79+ Complete SEO Checklist [You’ll Ever Need]
An SEO checklist is a list of best practices for optimizing a website for search engine visibility.
This checklist can be used by website owners and marketers to ensure that their website is properly optimized for search engines.
The items on this ultimate SEO checklist include optimizing the website title, meta descriptions, header tags, images, and other elements that affect search engine visibility.
The checklist may also include recommendations for improving website speed and usability, both of which are important factors for improving search engine rankings.
SEO checklists can be helpful for website owners who are not familiar with the best practices for optimizing a website for search engines.
The checklists can also be used as a guide for conducting an SEO audit, which is a process of evaluating a website to identify areas that can be improved to help the website rank higher on search engine results pages.
How To Use This SEO Checklist
Even though you don’t need to implement everything on this list to get results, just ensure you implement as many as possible, because the more the results.
Quick List
- Use HTTPS
- Use rel=“canonical”
- Use breadcrumbs
- Use rich snippets
- Use structured data
- Use microdata
- Use hreflang
- Use 301 redirects
- Use 302 redirects
- Use canonicalization
- Use robots.txt
- Use sitemaps
- Use the correct meta tags
- Use title tags
- Use meta descriptions
- Use heading tags
- Use images
- Use ALT text
- Use keywords
- Use external links
- Use anchor text
Getting Ready for Optimization
1. Setup The Google Search Console
A properly configured Google Search Console is a foundational element of any successful SEO campaign.
The Search Console provides you with important data about your website and how it’s performing in Google searches.
To get the most out of your Search Console, you first need to set it up. Here’s a basic SEO checklist for setting up the Google Search Console:
1. Verify your website
The first step is to verify your website. This is done by adding a verification code to your website’s root domain or by uploading an HTML file to your website.
2. Add your website
Once you’ve verified your website, you need to add it to the Search Console. This is done by clicking on “Add a Property” and entering your website’s URL.
3. Add your website’s property settings
Once you’ve added your website, you need to add your website’s property settings. This includes specifying your website’s language and location, as well as setting up your website’s crawl settings.
4. Add your website’s sitemap
Next, you need to add your website’s sitemap. This is done by clicking on “Sitemaps” and then “Add/Test Sitemap.”
5. Add your website’s robots.txt
Teh robots.txt file indicates the files, posts and pages that search engines are allowed to index.
2. Setup Bing Webmaster Tools
If you want your website to rank well in search engines, you need to submit it to Bing Webmaster Tools. This will help Bing better understand your website and index your pages correctly.
To submit your website to Bing Webmaster Tools:
- Go to https://www.bing.com/webmaster/tools/home
- Sign in with your Microsoft account
- Click Add a Site
- Enter your website’s URL and click Add
- Verify your website by adding a meta tag or by uploading an HTML file
- Click Verify
- Click the Diagnostics tab and run the Health Check
- Click the Submit Sitemap tab and submit your website’s XML sitemap
- Click the Crawl Errors tab and fix any errors that are found
- Click the Rankings tab and check your website’s ranking for specific keywords
- Click the Links to Your Site tab and check the backlinks to your website
- Click the Fetch as Bingbot tab and test how Bingbot crawls your website
- Click the Remove button next to any websites you don’t want to be listed
- Click the Add a Site button to add more websites
The Bing Webmaster Tools interface is relatively easy to use and has a lot of helpful features.
