On Page SEO Checklist: Growth Playbook with Checklists

On-page work fails when it’s a one-off audit instead of a repeatable checklist.

Thin titles, missing schema, and weak proof block both Google and AI assistants from trusting your pages.

In this guide you will learn a role-based on-page checklist that covers classic SEO, E-E-A-T, and AI search optimization.

This matters because answer engines and AI Overviews now filter for clear answers, strong entities, and fast, readable pages.

Use this alongside our content strategy pillar at Content Strategy SEO to keep every release aligned.

How to use this checklist

• Run it per template and per page before publish and during refresh cycles.

• Assign owners: SEO, writer, editor, designer, developer, and legal/compliance.

• Score impact vs effort; fix high-impact items first on top landing pages.

• Track in a shared sheet or Notion board with due dates and status.

Quick-start triage (10 items)

• Title tag: <60 chars, primary intent first, unique, readable.

• H1: aligns with title; answer-focused.

• Intro: first 100–150 words answer the query with a fact or step.

• Meta description: benefit-led, 140–155 chars, with a clear hook.

• URL: short, descriptive, hyphenated, matches intent.

• Internal links: link to pillar and 2–4 relevant supports with descriptive anchors.

• Schema: Article + Person + Organization; add FAQ/HowTo/Product/LocalBusiness where safe.

• Images: compressed, descriptive alt text, captions if informative.

• Page speed: LCP/INP/CLS in green; no blocking interstitials.

• CTA: clear, aligned to intent; does not block content.

Role-based checklist

SEO lead

• Confirm keyword and intent map; avoid cannibalization.

• Approve title/H1/URL and anchor strategy.

• Ensure schema coverage and about/mentions entities match the cluster.

• Check hreflang and canonical where applicable.

• Log AI citations and prompt tests for target queries.

Writer

• Use answer-first intro; add data, examples, and quotes within first 300 words.

• Keep paragraphs short; mix sentence lengths for rhythm.

• Include 2–3 internal links in context; one link back to pillar near the top.

• Avoid fluff and conditional hedging; write in active voice.

• Add clear subheads that mirror query language and intent.

Editor

• Verify sources, dates, and disclaimers (especially for YMYL).

• Check anchor text variety; remove repetition and vague links.

• Ensure tone matches guidelines and avoids jargon.

• Confirm CTA placement and clarity.

• Run copy through QA for spelling and style consistency.

Designer/UX

• Keep above-the-fold clean: title, intro answer, CTA, and at least one internal link.

• Ensure TOC and jump links work; readable fonts and contrast.

• Optimize images, tables, and comparison blocks for mobile.

• Avoid intrusive modals; defer non-essential scripts.

• Add breadcrumbs and related-links blocks.

Developer

• Validate schema rendering post-hydration; stable @id values.

• Enforce performance budgets: LCP <2.5s, INP <200ms, CLS <0.1 on key pages.

• Implement lazy loading for below-the-fold assets.

• Check canonical tags, hreflang, and robots directives.

• Set up monitoring and alerts for CWV regressions.

Legal/compliance

• Approve disclaimers and reviewer statements for YMYL content.

• Confirm consent banner behavior; avoid layout shift.

• Validate claims, licenses, and policy links where required.

Detailed on-page items

• Titles: front-load primary intent; avoid duplicate phrases across the site.

• Meta descriptions: promise value; avoid keyword stuffing; align with CTA.

• Headings: one H1; H2/H3 reflect questions and subtopics; include entities naturally.

• Copy: include statistics, examples, and named sources; show experience with “what we tried/learned.”

• Images and media: unique visuals; add ImageObject/VideoObject schema with captions and transcripts.

• Lists and tables: present comparisons and steps; assist AI extraction and featured snippets.

• Internal links: descriptive anchors; mix pillar and sibling links; avoid chains of redirects.

• External links: cite authoritative sources; open in same tab to respect user flow.

• Schema: Article + Person + Organization minimum; add FAQ/HowTo/Review/Product/SoftwareApplication/LocalBusiness as relevant.

