authority and increases your ranking.
Off-site SEO is the process of applying tactics off of your website to help boost overall SEO. The impact of off-site SEO is getting users and search engines to see your content as trustworthy and building a positive reputation. Some of these tactics include:
Backlinks are one of the most important off-site SEO techniques. Your backlink profile signals to Google and other search engines that you are an authoritative source and can increase your domain authority. In turn, this can boost rankings, traffic and more.
Digital PR is a key off-site SEO strategy. The results of digital PR indicate to users that other websites and media channels trust your content. You can promote yourself, drive traffic to your website and encourage conversion rates.
With local SEO, you can optimise your presence for users in your local area – ideal if your business has a physical location. Using tools such as Google Business Profile, you can increase your visibility for local searches and rank in a high-value position. Learn more about ranking locally with our post ‘How Can I Rank Better In My Local Area?’
Another off-page technique is reviews on platforms such as Google Business Profile or Trustpilot. These are great in themselves as they help boost your site’s SEO, but can also be added to your website via a plug in or embed code.
Visible, real reviews show that you value your customer’s feedback. This can build trust with your users and highlight E-E-A-T.
By guest posting on other people’s sites, you can get your brand in front of a different audience. This can lead to backlinks, increasing the traffic to your site and gaining a new audience.
Learn more about the different elements of SEO in our post ‘What are the Different Types of SEO Services? Your Complete Guide’.
When it comes to on-site and off-site SEO, you have to use both to your advantage. By optimising your site with on-site SEO, you can appear higher on Google through your chosen keywords, title tags, H1s and internal links. This, in time, helps to build your E-E-A-T and domain authority to help you rank higher on search engines. However, there are no guarantees that it will work, or that it will work quickly.
If you focus too much on just on-site SEO, you miss out on a world of opportunities to work with other brands and develop your audience. Likewise, if you focus only on off-page SEO you’ll be limiting your site’s potential. It’s important to focus on both types to create the best experience for your users.
On-page and off-page SEO work together to boost your SEO. It’s important to use both techniques together for an effective marketing strategy. By creating high-quality content with well-chosen keywords, you can encourage quality backlinks. For digital PR, quality content can help but you need to make an effort to gain promotion.
This will help you to appear higher on Google and other search engines, increase click-through rates and generate revenue for your website. Clients are more likely to engage with your content when it’s been trusted by authoritative sites.
If you want to start with SEO but don’t know how to begin, why not get in contact with one of our SEO experts here at Wildcat Digital? We are an award-winning digital marketing agency designed to help you with your SEO needs. To arrange your free consultation, contact us today.
Alternatively, if you have any SEO-related questions why not check out our Knowledge Base content hub?
Our SEO specialists are here to help you punch above your weight online.
Founder
Our founder, Will Hitchmough, worked at a number of high profile Sheffield Digital Agencies before founding Wildcat Digital in 2018. He brings an extensive knowledge of all things related to SEO, PPC and Paid Social, as well as an expert knowledge of digital strategy.
Digital Marketing can be a minefield for many businesses, with many agencies ready to take your money without knowing how to deliver results. I founded Wildcat Digital to deliver digital success to businesses with smaller budgets in a transparent way.
Content Strategist Team Lead
With a degree in Marketing and a background in more traditional, offline marketing, Chloe joined Wildcat in 2021 after deciding to move into the digital marketing industry. She joined us as a Content Specialist and quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a Content Strategist and later an SEO Team Leader.
Outside of work, Chloe is an avid creative. If she’s not knitting, you’ll likely find her behind a sewing machine or in the kitchen trying (and often failing!) to make sourdough.
SEO Account Director
Paul has a strong background in SEO, having previously founded and ran a successful eCommerce business, as well as running a personal blog that achieves an average of 17K users per month. Paul’s knowledge of SEO is extensive, with a strong emphasis on client handling and technical SEO.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family and staying active with weight lifting and combat sports.
Head of Operations
Nadea joined Wildcat in 2021 and has since overhauled the way we work. She has a background in various administrative, operations and HR roles, which gave her the experience and skills needed to lead and organise a growing business.
Outside of work, Nadea loves anything that keeps her active, but she especially enjoys hiking, camping and mountain biking.
SEO Account Manager
With a background in sales, Molly is a natural Account Manager, brilliantly handling any issues that come her way. Having joined us as a Digital Marketing Executive, and working part-time through her final year of University, Molly is a shining example of how hard work pays off. She is now an SEO Account Manager with a particular interest in Content and Client Management.
In her spare time, Molly loves to get out in nature, hiking and exploring the Peak District. She also loves cooking and likes to unwind with a bit of yoga.
Senior PPC Account Manager
Libby joined Wildcat in 2021 as our first PPC hire. With a degree in Digital Media Production, a Master’s in Digital Media Management and previous experience in Social Media Management, Libby hit the ground running and has since climbed the ranks to Senior PPC Account Manager and has a particular interest in the eCommerce sector.