3. Setup Google Analytics
- Verify your website with Google Search Console
- Connect your website to Google Analytics
- Add the Google Analytics tracking code to your website
- Review your website data in Google Analytics
- Identify and fix any website issues
- Optimize your website content
- Increase website traffic
- Measure website conversions
- Analyze website visitor behavior
- Optimize your website for mobile devices
- Use Google AdWords to improve website traffic
- Use Google Webmaster Tools to improve website indexing
- Use Google Trends to research popular keywords
- Use Google AdWords Keyword Planner to research keywords
- Use Google Search Console to research keywords
- Monitor website rankings in Google search results
- Measure website speed and performance
- Use Google Chrome Developer Tools to troubleshoot website issues
- Use Google PageSpeed Insights to improve website speed
- Use YSlow to improve website performance
- Use the Google Cache Checker to troubleshoot website issues
- Use the Google Webmasters Toolbar to troubleshoot website issues
- Use the Google Search Console Rich Cards Testing Tool to test rich cards
- Use the Google Structured Data Testing Tool to test structured data
- Use the Google Search Console Fetch as Google
4. Install Yoast SEO (WordPress CMS)
- Install Yoast SEO Plugin
- Activate Yoast SEO Plugin
- Configure Yoast SEO Plugin
- Use Yoast SEO Plugin to Optimize your Posts and Pages
- Use Yoast SEO Plugin to Optimize your Images
- Use Yoast SEO Plugin to Optimize your Social Media
- Use Yoast SEO Plugin to Optimize your Website
5. Generate and Submit A Sitemap of your website
A sitemap is a map of your website that helps Google and other search engines understand the structure of your website and find all of your pages.
You can generate a sitemap automatically by using a sitemap generator tool, or you can create a sitemap by hand.
To submit your sitemap to Google, you can use the Google Search Console.
When you create or update your website, it’s important to generate and submit a sitemap of your website to Google and other search engines.
A sitemap is a map of your website that helps Google and other search engines understand the structure of your website and find all of your pages.
You can generate a sitemap automatically by using a sitemap generator tool, or you can create a sitemap by hand.
To submit your sitemap to Google, you can use the Google Search Console.
When you create or update your website, it’s important to generate and submit a sitemap of your website to Google and other search engines.
6. Create a Robots.txt File
The robots.txt file is a text file that resides in the root directory of your website and tells web crawlers which pages or directories you would like them to crawl and index, and which pages or directories you would like them to ignore.
When creating your robots.txt file, you will want to use the User-agent: * command to tell all web crawlers to crawl your website, and then use the Disallow: directive to tell them which pages or directories you would like them to ignore.
For example, if you would like to prevent all web crawlers from crawling your website’s /admin directory, you would use the following command in your robots.txt file:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/
If you would like to prevent a specific web crawler from crawling a specific page or directory, you would use the following command:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/
Disallow: /wp-admin/
Including a robots.txt file on your website is a good way to improve your website’s SEO, as it tells web crawlers which pages or directories to crawl and index, and which pages or directories to ignore.
SEO Basics Checklist
7. Keyword Research
The first step in on-page optimization is to perform keyword research. This involves identifying the keywords that you want your website to rank for.
There are a number of different tools that you can use to identify keywords, including the Google AdWords Keyword Planner and the Google Search Console.
Once you have identified your target keywords, you need to include them in your website’s content and structure. You should also use them in your title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags.
Keyword research is essential for SEO. You need to identify keywords that people are searching for and that are relevant to your business. There are a variety of tools and techniques you can use to find keywords, including Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Google Trends.
8. Optimize your website for those keywords
Once you know which keywords you want to target, you need to optimize your website for them. This includes adding them to your website’s title, meta descriptions, and header tags, as well as incorporating them into your website’s content.
9. Optimize Your Title Tags
The title tag is the text that appears in the tab of a web browser when you open a website. It is also the text that is displayed on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
The title tag should include your target keywords and should be no more than 60 characters long.
10. Optimize Your Meta Descriptions
The meta description is the text that is displayed beneath the title tag in the SERPs. It is beneficial to users and search engines.
11. Publish high-quality content
One of the most important aspects of SEO is publishing high-quality content.
This content needs to be relevant to your target keywords and provide value to your audience.
To rank high in Google’s search results, you need to have a high-quality website with plenty of valuable content.
12. Promote your content
For your content to be effective, you need to promote it. This means sharing it on social media, submitting it to article directories, and linking to it from your website.
