Overview
This article helps you build a strong SEO foundation for your Access Volcanic website. You'll learn six essential tasks that make your website discoverable in search engines, helping you attract more candidates and clients without needing technical expertise.
Why SEO matters for recruitment websites
Search engine optimisation helps potential candidates and clients find your website when they search for jobs or recruitment services. Getting the basics right means:
Your jobs appear in relevant search results
More qualified candidates discover your opportunities
Your website builds authority in your recruitment sectors
You reduce dependency on paid advertising
📌 Note: SEO improvements typically take several months to show results. See Google's guidance on SEO timelines for more details. Consistency and patience are key.
Your SEO foundation checklist
Here's what you'll accomplish in this guide:
On-page SEO
🤓Tip: This means optimising within your site e.g. your content and structure
Off-page SEO
🤓Tip: This means optimising outside your site including building your website's reputation.
This means building your website's reputation and authority through activities outside your site.
Get started with SEO
📌 Note: Click on the sections below to expand detailed guidance for each tool.
Learn SEO Basics
Learn SEO Basics
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of making your website more visible on search engines like Google. It's a complex and ever-changing topic, so we've compiled the best resources to help you understand the fundamentals.
🤓 Tip: As you learn the basics, use your SEO tools to put what you learn into practice immediately.
Online resources
📽️ Watch this video to understand what SEO is and why it's important for your website.
📖Read Moz Beginner's Guide to SEO - A free guide that explores SEO topics through eight chapters:
🤓 Tip: Access the full Moz Beginner's Guide to SEO here and bookmark Moz's SEO Glossary for quick reference.
On-page SEO: Within your website
Write unique content
Write unique content
Every page on your website needs unique, valuable content that serves a clear purpose for your audience. This includes original page titles, descriptions, and on-page copy that delivers genuine value.
Why it matters
Search engines reward originality and penalise duplication because unique content provides fresh, useful information for searchers.
⚠️ Important: Never copy from other websites or reuse content across your own pages. It can damage your rankings.
Content Writing Essentials
Content element | Requirements |
Page Titles (H1) | One per page, under 70 characters. Include your main keyword naturally. |
Page Content | At least 300 words of unique text. Cover what you do, who you serve, and why you're different. Add location details for local SEO. |
Structure | Lead with the main point. Break text with subheadings. Keep paragraphs to 2–3 sentences. |
Editing Tools in Access Volcanic
Design Studio – Customise your site's look and feel
Edit Mode – Make live content edits directly on the page
Admin Area CMS – Manage structured content from the backend
📌Note: Check the editing tools' guides for detailed instructions on using each editing option.
Source Unique Images
During your website's build phase, you'll receive a selection of images free of charge. Once live, you're responsible for providing additional images where needed. High-quality, unique imagery improves user engagement and SEO performance.
Stock image resources:
Adobe Stock: Wide range of professional images available for download
Unsplash - Free, high-resolution imagery
Pexels - Free stock photos with diverse themes
Pexels Videos - Free high-quality videos for various uses
Create unique images with AI:
For a personal touch, use AI to create images tailored to your brand. AI-generated images can reflect your specific branding and style, help your site stand out with visuals that can't be found elsewhere, and save time and costs compared to traditional photoshoots.
AI image tools to explore:
⚠️ Warning: Always review AI-generated content for accuracy and tone.
Optimise your images:
Once you've sourced images, optimise them to balance quality with site speed.
🤓 Tip: Compress images before uploading to maintain fast load times while preserving visual quality. Large, unoptimised images can significantly slow your website.
Use AI to craft unique content and titles
Generate multiple title variations including your primary keyword
Draft content with AI, then refine with service- and location-specific details
Review AI suggestions to ensure they match your brand voice
📌 Note: The Access Group is not affiliated with any AI tools. Always research the tools your use and review AI-generated content.
Check for uniqueness
Use the SEO Console site crawler to find and fix duplicate meta titles or descriptions.
Use SEO Console site crawler
Use SEO Console site crawler
The SEO Console checks your site for common SEO issues such as missing metadata, missing H1 headings, broken links, missing image alt text, thin content, and other technical problems.
Running regular scans helps you catch issues early, maintain standards, and track progress.