• Accessibility: alt text, keyboard navigation, ARIA labels where needed; avoid text in images.

• Page experience: check LCP/INP/CLS; reduce third-party scripts; compress and preload key assets.

• Freshness: update dateModified when changes occur; add “last updated” on page.

• Localization: align language, currency, units; ensure hreflang and localized schema are correct.

AI Overview and answer-engine readiness

• Intro must contain a direct answer and source; include author name nearby.

• Add FAQs that mirror follow-up questions assistants show.

• Use Speakable on non-YMYL summaries when safe; test rendered output.

• Include about and mentions to reinforce entities; keep anchors and schema in sync.

• Run monthly prompt tests for target queries; log citations and adjust intros if missing.

Multilingual checklist

• Localize titles, headings, and anchors to native phrasing; avoid direct translation of idioms.

• Maintain parallel cluster structures and internal links across EN/PT/FR.

• Use hreflang pairs and region-specific URLs; validate canonical relationships.

• Localize schema fields (inLanguage, addresses, currencies) and sameAs profiles.

Measurement and reporting

• Track CTR, scroll depth, exits, and conversions per page.

• Monitor AI citations and SERP features gained; annotate releases.

• Watch CWV and uptime on key templates; set alerts.

• Keep an on-page health score: coverage of checklist items, schema validity, and anchor compliance.

Case snippets

• B2B SaaS: rewrote intros with data and added Speakable; AI citations doubled and demo CTR rose 8%.

• Ecommerce: cleaned titles/meta, added Product/Offer schema, and improved INP; rich results expanded and conversion up 9%.

• Clinic: added reviewer bios, FAQs, and LocalBusiness schema; AI Overview mentions appeared within a month and bookings improved 12%.

Automation and AI assistance

• Use AI to draft title/meta options; human review required.

• Generate internal link suggestions based on entities; verify anchors manually.

• Auto-check redirects and broken links weekly.

• Use scripts to verify schema presence and CWV thresholds after deploys.

30-60-90 day rollout

• 30 days: apply checklist to top 30 pages; fix titles, intros, schema, and anchors; set up dashboards.

• 60 days: extend to main templates; add automation for link checks and schema validation; launch prompt logging.

• 90 days: localize priority markets, tighten CWV budgets, and integrate checklist into publishing workflows with mandatory QA.

Deep dive: optimizing a page step by step

• Pick a target page. Run intent check: does H1/title match query language?

• Rewrite intro to include the direct answer plus a data point in 2 sentences.

• Update title/meta with benefit-led copy; keep unique.

• Add two new internal links to the pillar and one sibling; adjust anchors.

• Add FAQ addressing top People Also Ask and AI follow-ups; apply FAQ schema if safe.

• Validate schema rendering; ensure Person/Organization @id is stable.

• Compress hero image, add width/height, and preload if LCP element.

• Re-publish with updated dateModified; log changes and re-run prompt tests.

Prioritization matrix

• Impact: traffic, conversions, AI citation potential, and business criticality.

• Effort: content rewrite size, design/engineering needs, and compliance review.

• Start with high-impact/low-effort pages (title/meta/intro/schema fixes), then high-impact/high-effort (layout, media, and content depth).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Keyword stuffing titles or headings; hurts CTR and readability.

• Using generic anchors like “click here” and missing pillar links.

• Forgetting to update dateModified and on-page “last updated.”

• Relying on plugins for schema without checking rendered output.

• Shipping AI-written copy without human proof; leads to thin or incorrect answers.

• Leaving pop-ups that shift layout and tank CLS.

Testing and QA

• Check rendered page with Playwright for schema presence and core content.

• Validate CWV on mobile; measure LCP element and scripts affecting INP.

• Verify internal/external links, anchors, and redirects.

• Run accessibility checks: headings order, alt text, color contrast, and focus states.

• Prompt test: “Summarize this page in two sentences.” If summary lacks proof or the core answer, revise.

Reporting to stakeholders

• Monthly snapshot: top pages improved, AI citations gained, CTR changes, and conversion lift.