By promoting your content, you can increase traffic to your website and improve your SEO.
13. Analyze your website’s SEO performance
It’s important to track your website’s SEO performance so you can see how well your efforts are
On-page SEO optimization checklist
Quick Tips
- Check your website for broken links.
- Make sure your site is properly coded and validated.
- Optimize your images for search engines.
- Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions for your pages and blog posts.
- Include keywords in your headings and subheadings.
- Use anchor text to link to your other pages and blog posts.
- Optimize your site for mobile devices.
- Add social media sharing buttons to your pages and blog posts.
- Submit your site to the search engines.
- Monitor your website traffic and analytics.
14. Include Your Keyword In Your URL
If you can, try to include your target keyword in your URL. This will help Google (and your visitors) understand what your page is about.
15. Include Your Keyword In Your Title
Make sure your target keyword is included in your page’s title. This will help Google rank your page for that keyword.
16. Include Your Keyword In Your H1 Tag
Include your target keyword in your page’s H1 tag. This will help Google understand what your page is about.
17. Include Your Keyword In Your Meta Description
Make sure your target keyword is included in your page’s meta description. This will help Google show your page in the search results for that keyword.
18. Include Your Keyword In Your Images
Include your target keyword in the file name and alt text of your images. This will help Google understand what your page is about.
19. Make sure your page is well-written and informative
Google wants to rank pages that are useful and informative for its users. Make sure your page is well-written and full of useful information.
20. Make sure your page is updated regularly
Google also wants to rank pages that are updated.
On-page Optimization Checklist
On-page optimization is the process of optimizing a website to earn better rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs). On-page optimization is one of the many tactics that are used to improve a website’s ranking, and it is something that should be done regularly.
There are a number of things that can be done to optimize a website for search engines.
Some of the most important things include using short URLs, using HTTPS, using rel=“canonical”, using breadcrumbs, using rich snippets, using structured data, using microdata, using hreflang, using 301 redirects, using 302 redirects, using canonicalization, using robots.txt, using sitemaps, and using the correct meta tags.
21. Front-Load Your Keyword In Your Title Tag.
Make sure your title tag accurately reflects the topic of your page.
Include your target keyword at the beginning of your title tag, and make sure it’s included in a way that accurately reflects the topic of your page.
For example, a page about “on-page optimization SEO” should have “on-page optimization SEO” as the title tag, not “SEO tips” or something similar.
22. Embed Title Tag Modifiers
There are a number of title tag modifiers that you can use to help improve your site’s SEO.
By adding these modifiers, you can help to ensure that your site’s title appears on search engine results pages (SERPs) in a way that accurately reflects the content of your site.
23. Use Your Keyword Once In The First 150 Words
When you are writing your content, make sure to include your keyword once within the first 150 words.
This will help to ensure that your page is properly optimized for your target keyword.
24. Include Your Keyword In The URL
When creating your URL, make sure to include your target keyword. This will help to ensure that your page is properly optimized for your target keyword.
25. Include Your Keyword In The Description
When creating your description, make sure to include your target keyword.
This will help to ensure that your page is properly optimized for your target keyword.
26. Include Your Keyword In The Image Alt Text
When adding images to your page, be sure to include your target keyword in the image alt text.
This will help to ensure that your page is properly optimized for your target keyword.
27. Use Your Keyword in H1, H2, or H3 Tags
If you want your website to rank high on Google, you need to use your keyword in your H1, H2, or H3 tags.
This tells Google that your website is relevant to that keyword.
28. Optimize Images
Optimize images for the web using the correct file format and size.
- Use the JPEG file format for photographs.
- Use the GIF file format for graphics and logos.
- Use the PNG file format for graphics and logos with transparency.
- Use the correct dimensions for your images.
- Save your images at the correct compression level.
Optimizing your images using the correct file format and size will improve the performance of your website.
29. Monitor Your Keyword Density per post
You should monitor your keyword density to make sure you are not over-optimizing your content.