Outside of work, Libby likes gaming, and cooking and likes to keep active by lifting weights.
SEO Team Leader
Jasmine joined Wildcat in 2022 with a strong background in SEO and Account Management. At the time, she was finishing up a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and has since worked her way up to SEO Team Leader. Jasmine excels at content writing and promotion, and particularly enjoys finding creative ways to join the dots on multi-channel campaigns.
In her spare time, Jasmine volunteers at a charity, helping combat loneliness & social isolation experienced by older neighbours. Outside of Wildcat, she owns a catering company, Savery Grazing, creating delicious grazing tables & platters for a range of events. She also loves skiing and exploring the Peak District.
Senior PPC Executive
Prior to joining Wildcat, Braden founded and ran his own Social Media Management agency where he gained valuable skills in growing brands’ online presence, which has since proven invaluable in his role at Wildcat.
Outside of work, Braden is a big football fan, regularly travelling to Pride Park to support Derby County. He also enjoys watching and playing snooker, hiking in the Peak District, and attending air and car shows.
Senior SEO Executive
After spending ten years managing businesses, restaurants, cafes and event spaces across Sheffield, Jon decided to change careers and joined Wildcat as an SEO Executive in 2022. He especially enjoys the client management side of the job, helping them to understand digital marketing and ways in which they can build their business’s presence online.
Outside of work, Jon likes to keep fit with running, badminton and football, and also loves music.
SEO Executive
Rachel joined us as a graduate, having recently graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in English Literature. Since joining, Rachel has proven herself to be a Content Queen, and particularly enjoys getting stuck into projects that allow her to explore her creative side.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including rugby, singing, reading, and spending time with her family and three labradors.
PPC Team Leader
Carl joined Wildcat in 2023 with a wealth of experience in PPC. He has experience working with a wide range of clients, industries and budgets, from small local businesses all the way to international e-commerce businesses. Carl has a particular interest in strategic planning and forecasting. He is passionate about data analysis and creating sustainable long-term cross-channel strategies.
In his spare time, Carl enjoys keeping fit by lifting weights, bouldering and running. He’s also a keen musician, having played the double bass and bass guitar for 20 years.
Team Lead & Technical SEO Account Manager
With a degree in Computer Science and SEO experience dating back to 2017, Dariusz has a wide range of SEO skills and knowledge. His specialist knowledge of Technical SEO has firmly landed him the title of Wildcat’s Technical Wizard, and he has recently taken on the responsibility of Team Leader for the Panthers Team.
In his spare time, Dariusz loves hiking, experimenting and trying new coffees and loves learning new things. He is currently learning more about CRO and AI and how this could benefit our clients.
SEO Account Manager
With a degree in Film and TV production, and a varied career history, Jamie made the move to marketing with a Masters degree in Digital Media Management. He has since worked in SEO at Agencies across Sheffield, before joining Wildcat and working his way up to SEO Account Manager. Jamie has a particular interest in backlinks and Digital PR and has recently gained a client a valuable backlink from Forbes!
In his spare time, Jamie is an avid foodie and loves trying new restaurants and cuisines. He also loves to travel and spent a year travelling to Australia after university.
SEO Executive
Andy joined Wildcat in 2023 after starting his digital marketing career in-house for a local Sheffield company. Since joining, he has developed a strong interest in Technical SEO and has strong skills in Account Management.
Outside of work, Andy loves music and plays in a couple of bands. He also enjoys rock climbing, cycling, photography and good food.
Client Success Coordinator
Siena joined us in 2023 with a background in sales and digital marketing. She leads on client relationships across the company, ensuring that our customers are happy throughout their journey with us, from their initial consultation through to onboarding and beyond.
Outside of work, Siena enjoys travelling and getting stuck into the local culture. She likes to make the most of her experiences and particularly enjoys watching sunrises and sunsets from beautiful locations around the world.
Senior SEO Executive
Thea has a wealth of experience in SEO, having previously worked for other Digital Marketing Agencies in Sheffield. She has a particular interest and skills in Technical SEO, but is more than willing to get stuck in and give anything a go.
Outside of work, Thea spends most of her time with her children, but also loves reading, photography and gardening.
PPC Executive
Before joining Wildcat, Tom worked across different industries, building skills in sales and customer service. He later developed a passion for digital marketing whilst working on personal marketing projects and freelance ventures, and gained numerous certifications in PPC and Social Media.
Outside of work, Tom enjoys staying active by going to the gym and hiking. He also loves travelling and motorbiking.
Head of Growth
Rich joined us in May 2024 to head up our growth team. With years of experience helping other agencies to grow, Rich joins us at an exciting time as Wildcat is working on a five-year plan to become one of the biggest agencies in the UK.
Outside of work, Rich is a father to three children, which keeps him very busy! He’s also recently started running again to keep fit and loves a bit of DIY.
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