📌Note: For detailed instructions on the SEO Console, see our SEO Tools guide to learn how to run scans, read results, and fix issues step-by-step using the SEO Console.
Add metadata
Add metadata
Metadata tells search engines and users what each page is about. It includes:
Meta title – Appears in browser tabs and search results. Keep it relevant, use important keywords near the start, write in natural language, keep it unique for each page, and consider adding your brand name at the end
Meta description – A short summary shown in search results. Make each one unique, inviting, and accurate. Use relevant keywords, inspire curiosity, and include a call to action
Canonical URL – Points search engines to the preferred version of a page to avoid duplicate content issues
For now, focus on getting your meta titles and descriptions right for your most important pages before refining canonical URLs.
🤓 Tip: You can edit metadata for individual pages via Edit Mode, or for recurring pages like jobs and blogs via SEO Settings.
⚠️ Important: Avoid duplication. Each page's metadata should be unique and accurately reflect its content.
Best Practices for meta data
Meta titles
Character limits
✅ Keep under 60 characters so they display fully
❌ Avoid going over 60 characters as Google will truncate them with ... which looks unprofessional
Keyword placement
✅ Place important keywords near the start where users see them first
❌ Avoid overloading with too many keywords as this makes titles unreadable and unnatural
Relevance and uniqueness
✅ Make each title unique and relevant to the page content
❌ Avoid generic titles like Services or duplicate titles across multiple pages
Branding
✅ Consider adding your brand name at the end (structure as Primary Keywords | Brand Name)
❌ Avoid putting branding first unless you're already well-known
Compelling content
✅ Write titles that make users want to click whilst staying truthful
❌ Avoid clickbait or misleading language that promises something you don't deliver
🤓Examples
✅ Good meta title: Marketing Jobs Manchester | ABC Recruitment
❌ Bad meta title: Jobs Marketing Manchester Recruitment Agency Marketing Roles Manchester Jobs
Meta descriptions
Length
✅ Aim for 150–160 characters to display fully in search results
❌ Avoid overly short descriptions that lack context or long ones that get cut off
Uniqueness
✅ Write unique descriptions for every page that accurately reflect specific content
❌ Avoid copying descriptions across multiple pages as this confuses search engines
Content summary
✅ Be specific about the page content and value proposition
❌ Avoid vague descriptions that don't tell users why they should visit your page
Keyword usage
✅ Use relevant keywords naturally that match user intent
❌ Avoid stuffing keywords unnaturally as this makes descriptions hard to read
Creating interest
✅ Make users interested enough to click whilst being honest about content
❌ Avoid overpromising or misleading users about your page content
Call to action
✅ Include action phrases like Apply now, Learn more, or Contact us today
❌ Avoid leaving users without a clear next step
🤓Examples
✅ Good meta description: Browse 50+ marketing jobs in London. Upload your CV and apply in minutes. Specialist marketing recruiters since 2010.
❌ Bad meta description: Welcome to our website where we help people find jobs.
Optimisation Tips
Monitor click-through rates (CTR) in Google Search Console
Optimise metadata for pages with high impressions but low CTR
Avoid making frequent changes – allow time for updates to take effect
Steer clear of clickbait
📌 Note: Access Volcanic doesn't specialise in SEO consultancy. For advanced SEO strategy, seek professional advice. Our tips are based on experience and widely accepted best practices.
Add alt image text
Add alt image text
Every image on your site should have clear, accurate alt text that describes what's shown. This helps search engines understand your visuals, improves accessibility for visually impaired users, and can strengthen SEO.
Why It Matters
Clarifies image content for search engines
Enhances accessibility for screen reader users
Supports content quality by fixing flagged issues in the SEO Console
Best Practices
Description: Be specific but concise
Keywords: Include relevant keywords naturally; avoid overuse
Clarity: Avoid phrases like image of — screen readers already announce it's an image
🤓 Tip: For example, you might write alt text like London-based recruitment consultant meeting with candidates
How to Add or Edit Alt Text
Add or update alt text via Edit Mode on the page where the image appears.
.📌Note: Check the Edit Mode guide for detailed instructions on adding alt text.
