Complete SEO Checklist: Essential Website Optimization Guide
A comprehensive guide to optimize your website for search engines and improve your online visibility.
Pre-Launch Optimization
Add essential website information:
- Create a page title under 60 characters with relevant keywords
- Write a unique website description (50-300 characters) that summarizes your content
- Include unique SEO descriptions for every page, blog post, product, and event
- Optimize page title formats for browser tabs, social sharing, and search results
Design and branding elements:
- Upload a favicon (browser icon) to enhance brand recognition
- Add social sharing images for your website and individual pages
- Create a custom 404 page with helpful navigation links
- Review content following SEO best practices
Technical setup:
- Connect a custom domain instead of using platform-specific URLs
- Link social media profiles and enable auto-publishing
- Enable SSL security
- Review and optimize URL slugs
- Set proper URL format for blog posts
Local SEO:
- Add business location details and map on contact page
- Create and maintain Google Business Profile
Post-Launch Actions
Search engine setup:
- Verify website in Google Search Console
- Request Google indexing
- Verify with Bing Webmaster Tools
- Connect Google Analytics
Ongoing Optimization
Content maintenance:
- Make strategic content updates regularly
- Create URL redirects for changed pages
- Add fresh content through blogging
- Monitor website analytics and traffic patterns
Content best practices:
- Use strategic keywords naturally throughout content
- Structure content with clear headings
- Add descriptive alt text to images
- Optimize image file names and sizes (under 500KB)
- Keep total page size under 5MB
- Implement internal linking between pages
- Organize content with tags and categories
Tracking Performance
Monitor and analyze:
- Review website analytics regularly
- Track keyword performance
- Analyze visitor behavior
- Allow 1-2 weeks for ranking changes after updates
Note: Rankings may fluctuate as search engines index changes. If rankings don't improve after two weeks, review analytics data and consider updating keywords.