Cannabis On-Page SEO

Cannabis On-Page SEO Fundamentals

On-page SEO refers to the content and HTML elements on your website that you can directly control and optimize. These elements help search engines understand what your pages are about and how relevant they are to user queries. Optimizing your cannabis on-page SEO improves visibility, click-through rates, and engagement, especially in a competitive and regulated industry like cannabis.

Title Tags & Meta Descriptions

What They Are:

• Title tags appear as the clickable headlines in search engine results.
• Meta descriptions are the short snippets beneath those titles.

Why They Matter:

‍They directly influence click-through rate. Well-optimized titles and descriptions with target keywords can significantly increase your organic traffic.

How to Check Them:

• Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to review all title tags and meta descriptions.
• Check for missing, duplicate, or too-short/long entries.

What to Do:

• Include your primary keyword near the beginning of the title.
• Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160.
• Write compelling copy that encourages clicks.

 🔗 Read: How to Write Cannabis Dispensary SEO Metadata

Header Tags (H1–H6 Hierarchy)

What They Are:

Header tags (H1 through H6) define the structure of your content. H1 is typically the main page title, while H2s and H3s organize content into logical sections.

Why They Matter:

‍They improve readability for users and help search engines understand your content structure and topic hierarchy.

How to Check Them:

• Use browser extensions like Web Developer Toolbar
• Or scan your site in Screaming Frog under the "H1" and "H2" tabs.

What to Do:

• Use only one H1 per page.
• Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subpoints.
• Include relevant keywords in headings naturally.

🔗 Explore: Using Header Tags for SEO

Image Optimization (Alt Text & Compression)

What It Is:

• Alt text describes an image for screen readers and search engines.
• Compression reduces file size without hurting visual quality.
  
  

Why It Matters:

Alt text boosts accessibility and SEO. Compression improves page speed and Core Web Vitals.

How to Check It:

• Use Screaming Frog to identify missing alt text.
• Use PageSpeed Insights to detect large images.

What to Do:

• Write descriptive, keyword-relevant alt text.
• Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel.

🔗 Guide: Optimizing Cannabis Website Images

Internal Linking

What It Is:
Internal links connect different pages on your site. They guide both users and search engines through your content.

Why It Matters:
They distribute page authority and reinforce topic clusters, key for cannabis SEO strategies.

How to Check It:

• Use Screaming Frog to find orphaned pages or weakly linked URLs.
• Audit anchor text for relevance and diversity.

What to Do:

• Add links between blog posts, service pages, and category content.
• Use keyword-rich, contextual anchor text.

 🔗 See: Internal Linking Strategies for Cannabis SEO

Anchor Text Optimization

What It Is:
Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink.

Why It Matters:
Search engines use it as a contextual signal to understand what the linked page is about.

What to Do:

• Use descriptive, keyword-rich, and varied anchor text.
• Avoid vague phrases like “click here.”
• Keep it natural and relevant to your content.

Keyword Placement

What It Is:
Strategic keyword placement signals to search engines what a page is about.

Why It Matters:
Proper placement helps your page rank for target queries while maintaining readability.

Where to Place Keywords:

• Title tag
• H1 and H2 headings
• First 100 words of body content
• Image alt text
• Meta description
• URL slug

 🔗 Learn: Keyword Placement Best Practices

Content Structure & Readability

What It Is:
Content should be easy to scan, organized, and visually readable across all devices.

Why It Matters:
Good formatting improves time on page and reduces bounce rates—key user experience signals.

Best Practices:

• Use short paragraphs (2–4 lines)
• Break up text with headers, images, and white space
• Use bullet points and numbered lists

🔗 Read: Formatting Content for SEO Success

What’s the Difference Between On-Page and Off-Page SEO?

• On-page SEO includes everything you can control on your website—titles, content, internal links, headers, metadata, image tags, and structure.
• Off-page SEO focuses on external signals like backlinks, citations, brand mentions, and social shares that build your website’s authority.

Closing Tip

Mastering cannabis on-page SEO requires consistency, compliance, and content that speaks to both search engines and real people. Focus on clear keyword placement, strong internal linking, and a content structure that enhances user experience. Partner with MediaJel to ensure your cannabis website meets SEO best practices—backed by deep industry expertise and results-driven strategies.

Next Step
Continue to our lessons on Keyword Research and Technical SEO to build a complete and scalable SEO strategy for your cannabis or CBD brand.