Avoid These 5 On-Page SEO Mistakes in 2025!

Search engine optimization (SEO) has come a long way, yet many businesses still fall into common traps when it comes to on-page SEO. Avoiding these on-page SEO mistakes is more important than ever in 2025 with AI-driven search evolving ranking algorithms and user-focused updates from Google.

Whether you're a startup or an established brand, ensuring your website follows on-page SEO best practices can mean the difference between being discovered or being buried. Below, we highlight the five most persistent on-page SEO mistakes businesses are still making and how to fix them.

Ignoring Search Intent When Choosing Keywords

Targeting the wrong keywords is no longer just ineffective; it’s harmful. Google's algorithms are hyper-focused on search intent in 2025, meaning they prioritize content that truly answers the user's query in context.

Unfortunately, many businesses still choose keywords based solely on volume without considering whether the content matches the intent behind the search. For instance, using a commercial keyword like “buy SEO software” for an informational blog post will likely result in poor rankings and even worse user engagement.

You can contact professionals like Boise digital marketing experts to learn more about mapping each keyword to a specific intent, informational, navigational, or transactional, and tailoring content accordingly. These experts can ensure your digital strategy aligns with user search behavior, improving rankings.

Overlooking Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

You’d be surprised how many websites still launch without customized, optimized title tags and meta descriptions. These elements not only influence your search ranking but also heavily impact click-through rates (CTR) from search engine results pages (SERPs)

Title tags should be concise, include your target keyword naturally, and reflect the page’s purpose. While not a direct ranking factor, meta descriptions still serve as your page’s "ad copy" in the SERP. Missing, duplicated, or generic metadata can drastically reduce visibility and CTR. You can use tools like Yoast or RankMath to preview how your metadata will appear, and make sure it’s unique and enticing for every page.

Poor Heading Structure and Inconsistent Formatting

Headers (H1, H2, H3) help search engines understand the structure and priority of your content. Yet many businesses still misuse them: multiple H1s on a single page, no use of H2s, or skipping levels altogether.

A clear heading hierarchy improves readability for both users and crawlers. Your H1 should include the page’s primary topic, ideally with a keyword, followed by H2s for key sections, and H3s for supporting points or examples.

Keep in mind: with more users scanning content quickly, especially on mobile devices, clean formatting and skimmable headers are essential for keeping engagement high and bounce rates low.

Forgetting Image Optimization

Images are often the heaviest part of a webpage, and the most neglected from an SEO standpoint. Businesses still upload oversized images, skip alt text, and ignore proper file naming. These oversights harm both page speed and accessibility. Image optimization is no longer optional in 2025, with Google's Core Web Vitals playing a larger role in search rankings. Here’s what you should always do:

• Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or WebP formats
• Use descriptive file names (“on-page-seo-guide.png” instead of “IMG_1234.png”)
• Write meaningful alt text that describes the image and, where appropriate, includes relevant keywords

Optimized images help your page load faster, improve accessibility for visually impaired users, and give Google more context about your content.

Not Updating or Refreshing Outdated Content

Publishing fresh content is great, but that does not mean leaving old, underperforming pages without updates. Many websites still fail to audit and refresh their older content, allowing it to slip in rankings or become factually outdated.

Google’s algorithms in 2025 reward freshness, but more importantly, relevance. If a blog post from 2021 talks about SEO trends without acknowledging the rise of AI in search or new Google updates, it loses authority.

Conduct quarterly content audits. Look for high-impression pages that aren’t getting clicks, or formerly high-ranking pages that have dropped. Update facts, refresh examples, add internal links to newer content, and republish with a current date where appropriate.

Endnote

Keywords and headers are no longer the only factors to consider in on-page SEO, as it has now evolved to be a frictionless, relevant, and technically competent experience for the user. The fundamentals are still the same, but the rules have changed. Follow the tips above to keep up with the new trends and keep your competitive edge!