On-Page vs Off-Page SEO: Đâu là Yếu Tố Quan Trọng Hơn?
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On-Page vs Off-Page SEO: Which is More Important?

To answer the question "Which is the more important factor?", we need to delve into the technical details, analyze actual data, and understand how Google evaluates websites.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a battle of wits between two “giants”: On-page and Off-page SEO. To answer the question “Which is more important?”, we need to delve into technical details, analyze real data, and understand how Google evaluates websites. This article will dissect each factor, provide specific examples, and action strategies for you to optimize effectively.

1 Understanding On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO

1.1. On-Page SEO: Optimize From Root To Top

On-page SEO is the process of optimizing every element directly on the website to increase visibility on search engines. It does not stop at content, it also includes technical and user experience.

Seo Onpage is one of the factors that help websites reach the top of search results Seo Onpage is one of the factors that help websites reach the top of search results

Detailed factors:

  • Quality content: Depth: Articles with 2000+ words often rank better thanks to their comprehensive coverage of the topic. For example: Ahrefs’ “SEO Guide from A-Z” is 5,000 words long, ranking top 1 for 50+ keywords. E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness): Google prioritizes content from experts. For example: Medical articles should be authored by doctors. Update regularly: Old content reduces traffic by 58% after 2 years (according to HubSpot).

  • Technical optimization: Page loading speed: 53% of users leave the page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load (Google). Tools: Use AMP, optimize WebP images, reduce CSS/JS. Mobile-first indexing: 60% of global traffic comes from mobile (Statista). Ensure responsive design, no “tap targets” errors. Structured Data: Use schema markup to help Google understand the content. For example: Marking up products helps display rich snippets.

  • Keywords and structure: Keyword distribution: The main keyword appears in the first 100-200 words, density 1-2%. Tools: Surfer SEO, Yoast. Internal linking: Link to 3-5 related articles. For example: The article about “Content Marketing” should link to “How to write a blog with SEO standards”.

Real-life examples:

  • Brian Dean’s website Backlinko increased traffic by 110% thanks to optimizing the title (H1 containing the main keyword), adding FAQ schema, and shortening the URL.

1.2. Off-Page SEO: Building a Trustworthy Empire

Off-page SEO focuses on external signals to prove your website is trustworthy.

Detailed factors:

  • Quality backlinks: DA/PA index: Sites with DA > 50 help improve 72% of the ability to rank (Moz). Optimized anchor text: 30% anchor text contains the main keyword, 70% uses brand name or URL.

  • Backlink type: Dofollow: Passes “link juice”. Nofollow: Does not pass value but increases brand coverage.

  • Social Signal and Brand Mention: MXH: Posts shared 1000+ times on Facebook increase onsite time by 22% (BuzzSumo). Mention without backlink: Example: Forbes mentions your brand in the article “Top 10 Startups 2023”.

  • Backlink building strategy: Guest Posting: Post on sites in the same industry with an acceptance rate of 5-10%. Broken Link Building: Find broken links on competitors, suggest replacing them with your content. Skyscraper Technique: Create content 3 times better than competitors, then outreach to get backlinks.

Real-life example:

  • Ahrefs built 10,000+ backlinks by publishing exclusive research (like “Key SEO Metrics 2023”), then emailed 500+ bloggers to share.

##2 In-depth Comparison Between On-Page and Off-Page SEO

2.1. Detailed Comparison Table

Factors On-Page SEO Off-Page SEO
Purpose Optimize user experience Build external credibility
Control 100% (you own the website) 0-50% (depending on partners)
Short-term impact Slow (3-6 months) Very slow (6-12 months)
Cost Low (focus on content) High (hire agency, outreach tools)
Risk Low (if guidelines are followed) High (spam backlinks cause penalties)

###2.2. Symbiotic Relationship

  • Feedback loop:

  1. Good on-page → Users stay longer → Increase CTR → Google highly values ​​→ Easy to build backlinks.

  2. Strong off-page → Increase DA → Content is easy to get to the top even if not perfectly optimized.

  • Case Study:

  • Travel Website A: On-page optimization (speed from 4s → 1.5s, add 50 internal links) + Build 20 DA40+ backlinks → Traffic increased by 300% after 8 months.

##3 Which Factor Is More Important?

3.1. Depends on Keyword Difficulty

The easier the keyword, the more important Onpage percentage The easier the keyword, the more important the Onpage percentage is

  • Easy keywords (Volume < 500): On-page accounts for 70% of the decision. For example: “How to make avocado smoothie” only needs detailed content, few backlinks.

  • Difficult keywords (Volume > 5000): Off-page accounts for 60%. For example: “SEO service HCM” needs 100+ backlinks from the same local site.

3.2. Depends on the Industry

  • Medical, Financial Industry: Off-page is more important due to high E-A-T requirements. For example: Hospitals need backlinks from .gov, .edu.

  • Entertainment, Lifestyle Industry: On-page is prioritized because users appreciate the experience.

3.3 Website Phase

Website construction phase Website construction phase

  • Newly established (0-6 months): 80% On-page (create technical foundation, publish 30+ quality articles).

  • Growth phase (6-24 months): 50/50 (update content, build backlinks).

4 Real Case Studies

4.1. On-Page SEO Case Study: Increase 250% Traffic for Food Blog

  • Problem: Blog has 500 articles but traffic is stagnant at 10k/month.

  • On-page solution:

  • Rewrite 100 old posts, add recipe videos (increase 40% onsite time).

  • Optimize Core Web Vitals: LCP from 4.2s → 1.8s.

  • Use Recipe schema to display rich results.

  • Results: Traffic increased by 250% after 4 months, 15 posts reached top 1 on Google.

4.2. Off-Page SEO Case Study: Outperform Competitors Thanks to “Clean” Backlink Profile

  • Problem: Law firm does not reach the top despite good content.
  • Off-page solution:
  • Build 50 backlinks from .edu (guest posts for universities), 20 backlinks from legal newspapers.
  • Remove 200 spam backlinks with Disavow tool.
  • Results: Keyword “fast divorce service” increased from #32 → #5 after 6 months.

5 Comprehensive Combination Strategies

5.1. Phase 1: Build On-Page Foundation (0-3 Months)

  • Checklist:
  • Optimize technical SEO: Ensure mobile-friendly, HTTPS, sitemap.
  • Publish 20 “pillar content” articles (3000+ words/article).
  • Set up Google Search Console + Analytics for tracking.

5.2. Phase 2: Build Off-Page (April-June)

  • Tactics:
  • Outreach 10 guest posts/month (prioritize DA30+ sites).
  • Create 5 infographics to share on Reddit, Pinterest.
  • Run PR campaigns to get mentioned in newspapers.

5.3. Phase 3: Maintain & Optimize (July-December)

  • Tasks:

  • Update old content every 3 months.

  • Analyze competitor backlinks with Ahrefs, target quality sites.

  • A/B test title, meta description to increase CTR.

Conclusion:

On-page and Off-page SEO are like two sides of the same coin – without one, the coin cannot circulate. The answer to “which factor is more important” depends on your goals, resources and industry competition. Start with On-page to build a solid foundation, then use Off-page as a “lever” to dominate the rankings.

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