• Health score: percentage of pages passing checklist items and schema validation.

• CWV trends by template with annotations for releases.

• AI share of voice for target queries before/after updates.

AI prompt bank for on-page work

• Titles/meta: “Give 5 concise title options for [topic] with the keyword near the front.”

• Intros: “Write a 2-sentence answer to [question] including one data point.”

• FAQs: “List 5 follow-up questions readers ask about [topic].”

• Anchors: “Suggest 3 descriptive anchors to link to [pillar/support page].”

• Schema: “List schema types relevant to a page about [topic] and why.”

• Always review outputs; keep a log of accepted prompts to refine over time.

Tool stack

• Crawlers: Screaming Frog/Sitebulb for titles, metas, headings, links, and schema extraction.

• Rendered checks: Playwright or Puppeteer to ensure schema and content load after hydration.

• Analytics: GA4 for engagement, scroll, and CTA clicks; Search Console for queries and CTR.

• Validators: Schema Markup Validator, Rich Results Test, and Lighthouse for CWV.

• Editorial: Notion/Asana for tasks; templates in your CMS with required fields for schema, author, and reviewer.

Template-specific notes

• Blog/guide: Article + Person/Organization schema, FAQ where safe, internal links to pillar and siblings, TOC, and related links.

• Product: Product + Offer + Review schema; parity on price/availability; comparison tables and FAQs on shipping/returns.

• Local page: LocalBusiness schema with NAP, geo, hours; local FAQs; photos with alt text; CTA to book/visit.

• Docs/feature page: SoftwareApplication schema; integration anchors; code snippets with captions; fast INP.

• News/press: NewsArticle schema; quotes with Person; link to relevant pillars; concise summary near top.

Localization deep dive

• Align titles and metas to local keyword phrasing; do not translate literally if searchers use different terms.

• Adjust CTAs to local expectations (contact vs book vs demo).

• Include local policies, prices, and support hours; reflect them in schema.

• Use local examples and proof; swap screenshots where regions differ.

• Run prompt tests in each language to see how assistants describe the page.

Checkpoints before publish

• Does the intro answer the query with a fact or step?

• Are title, H1, and URL aligned and unique?

• Are schema, internal links, and anchors present and validated?

• Are images optimized, captioned, and relevant?

• Is the page fast on mobile with no layout shift?

• Are disclaimers and reviewer credits present for YMYL?

• Is the CTA clear and matched to intent?

After publish: 2-week checklist

• Monitor Search Console for queries/CTR; tweak titles/metas if CTR lags peers.

• Check AI citations for target queries; adjust intro/FAQ if missing.

• Validate schema and CWV after real traffic hits; fix regressions.

• Review engagement (scroll, exits) and internal link CTR; move links if ignored.

• Confirm conversions and form health; simplify if drop-offs appear.

Vertical notes

• B2B SaaS: prioritize integration keywords, security proof, and SoftwareApplication schema; keep INP tight on docs.

• Ecommerce: Product/Offer/Review schema, parity on price/availability, shipping FAQs, and fast images.

• Clinics/legal/finance: reviewer bios, disclaimers, LocalBusiness schema, and fresh sources; avoid Speakable on risky advice.

• Media/publishers: NewsArticle schema, clear dates, author bios, and fast rendering for AI citation clarity.

How AISO Hub can help

• AISO Audit: We score your on-page health, schema, and AI readiness, then hand you prioritized fixes.

• AISO Foundation: We build templates, checklists, and governance so every publish meets AISO and SEO standards.

• AISO Optimize: We execute improvements, run experiments, and increase AI citations and conversions.

• AISO Monitor: We watch CWV, schema, AI citations, and on-page compliance, alerting you before performance dips.

Conclusion: ship pages that earn trust and citations

On-page success comes from process, not luck.

Run the checklist every time, keep anchors and schema tight, and monitor AI citations and CWV.

Align with the content strategy pillar at Content Strategy SEO and your pages will load fast, read clearly, and get cited by both Google and AI assistants.