The best practice is to use your target keyword 2-3% of the time throughout your post.
30. Use Synonyms and LSI Keywords
- Use synonyms and LSI keywords throughout your page.
- In the title, use your primary keyword as well as a couple of synonyms.
- In the first sentence, use your primary keyword as well as a couple of synonyms.
- In the first paragraph, use your primary keyword as well as a couple of synonyms.
- In the rest of the content, use synonyms and LSI keywords as needed.
- Include images and videos on your page, and make sure to include keywords in the file names and alt text.
- Include a strong call to action, and make sure your primary keyword is included in the text.
- Use keyword-rich titles, meta descriptions, and headings.
- Check your page for spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to optimize your page speed.
31. Use Heading Tags
When you include headings on your pages, be sure to use heading tags. This will help your pages rank higher in search engine results pages.
32. Use Outbound Links
When you include outbound links on your pages, be sure to use keywords in the anchor text. This will help your pages rank higher in search engine results pages.
33. Use Internal Links
When you include internal links on your pages, be sure to use keywords in the anchor text. This will help your pages rank higher in search engine results pages.
Technical SEO checklist
34. Add schema markup
Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content. Adding schema markup can help your website rank higher in search results.
35. Make your site mobile friendly
Use a responsive design: Responsive design is a web design approach aimed at creating sites that provide an optimal viewing experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones).
Use mobile-friendly fonts: Mobile devices typically have a smaller screen size than desktop computers, so using larger fonts can help your website’s visitors easily read the content.
Use easy-to-navigate menus: Placing all of your website’s navigation in a single menu bar at the top of the page can make it easier for mobile device users to find the information they need.
Use click-to-call buttons: If you have a phone number on your website, adding a “click to call” button can make it easier for mobile device users to call you.
Use easy to tap buttons and links: Make your website’s buttons and links easy to tap with a finger by using large enough text and ample spacing between them.
36. Use HTTPS protocol
There are a few compelling reasons to switch to HTTPS, the most important of which is that HTTPS provides a layer of security that can help protect your site from hackers.
HTTPS also helps ensure that your site is indexed by Google and appears in search results.
To switch to HTTPS, you’ll need to get a security certificate and set up HTTPS on your server.
The process can be a bit technical, so if you’re not comfortable setting up HTTPS on your own, you may want to hire a developer or an SEO agency.
Once you have HTTPS set up, be sure to check out our technical SEO checklist to make sure you’re taking advantage of all the benefits of HTTPS.
Some of the items on our technical SEO checklist include:
- Ensuring your site is indexed by Google
- Optimizing your site for Google search results
- Configuring your site for optimal performance
- Checking for crawl errors and fixing them
- Make sure your site is mobile* friendly
- Optimizing your site for social media
- And more!
37. Set one of your domain names as canonical
Canonicalization is the process of picking one URL as the “primary” one, and all other duplicate URLs are essentially redirected to that primary URL.
This helps search engines understand which version of a page to show in search results, and it can also help consolidate link equity and authority (depending on how you set things up).
There are a few different ways to canonicalize URLs, but the most common is to add a rel=”canonical” link tag to the of the page.
This tells search engines that the specified URL is the preferred version, and they should treat all other versions as duplicates.
For example, if you have both www.example.com and example.com as live versions of your website, you would canonicalize them like this:
This tells search engines that the www.example.com version is the primary one, and they should show that URL in search results whenever possible.
There are a few other ways to canonicalize URLs, but this is the most common and easiest to set up. If you’re not sure how to do it, your web developer should be able to help.
38. Choose an SEO-friendly content management system
When it comes to SEO, your content management system (CMS) is one of the most important factors to consider.
Not all CMS platforms are created equal when it comes to SEO friendliness – some are more search engine optimized than others.
Here are a few things to look for in an SEO-friendly CMS:
URL Structure
A good CMS should allow you to create search-engine-friendly URLs. This means that your URLs should be easy to read and understand by both humans and search engines. They should also be keyword-rich, without being too spammy.
