How to Do On-Site SEO Using Free AI Tools (Without Overcomplicating It)

How to Do On-Site SEO Using Free AI Tools (Without Overcomplicating It)

February 18, 2025
5
min read

Let’s talk about on-site SEO. You’ve probably heard it’s the foundation of ranking well, but here’s the kicker: most people either overcomplicate it or skip half the steps. Today, we’ll break it down into four simple categories—design, loading times, metadata, and image SEO—and show you how to ace each one with free AI tools. No jargon, no fluff. Let’s dive in.

1. Design: Make Your Website Actually Convert

If your website looks like a 2005 MySpace page or confuses visitors the second they land, even perfect SEO won’t save you. Why? Google loves websites that solve problems. If users bounce because your site is clunky or unclear, Google notices. Plus, what is the point of a website ranking #1 if it does not convert.

The Fix:

  • Keep it stupidly simple. Does your homepage have a clear heading and one obvious call-to-action (like “Buy Now” or “Book a Free Consult”)? If not, simplify.
  • Use Google’s AI Studio (Gemini 2.0 Flash). Share your screen with this AI for 10 minutes (it’s free!), and it’ll critique your design like a brutally honest friend. Pro tip: Set the prompt to “Analyze my website’s design for conversion rate optimization” before sharing.

How To Use Google AI Studio To Optimise Your Website

  1. Go To Google AI studio and make yourself a free account
  2. Once logged in select the ‘Stream Realtime’ icon from the left hand side
  3. In the Model settings, make sure Gemini2.0 Flash Experimental is selected
  4. Insert THIS prompt into the ‘System Instructions’ section. This will make gemini act like an SEO professional and save you time having to explain to it what you are trying to do.
  5. Hit the Share your Screen button and head to the website you need help optimising
  6. Ask Gemini to roast your website, but make sure the advice is actionable

Remember that you only have 10 minutes to talk to Gemini in this stream real time so make sure you have your questions ready to go.

2. Loading Times: Speed Isn’t Just for Race Cars

Google’s Core Web Vitals now directly impact rankings. But beyond SEO, slow sites cost you money:

  • 1-second delay = 7% drop in conversions (Amazon lost $1.6B/year from a 1s lag).
  • 53% of mobile users abandon sites taking >3s to load.
  • “Cached” vs. Real-World Speed: Your browser saves files (like CSS/images) after your first visit, making your site feel fast. New users get the un-cached version (the truth).

Step 1: Test Like a Pro (But Free)

GTmetrix vs. PageSpeed Insights:

  • GTmetrix (my go-to):
    • Tests from 7 global locations.
    • Shows waterfall charts (exactly what loads first/last).
    • Grades from A-F (aim for A/B).
  • PageSpeed Insights:
    • Google’s own tool.
    • Focuses on Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS).
    • Prioritizes mobile (60% of traffic).

How to Use GTmetrix:

  1. Go to GTmetrix.com > Enter your URL > Analyze.
  2. Check the Performance Tab:
    • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Time to load main content (aim <2.5s).
    • Total Blocking Time (TBT): How long the page feels “frozen” (aim <200ms).
  3. Waterfall Chart: Hover over red/yellow bars – these are slow elements.

Step 2: Decode the Gibberish

GTmetrix/PageSpeed reports are full of terms like “defer offscreen images” or “eliminate render-blocking resources.” Here’s what they actually mean:

Tech Jargon Plain English Quick Fix
"Serve images in next-gen formats" Your PNGs/JPGs are too heavy. Convert to WebP (30-50% smaller). Use Squoosh.app (free).
"Reduce server response time" Your hosting is slow. Switch to a better host (Cloudways, SiteGround).
"Minify CSS/JS" Your code has useless spaces/comments. Use CSS Minifier.
"Lazy load offscreen images" Don't load images until user scrolls to them. Install WP Rocket (WordPress) or add loading="lazy" to image tags.

Example Report Translation:

  • GTmetrix Suggestion: “Defer unused CSS.”
  • What You Do: Install a plugin like Autoptimize (WordPress) to delay non-critical CSS.

Step 3: Use the Custom GPT to Skip the Headache

  1. Download your GTmetrix/PageSpeed report as a PDF.
  2. Go to this Speed Report Translator GPT (custom GPT I made just for you ;-)).
  3. Upload the PDF and ask:
    • “List the top 3 fixes for my site, sorted by easiest to hardest.”
    • “How do I fix ‘reduce unused JavaScript’ without breaking my site?”

3. Metadata: Your Secret Sales Pitch

Let’s cut through the noise: metadata isn’t just “SEO paperwork.” It’s your website’s elevator pitch to Google and users. Get it right, and you’ll boost clicks, rankings, and conversions. Here’s how to nail it with free AI tools.

Why Metadata is Your Secret Weapon

  • Title Tags: Google’s #1 ranking factor for relevance. Think of it as your page’s “book title.”
  • Meta Descriptions: Not a direct ranking factor, but a click magnet. A good one can double your CTR.
  • Headings (H1/H2): Organize content for users + tell Google what matters.

