# 03 · On-Page SEO

> **Target:** [Unstop.com](https://unstop.com)
> **Focus:** Title tags, meta descriptions, H1s, heading hierarchy, keyword usage, internal links

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## Prompt used

> *Review these pages for title tags, meta descriptions, H1s, heading hierarchy, keyword usage, and internal links. Show me what is optimized, what is missing, and what should be rewritten.*

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## Sample pages reviewed (intent groups)

| Page | Intent | Status |
|---|---|---|
| `/` (homepage) | Brand + directory | Branded, strong |
| `/hackathons` | Commercial investigation ("hackathons list") | Needs rewrite |
| `/internships` | Commercial investigation ("internships for freshers") | Needs rewrite |
| `/case-competitions` | Informational + commercial | Thin |
| `/blog/how-to-win-a-hackathon` (sample article) | Informational | Partially optimized |
| `/p/<opportunity-slug>` | Transactional (apply now) | Templated, fixable |

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## What is already working

- **Homepage title + description** are clear and brand-led.
- **Opportunity detail pages** have consistent templating (title includes opportunity name + organizer).
- **Breadcrumbs** are present on most category + detail templates.
- **Mobile rendering** is solid; titles don't truncate excessively.

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## What is missing or weak

### 1. Category page titles are generic
Examples observed / common pattern:
- `Hackathons — Unstop` ← too short, no intent hook, no year, no audience.
- `Internships — Unstop` ← same issue.

### 2. Meta descriptions are auto-truncated or duplicated
Many listing and detail pages appear to reuse a boilerplate description. Google frequently rewrites them in SERPs — a sign the custom description isn't earning trust.

### 3. H1 / title mismatch
On several listing pages, the H1 reads like UI ("Explore Hackathons") while the title tag reads like a directory ("Hackathons — Unstop"). Pick one user-first phrasing and align.

### 4. Heading hierarchy breaks
- Multiple `<h1>` on opportunity detail pages (company name + opportunity name both coded as H1).
- Jumps from H2 straight to H4 in article posts.

### 5. Keyword usage is under-deliberate
Pages rarely include secondary terms (synonyms, modifiers) a user would actually type: "paid", "for freshers", "remote", "2026", "with stipend".

### 6. Internal links are navigational, not contextual
Body copy rarely links to related hubs or guides with descriptive anchors. Most linking comes from chrome (sidebar, header, footer) — which search engines weight lower than contextual body links.

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## Rewrite examples

### `/hackathons` (category)

| Element | Current (pattern) | Rewrite |
|---|---|---|
| Title | `Hackathons — Unstop` | `Hackathons in India 2026 — Live & Upcoming \| Unstop` |
| Meta | `Find hackathons on Unstop` | `Browse 500+ live and upcoming hackathons in India — online, offline, and student-only — with prizes, stipends, and winning project ideas. Updated daily.` |
| H1 | `Explore Hackathons` | `Live Hackathons in India, Updated Daily` |
| First paragraph | _absent or generic_ | 60–90 words explaining what a hackathon is, who they are for, how to filter, with contextual links to [/blog/how-to-win-a-hackathon](#) and [/case-competitions](#). |

### `/internships` (category)

| Element | Current (pattern) | Rewrite |
|---|---|---|
| Title | `Internships — Unstop` | `Internships for Freshers 2026 — Paid, Remote & Work-From-Home \| Unstop` |
| Meta | boilerplate | `Find verified paid internships for freshers — remote, work-from-home, summer, and stipend-paying roles from top Indian and global companies. Apply in minutes.` |
| H1 | `Explore Internships` | `Internships for Freshers — Paid, Remote & Verified` |

### `/p/<opportunity-slug>` (detail template)

| Element | Rewrite rule |
|---|---|
| Title | `{Opportunity Name} by {Organizer} — Apply by {Deadline} \| Unstop` |
| Meta | First 155 chars: what it is, who it's for, prize/stipend, deadline |
| H1 | Opportunity name only (organizer moves to subtitle) |
| H2s | Overview / Eligibility / Prizes / Timeline / FAQ / Similar opportunities |

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## Keyword modifier library (for templates)

Use these systematically in titles, H1s, and intros where honest and relevant:

- **Freshness:** 2026, latest, new, upcoming, live, updated daily
- **Audience:** for freshers, for students, for engineers, for MBAs, for women, for school students
- **Access:** free, paid, stipend, with prizes, online, offline, remote, work-from-home
- **Geography:** in India, in Hyderabad, pan-India, global
- **Intent qualifier:** how to apply, eligibility, prize details, examples, past winners

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## Internal link rules (apply everywhere in body)

1. Every category hub links out to ≥5 relevant guides + ≥3 sibling hubs, using **descriptive anchors** (not "click here").
2. Every article links back to its parent hub within the first 2 paragraphs.
3. Every opportunity detail links to 3 similar opportunities (same type + audience) in the body, not only in a sidebar widget.

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### Further reading

- [Google — Title link best practices](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link)
- [Google — Create good meta descriptions](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/snippet)
- [Moz — On-page SEO](https://moz.com/learn/seo/on-page-factors)

Back to: [Crawlability & Indexing](./02-crawlability-indexing.md) · Next: [Content Gaps →](./04-content-gaps.md)