Meta Data
Your CMS should also allow you to easily add metadata to your pages. This data tells search engines what your page is about, and can help improve your ranking in search results.
Site Structure
A good CMS should also allow you to create a well-structured website. This means you should be able to create pages and directories that are easy to navigate, and that help improves your site’s ranking in search results.
Search Engine Optimization Settings
Your CMS should also have some built-in SEO settings that you can use to help improve your ranking in search results. These settings can include things like metadata settings, URL structure settings, and htaccess settings.
39. Implement SEO-friendly URLs
- Use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) to separate words in a URL
- Use lowercase letters
- Make sure the URL is easy to read and understand
- Avoid using special characters
- Keep the length of the URL as short as possible
SEO-friendly URLs are important for both users and search engines.
They make it easy for users to understand what the page is about, and they help search engines crawl and index your content.
40. Sync your SEO tools with Google Analytics and Search Console
Here’s how to sync your SEO tools with Google Analytics and Search Console.
Connect your Google Analytics account to your SEO tool.
If you’re not already using Google Analytics, you should be. It’s the most widely used analytics tool out there, and it’s free.
To connect your Google Analytics account to your SEO tool, simply follow the instructions provided by your tool.
Most tools will allow you to connect your Google Analytics account by logging in with the same Google account.
Once you’ve connected your Google Analytics account, your SEO tool will start collecting data about your website traffic, including information about your organic search traffic.
Connect your Search Console account to your SEO tool.
Search Console is another free Google tool that provides valuable information about your website’s search traffic.
To connect your Search Console account to your SEO tool, follow the instructions provided by your tool.
Again, most tools will allow you to connect your Search Console account by logging in with the same Google account.
Once you’ve connected your Search Console account, your SEO tool will start collecting data about your website’s search traffic, including information about your organic search traffic.
Sync your data.
Once you’ve connected your Google Analytics account and your Search Console account to your SEO tool, it’s important to sync your data.
41. Plan your website structure
Analyze your website and its content
Before you can start structuring your website, you need to understand how it works and what content you have. Perform a content audit and make a list of all the pages on your website.
Determine the purpose of each page
Once you know what pages you have, you need to determine the purpose of each one. Every page on your website should have a specific purpose that helps you achieve your business goals.
Group your pages by topic
Now that you know the purpose of each page, you need to group them by topic. This will help you create a logical website structure that makes it easy for users to find the information they need.
Create a homepage that showcases your most important content
Your homepage is the most important page on your website. It’s the first thing users see when they visit your site, so you need to make sure it showcases your most important content.
Create a menu that links to your most important pages
Your menu should link to your most important pages so users can easily find them. You should also include a search bar so users can search for specific information on your website.
Create a sitemap
A sitemap is a map of your website that shows the structure of your site. It helps Google understand your website and makes it easier for users to find the information they
42. Find and Fix Crawl Errors
The crawl process is one of the most important (and often misunderstood) aspects of SEO.
By identifying and fixing crawl errors, you can improve your website’s crawlability, indexation, and rankings.
Use a crawler to identify crawl errors
The first step is to use a crawler to identify the crawl errors on your website. Screaming Frog is a popular crawler that can be used to identify errors such as 404 pages, duplicate pages, and pages with broken links.
Fix crawl errors
Once you’ve identified the crawl errors on your website, the next step is to fix them. This can be done by identifying and fixing the broken links, 404 pages, and duplicate pages.
Monitor your website’s crawlability
Once you’ve fixed the crawl errors on your website, the next step is to monitor your website’s crawlability. This can be done by using a crawler such as Screaming Frog to identify any new crawl errors.
By following this technical SEO checklist, you can improve your website’s crawlability, indexation, and rankings.
