SEO Checklist for New Websites

Technical and content SEO setup checklist for getting a new website ranking.

work, productivity

by Morris

Technical SEO Foundations

Core technical setup every new website needs before indexing.

• Generate and validate sitemap.xml
• Create and configure robots.txt
• Implement canonical tags on all pages
• Enforce HTTPS site-wide
• Pass Google's Mobile-Friendly Test
• Audit and fix redirect chains
• Set preferred domain in Google Search Console
• Check for crawl budget issues and fix noindex/nofollow misuse

Core Web Vitals

Measure and optimize Google's page experience signals: LCP, INP, and CLS.

• Measure and optimize Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) to under 2.5s
• Measure and optimize Interaction to Next Paint (INP) to under 100ms
• Measure and fix Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) to under 0.1
• Run Lighthouse audit and address all red/orange items
• Set up image optimization pipeline
• Minify and defer non-critical CSS and JavaScript
• Enable browser caching and gzip/Brotli compression

On-Page SEO

Optimize individual pages for target keywords and search intent.

• Write optimized title tags using the correct formula
• Write meta descriptions between 150-160 characters
• Ensure exactly one H1 tag per page containing the primary keyword
• Add descriptive alt text to all images
• Optimize URL slugs to be short, keyword-rich, and hyphenated
• Add internal links with keyword-rich anchor text
• Optimize content length and readability for target search intent
• Audit and fix duplicate content issues

Structured Data / Schema Markup

Add schema.org markup to qualify for rich results and improve SERP appearance.

• Implement Article schema on all blog posts
• Add BreadcrumbList schema to all non-homepage pages
• Add FAQ schema to pages with frequently asked questions
• Implement Organization schema on the homepage
• Validate all schema markup with Rich Results Test
• Add WebSite schema with SearchAction for sitelinks search box
• Monitor rich result eligibility in Google Search Console

Keyword Research

Identify, categorize, and prioritize keywords to target with your content.

• Build a seed keyword list for your niche
• Categorize all keywords by search intent
• Expand to long-tail keyword variations
• Run a competitor keyword gap analysis
• Map one primary keyword to each page (keyword-to-page mapping)
• Identify featured snippet and PAA opportunities
• Track target keyword rankings with a rank tracker

Content Strategy

Plan, structure, and produce content that earns rankings and links.

• Build a 3-month content calendar
• Create pillar pages and topic cluster architecture
• Write content briefs before producing any article
• Benchmark target word count by analyzing top 5 SERP results
• Establish an E-E-A-T content standard
• Set up a content refresh schedule for existing pages
• Create a content style guide with SEO writing standards
• Plan a content repurposing workflow

Link Building

Build a backlink profile that signals authority and trust to search engines.

• Audit and optimize your internal linking structure
• Submit your site to 5-10 high-quality business directories
• Reach out to 5 friends, colleagues, or partners for first backlinks
• Set up HARO or Connectively for journalist outreach
• Write and pitch 2-3 guest posts on relevant sites
• Monitor and reclaim unlinked brand mentions
• Create a disavow file for toxic backlinks if needed

Google Search Console

Set up and configure GSC to monitor crawling, indexing, and search performance.

• Add and verify your domain property in Google Search Console
• Submit your sitemap.xml to Google Search Console
• Identify and resolve crawl errors
• Monitor Core Web Vitals report in Search Console
• Set up performance monitoring and impressions tracking
• Use URL Inspection tool to force-index new pages
• Connect Search Console to Google Analytics 4

Analytics Setup

Implement GA4 and configure tracking to measure SEO-driven conversions.

• Create and configure a GA4 property
• Set up conversion tracking for primary goals
• Implement custom events for content engagement signals
• Set up GA4 audience segments for organic traffic analysis
• Configure data retention and internal traffic filtering
• Verify GA4 tracking is working correctly
• Set up automated GA4 reports or email digests

Ongoing SEO Monitoring

Establish recurring processes to maintain and grow search rankings over time.

• Schedule a monthly keyword ranking review
• Run a monthly broken link check
• Set up Google Algorithm Update monitoring
• Perform a quarterly content audit
• Track and report on organic traffic trends in GA4 monthly
• Monitor competitor SEO activity quarterly
• Schedule bi-annual technical SEO site audit
• Review and update target keyword list every 6 months