Off-page SEO: Outside your website
Set Up Google Search Console
Set Up Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that helps you monitor and improve your site's search performance. Use it to:
📊 Track visibility in Google search results
🗺️ Submit your sitemap so Google can index your pages
🛠️ Identify and fix issues like crawl errors
Setting it up is straightforward — it ensures Google can properly read and index your site, helping you track performance, find errors, and understand how users interact with your content. ⏱️ It only takes a few minutes to connect your site.
📌 Learn more & get started here: Google Search Console
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console
First, locate your website's sitemap. Then, using Google's own guide and video, add the sitemap in Google Search Console.
Benefits of Submitting Your Sitemap
Improves indexing: Ensures Google can find and index all pages efficiently
Accelerates content discovery: Helps new or updated content appear faster in search results
Enhances crawl efficiency: Guides Google on your site's structure and priorities
Identifies indexing issues: Provides reports to fix crawl or indexing problems promptly
Supports rich results: Helps Google understand your content for enhanced listings
Facilitates multimedia indexing: Ensures images, videos, and other media are indexed effectively
Monitors sitemap performance: Offers analytics on indexed pages and errors
Common mistakes to avoid
Duplicate or thin content – Reusing the same text across multiple pages, or creating pages with very little useful information, can harm rankings
Keyword overuse – Forcing too many keywords into titles or copy makes content unnatural and can trigger search engine penalties
Ignoring SEO Console warnings – Skipping or delaying fixes for flagged issues means problems remain unresolved, reducing site performance in search
Next steps
Once you've mastered these basics, explore intermediate SEO strategies like keyword research, location pages, internal linking, and backlink building.
🤓Tip: Read our Improving your SEO guide for next-level techniques.
FAQs
Q1: How long before I see SEO results?
Answer: SEO changes typically take several months to impact rankings. See Google's guidance on SEO timelines for specific details. Focus on consistent improvements rather than expecting immediate results.
Q2: Do I need technical knowledge for these tasks?
Answer: No. These six foundation tasks are designed for non-technical users. Access Volcanic's tools make implementation straightforward without coding knowledge.
Q3: What order should I complete these tasks?
Answer: The guide order is designed for beginners starting with SEO: learn basics first, then content, SEO Console scan, metadata, alt text, and finally Google Search Console. However, you can adapt this based on your current progress. For example, if you already have unique content, you might start with the SEO Console or metadata sections and return to other tasks as needed.
Q4: How often should I run SEO Console scans?
Answer: Run scans monthly as part of your routine maintenance. After major website updates, run an immediate scan to catch any new issues.
Q5: Can I use the same metadata for similar pages?
Answer: No. Every page must have unique metadata. Even similar pages (like different location pages) need distinct titles and descriptions to avoid duplication penalties.
Q6: What if the SEO Console shows false positive broken links?
Answer: Some external sites (LinkedIn, Instagram) block crawlers and show as broken. Test these links manually - if they work when clicked, you can safely ignore the warnings.
Q7: Can I just add as many keywords in my content as possible?
Answer: Never. Adding excessive keywords unnaturally (also known as keyword stuffing) hurts rankings. Write naturally for humans, including keywords where they make sense. Google's algorithms detect and penalise unnatural keyword use.
Q8: How much content does each page need?
Answer: Aim for minimum 300 words of unique content per page. Important pages (homepage, main services) benefit from 500-800 words. Quality matters more than quantity.
Q9: What's the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?
Answer: On-page SEO means optimising your website content, titles, and structure to help search engines understand your pages and improve user experience. Off-page SEO means building your website's reputation and authority through activities outside your site, primarily by earning backlinks from other reputable websites. On-page SEO helps search engines understand what your content is about, while off-page SEO demonstrates your site's credibility and trustworthiness.
Q10: Can Access Volcanic help me with SEO optimisation?
Answer: Yes, Access Volcanic and our Support Team can help you use the platform's built-in SEO tools and features for on-page optimisation. This includes guidance on configuring meta titles, descriptions, structured data, SEO console usage, and other technical SEO settings within your website. However, content creation and strategy development remain client-side responsibilities.
Q11: Does Access Volcanic provide off-page SEO services?
Answer: No, Access Volcanic does not provide content writing, keyword research, or SEO strategy development services. We focus on helping you use the platform's SEO tools effectively. Content creation, topic planning, and strategic SEO decisions should be handled by your team or through third-party SEO consultancy if additional expertise is needed.