43. Improve Website Speed
Optimize Images
When you upload images to your website, be sure to optimize them for the web. This means reducing the file size as much as possible while still retaining good quality. There are a number of ways to do this, including using the correct file format, compressing the image, and specifying the dimensions.
Minify CSS and JavaScript
Minifying CSS and JavaScript files can help improve website speed. This is done by removing unnecessary whitespace and comments and compressing the code.
Use a Content Delivery Network
A content delivery network (CDN) can help improve website speed by caching static files and delivering them from a geographically close server.
Optimize Your Server Settings
Server settings can be optimized to improve website speed. This includes setting the correct caching headers, compressing pages, and setting the correct expire headers.
Enable Gzip Compression
Gzip compression can be enabled on your server to compress web pages before they are sent to the browser. This can help reduce the size of the pages and improve website speed.
Optimize Your Database
Your database can be optimized to improve website speed. This includes removing unnecessary data, optimizing the queries, and using indexes.
Use a Caching Plugin
A caching plugin can help improve website speed by caching the pages and posts on your website. This can help reduce the load
44. Fix Outbound and internal links
- Fix Broken Links
- Fix Canonicalization
- Fix Redirects
- Fix 404 Errors
- Fix Titles
- Fix Descriptions
- Fix Robots.txt
- Fix XML Sitemaps
45. Fix Orphaned Site Pages
An orphaned site page is a web page that is not linked to any other page on your website.
Orphaned pages can negatively affect your website’s search engine rankings. In this article, we will discuss how to fix orphaned site pages.
Identify orphaned pages
The first step in fixing orphaned pages is identifying which pages are orphaned. You can do this by using a website crawler such as Screaming Frog or by using Google Search Console.
Add links to orphaned pages
Once you have identified the orphaned pages, you need to add links to them from other pages on your website. This can be done manually or using a website crawler.
Check for broken links
Once you have added links to the orphaned pages, you need to check for broken links. You can do this using a website crawler or by using Google Search Console.
Fix any broken links
If you find any broken links, you need to fix them. You can do this by repairing the broken links or by redirecting them to another page on your website.
Monitor your website for orphaned pages
You should monitor your website for orphaned pages regularly. This can be done using a website crawler or by using Google Search Console.
46. Update Old content regularly
Google loves fresh content and they keep changing their algorithms to give the best search results to their users.
So, if you want your website to rank higher in the search engine results pages (SERP), you need to keep your website content updated regularly.
One way to do that is to add new blog posts and articles regularly.
You can also update your old content by adding new images, videos, and other multimedia elements.
Another way to keep your website content fresh is to add new pages to your website regularly. You can add new pages about your products and services, or about your company and its history.
Google also likes websites that are active and updated frequently. So, make sure to update your website regularly to keep Google’s attention.
Keywords Research Checklist
When conducting keyword research, it is important to consider a variety of factors. The following checklist can help you to ensure that you are targeting the right keywords for your business.
47. Start with your goals
What are you trying to achieve with your website? What are your business goals? What are your target customers? Once you have a good understanding of your goals, you can start to target keywords that will help you to achieve them.
48. Consider your audience
Who is your target audience? What are they looking for? What are their needs and wants? What are their pain points? Once you have a good understanding of your target audience, you can start to target keywords that will appeal to them.
49. Do your research
Do some competitive research to see what keywords your competitors are targeting. Also, do some keyword research to find keywords that have low competition and high search volumes.
50. Use the right tools
There are a number of different tools that you can use for keyword research, such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Ubersuggest.
51. Use keywords in your content
Once you have targeted the right keywords, be sure to use them in your content. This will help you to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), and it will also help to attract more visitors to your website.
52. Identify Your Competitors
One of the most important aspects of SEO is understanding your competition. This involves doing a thorough analysis of your top competitors to determine what tactics they are using to rank well in search engines.
53. Identify your top competitors.
The first step is to identify your top competitors. This can be done by performing a search for your target keywords and analyzing the websites that rank in the top results.
