I’ve been working in SEO and web design for almost 25 years now, right here in New Orleans. And after all this time, I’m still amazed at how often I see businesses making the same basic on-page SEO mistakes that keep them from ranking.
Most folks think the secret to showing up on Google is getting 500 backlinks. That’s just not true. You can often outrank your competition with fewer links if your on-page structure is set up the right way.
I’ve built and optimized hundreds of sites for local businesses in Southeast Louisiana, and here’s what actually works.
1. Build Supporting Pages First
Down here, we like to build things on a strong foundation—you don’t start a house on stilts by working on the roof first. Your website is no different.
Most people obsess over their homepage or “money page,” but your supporting pages—blogs, service write-ups, FAQs—are what do the heavy lifting.
Think of them as your foot soldiers. Their job is to funnel authority to the page that matters most: the one that brings in revenue.
Keep them focused. Don’t scatter links all over your site. Connect your supporting pages in a logical way, and make sure they’re all pointing toward the page that actually makes you money.
2. Keep Your URL Structure Simple
Google doesn’t like to jump through hoops, and neither do people.
The more folders you stick in a URL, the harder Google has to work to figure things out. Skip unnecessary layers like /blog/ or /page/ for important content. Keep your main pages close to the root of your domain.
The simpler your structure, the stronger the signal.
3. It’s About Context, Not Word Count
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “How many words does this page need to rank?”
It’s not about word count. It’s about whether you’ve given Google the right context.
Search engines look for semantic signals—the related terms and phrases that prove you know your subject. Tools like Surfer or Clearscope can help make sure you’re speaking Google’s language, not just stuffing in keywords.
This is where a lot of AI-generated content falls short. It looks fine to humans, but it often skips the deeper contextual terms Google actually needs. Always check your pages with proper on-page analysis.
4. Don’t Overuse Your Keywords
Your target keyword only needs to appear in four spots:
• The URL
• The Title tag
• The H1 heading
• Once in the body copy
After that, move on. Fill your page with variations, synonyms, and related terms. It’ll read better for people and make more sense to Google.
5. Exact Match Domains Still Hold Power
I’ve seen it time and time again—keyword-rich domains can still outperform generic ones when everything else is equal.
Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t looking at the full picture.
6. Schema Helps, But Not How You Think
I get asked about schema markup a lot. Will it boost rankings? No.
But it will help your site take up more space in search results and give Google a clearer picture of your content. Think of it as a way to enhance visibility, not a magic ranking button.
7. Local SEO Hack That Works Every Time
For local businesses, this one’s simple: put your address in the footer of your site.
That way, every page sends a local signal to Google. It’s one of those no-nonsense fixes that’s far more effective than complicated schema tricks or fancy embeds.
Final Word From a New Orleans Native
I’ve been doing this work long enough to know that SEO is like building a house in the swamp—you can’t cut corners, and you can’t fake a strong foundation.
Get your structure, context, and signals right, and you won’t need a mountain of backlinks to climb to the top.
Here in New Orleans, we know the value of hard work done the right way. That’s the same philosophy I bring to every website I build and every SEO strategy I create.
