Essential SEO Checklist for Better Site Optimization
An essential guide to optimize your website for search engines and improve visibility in search results.
Site Information Optimization
- Create a site title under 60 characters with relevant keywords
- Write a unique site description (50-300 characters) that may appear in search results
- Add distinct SEO descriptions for each page, blog post, product, and event
- Verify page titles display correctly in browser tabs and social shares
Design Elements
- Upload a favicon to display your brand in browser tabs and search results
- Add social sharing images for your site, pages, posts, and products
- Create a custom 404 page with helpful navigation links
- Follow content best practices across all pages
Technical Setup
- Use a custom domain instead of platform-specific URLs
- Connect and integrate social media profiles
- Enable SSL security
- Verify URLs use descriptive slugs rather than random characters
- Configure blog post URL structure consistently
Location-Based SEO
- Include business address on your Contact page
- Add an embedded map if you have a physical location
- Create and verify Google Business Profile listing
Post-Launch Tasks
- Verify site with Google Search Console
- Submit site for Google indexing
- Set up Bing Webmaster Tools
- Install Google Analytics tracking
Ongoing Optimization
- Create strategic content updates regularly
- Set up redirects when changing URLs
- Monitor analytics and search rankings
- Track visitor behavior and popular content
Content Guidelines
- Use relevant keywords naturally in text
- Structure content with clear headings
- Add descriptive alt text to images
- Keep image files under 500KB and pages under 5MB
- Implement internal linking between pages
- Organize content with tags and categories
If rankings fluctuate after updates, allow 1-2 weeks for search engines to process changes. Monitor analytics to identify traffic patterns and adjust strategy as needed.
For additional support:
- Attend SEO webinars
- Engage with community forums
- Consider hiring an SEO specialist
- Join professional web design networks