54. Analyze their website architecture.
Next, you’ll want to analyze the website architecture of your competitors. This includes looking at things like the number of pages they have, the number of backlinks, and the type of content they are publishing.
54. Identify their keyword strategies.
Then, you’ll want to identify their keyword strategies. This includes analyzing the keywords they are targeting and the content they are publishing around those keywords.
55. Analyze their link-building strategies.
Finally, you’ll want to analyze their link-building strategies. This includes looking at the number and quality of links they have from other websites.
Once you have completed this analysis, you should have a good understanding of what tactics your competitors are using to rank well in search engines. Armed with this information, you can then begin to implement similar tactics to improve your own website’s SEO.
56. Know Your Keyword Difficulty
When it comes to SEO, keyword research is one of the most important aspects of the process. After all, if you don’t know which keywords to target, you can’t hope to rank well for them.
But how do you know which keywords to target? One important factor to consider is the keyword difficulty.
What is keyword difficulty?
Keyword difficulty is a measure of how difficult it is to rank for a particular keyword.
It is calculated using a variety of factors, including the number of competing pages, the level of competition, and the amount of SEO effort required to rank for the keyword.
Why is keyword difficulty important?
Keyword difficulty is important because it can help you determine whether a particular keyword is worth targeting. If the keyword is too difficult to rank for, it may not be worth your time and effort.
How can you determine the keyword difficulty?
There are a number of ways to determine the keyword difficulty.
One of the easiest and free options is Google AdWords Keyword Planner. This is a tool that allows you to find keywords and see how difficult it is to rank for them.
To use the tool, simply enter a keyword and click the “Keyword Ideas” tab. The tool will then show you a list of related keywords, as well as the estimated monthly search volume and the keyword difficulty.
57. Create a Keyword Map
When it comes to SEO, keywords are your best friend. They help you identify what your audience is looking for and what content to create and optimize for your website.
But how do you determine which keywords are worth targeting?
The first step is to create a keyword map. This is a document that outlines all of the potential keywords you could target for your website and organizes them by topic.
To create a keyword map, start by brainstorming a list of all the potential keywords your target audience might use to find your website. Don’t worry about targeting all of these keywords – you’ll narrow them down later.
Then, group these keywords into topics. This can be done by thinking about what your website is about and what your target audience is looking for.
Once you have your topics, start assigning keywords to each one. Be sure to target keywords that are relevant to your topic and have a high search volume.
Finally, create a document that outlines all of your keywords and their corresponding topics. This will be your keyword map.
Here’s an example of a keyword map:
…for SEO:
- Keyword research
- SEO checklist
- SEO tips
…for Web Design:
- Web design tips
- Web design trends
- Web design tutorials
…for Marketing:
- Marketing tips
- Marketing strategies
- Social media marketing
58. Find Low Competition Keywords With KWFinder
The purpose of this keyword research SEO checklist is to help you find low competition keywords with the help of KWFinder.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process, from finding good seed keywords to analyzing the competition and generating keyword ideas.
Finding Seed Keywords
The first step is to find some good seed keywords. These are the keywords that you will use to generate your list of keyword ideas.
There are a few different ways to find seed keywords. You can use Google’s Keyword Planner, competitor analysis tools, or other keyword research tools.
In this guide, we’re going to use KWFinder. KWFinder is a great tool for finding seed keywords. It’s easy to use and it provides a lot of useful data, including the search volume and the competition level.
To use KWFinder, you first need to create a free account. Then, simply enter a keyword into the search bar and click the “Find Keywords” button.
KWFinder will then show you a list of related keywords. The first column shows the keyword, the second column shows the search volume, and the third column shows the competition level.
You can then use this data to choose a seed keyword. The keyword with the highest search volume and the lowest competition level is the best choice.
59. Identify “Question Keywords” With Answer The Public
One of the best ways to identify keywords for your SEO campaign is to use a tool like Answer The Public.