The Problem: Most people either keyword-stuff (“Best Pizza Chicago Pizza Best Pizza”) or write vague fluff (“Innovative Solutions”).

Step 1: Audit Your Metadata with SEO Wallet

Install the Free Chrome Extension:

  1. Go to SEO Wallet (free tier works).
  2. Click “Add to Chrome” > Pin it to your toolbar.

Analyze Your Page:

  • Open any webpage > Click the SEO Wallet icon.
  • Overview Tab:
    • Title Tag: Check if it’s under 60 characters and includes your main keyword (e.g., “Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago | Tony’s Pizzeria”).
    • Meta Description: Ensure it’s under 150 chars with a CTA (“Craving authentic Chicago deep-dish? Order now – 20% off first order!”).
  • Heading Optimization Tab:
    • Verify your H1 matches the title tag (don’t duplicate – keep it natural).
    • Check if H2s include secondary keywords (e.g., “Our Secret Dough Recipe” > “Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Crust Recipe”).

Pro Tip: For local SEO, add your city/region and primary keyword to the title tag.

Example:
“Tony’s Pizzeria – Taste the Difference”
“Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago | Tony’s Pizzeria”

Title Tags and Meta Description using the SEOWallet Chrome Extension

Step 2: Generate Killer Metadata with Gemini

Use Case 1: Title Tag Brainstorming

  • Prompt:
    “Generate 5 title tag variations for my pizza shop’s homepage. Main keyword: ‘Chicago deep-dish pizza.’ Include location, a benefit, and keep it under 60 characters.”
  • Gemini Output:
    1. Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza | Family-Owned Since 1985 | Tony’s
    2. Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago – Oven-Fresh Daily
    3. Authentic Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza – 20% Off First Order”

Use Case 2: Meta Description Magic

  • Prompt:
    “Write a meta description that is between 150-160 characters in length for my pizza shop’s ‘Catering’ page. Include keywords ‘Chicago deep-dish catering’ and ‘office parties.’ Add urgency.”
  • Gemini Output:
    “Need crowd-pleasing food for your Chicago office party? Our deep-dish catering delivers oven-fresh pizza in 60 mins. Book now – limited slots!”

Use Case 3: Fix Awkward Headings

  • Before: “Our Delicious Pizza” (vague).
  • Prompt:
    “Rewrite this H2 (‘Our Delicious Pizza’) to include ‘Chicago deep-dish’ and sound more enticing.”
  • Gemini Output:
    “Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza: Handmade Daily With Local Ingredients”

Step 3: Avoid These Common Mistakes

  1. Keyword Stuffing:
    • “Best Pizza Chicago Best Deep-Dish Pizza Chicago Pizza Restaurant”
    • “Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago | Tony’s Pizzeria”
  2. Ignoring Mobile Snippets:
    • Google truncates titles/meta descriptions on mobile. Put keywords FIRST.
    • Example:
      “Tony’s Pizzeria | Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago” → Mobile: “Tony’s Pizzeria | Best Deep-Dish Pizza…”
  3. Duplicate Metadata:
    • Use SEO Wallet’s “Duplicate Check” feature (under Advanced Tools).

Your Metadata Checklist

✅ Title tag: 50-60 chars, keyword in first half.
✅ Meta description: <150 chars, CTA, no fluff.
✅ H1: Matches page intent, no keyword stuffing.
✅ H2s: Include secondary keywords naturally.
✅ Local SEO: City + keyword in title (if applicable).

Real-World Before/After

Before:

  • Title: “Welcome to Tony’s Pizza | Chicago”
  • Meta Description: “We serve pizza in Chicago. Visit us today.”

After (AI-Optimized):

  • Title: “Best Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza | Family Recipe Since 1985 | Tony’s”
  • Meta Description: “Craving authentic Chicago deep-dish? Tony’s handmakes oven-fresh pizza daily. Dine-in or order now – 20% off first pickup!”

Metadata isn’t about tricking Google – it’s about clarity. Use AI to say more with less, and watch your clicks (and crusts) rise.

4. Image SEO: Lightweight & Descriptive Wins

Images slow down sites and often get ignored SEO-wise. But done right, they boost rankings and accessibility.

The Fix:

  • Ditch PNGs. Use WebP files—they’re 30% lighter with no quality loss. Convert images for free with Squoosh.app.
  • Rename files from “IMG_1234.png” to “chicago-deep-dish-pizza.webp”.
  • Alt tags: Describe the image and include keywords. Example: “Freshly baked deep-dish pizza with melted cheese” > “deep-dish pizza chicago.”

Final Thoughts

On-site SEO isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about making your website useful, fast, and stupidly easy to understand. With free tools like Gemini AI, GTmetrix, and SEO Wallet, you don’t need to be a tech wizard. Just focus on the basics, let AI handle the heavy lifting, and watch Google (and your visitors) thank you.

Need a visual walkthrough? Check the video below. Questions? Drop a comment—we’ll keep it simple. 🍪

(P.S. If you’re still using PNGs, we need to talk.)

Share this post
Tags
No items found.
Nico Gorrono
SEO and AI Automation Expert

Stay Updated with Our Insights

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest tips and trends in AI-powered SEO.

By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.