Answer The Public is a free online tool that allows you to find keywords related to a given topic.
To use Answer The Public, simply enter a keyword or topic into the search bar and hit enter.
Answer The Public will then generate a list of questions related to the keyword or topic you entered.
The questions generated by Answer The Public can be used as keywords for your SEO campaign.
You can use these questions to create content that answers the questions people are asking.
Answer The Public can also be used to find keywords for your paid search campaigns. Simply enter a keyword into the search bar and Answer The Public will generate a list of keywords related to the keyword you entered.
Answer The Public is a great tool for identifying keywords for your SEO and paid search campaigns.
The questions generated by Answer The Public can be used to create content that answers the questions people are asking.
Content checklist
60. Write in-depth content
Your blog posts should be a minimum of 500 words long to provide enough information for your readers.
In addition, be sure to include 1-2 images, 1-2 videos, a table or chart, a list, a quote, a statistic, and a call to action.
61. Use correct spelling and grammar.
It’s important to take the time to write well-crafted blog posts with correct spelling and grammar. This will help to ensure that your content is easy to read and looks professional.
62. Engage your readers with interesting content.
Your blog posts should be well-written, informative, and interesting to read. If your readers
63. Write in chunks instead of walls of text
Your blog posts should be formatted in short, easily-digestible chunks. Readers are more likely to stick around if you break up your text with headings, lists, and images.
Include a keyword in your headline
Your headline is one of the most important factors for ranking in search engines. Make sure to include your target keyword in your headline to help improve your SEO.
Add images and videos
Images and videos are a great way to break up your text and keep readers engaged. They can also help improve your SEO ranking.
Link to other blog posts
Linking to other blog posts on your site is a great way to keep readers engaged and help them explore your content. It can also help improve your SEO ranking.
Use keywords throughout your post
Including your target keyword throughout your post helps improve your SEO ranking. Try to use it in the title, in the body, and the keywords section.
Write a catchy headline
Your headline is the first thing that readers will see, so make sure it’s catchy and interesting.
64. Use Schema Markup tool
SEO is the practice of optimizing a website for Google search to earn higher web traffic levels and improve the visibility of the site.
Good SEO can result in increased web traffic, better search engine rankings, and more leads and sales for a business. However, SEO is not a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing process that requires continual monitoring and tweaking.
One important part of SEO is using the correct Schema markup. Schema markup is code that you add to your website’s HTML that tells search engines what your content is about.
This helps them understand your content better, which can lead to better search engine rankings.
The Schema markup tool helps you add the correct Schema markup to your website’s HTML.
It’s easy to use; just enter the URL of your website and the tool will automatically detect the correct Schema markup to use.
65. Write only relevant content
The engines can tell when you’re keyword stuffing and they’re not happy about it.
Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to sacrifice your natural voice or writing style.
Just make sure the content you write is relevant to your target audience and the topic you’re writing about.
66. Fix Duplicate and Missing Title Tags
Duplicate title tags can be harmful to your site’s SEO as they can confuse search engine crawlers about which page to rank for a given keyword.
Additionally, if you have missing title tags, it can be a sign that your site is not properly configured for SEO.
To fix these issues, use the following content SEO checklist:
Check for duplicate title tags.
Use a tool like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify pages with duplicate title tags. Once you’ve identified the pages, you can either fix the titles or canonicalize the pages.
Add missing title tags.
If you have pages that are missing title tags, add them using a tool like Yoast SEO.
Make sure your title tags are properly formatted.
Your title tags should be between 50 and 60 characters long, and they should include your target keyword.
Always Include Meta Descriptions
When it comes to search engine optimization, meta descriptions are one of the most important factors to consider. This is especially true for blogs, as you want to make sure your readers can find your content through search engines.
Make sure to always include a meta description for your blog posts. This will help improve your search engine ranking, and it will also help to attract readers to your content.
Your meta description should be around 155-160 characters in length, and it should accurately describe the content of your blog post.
You should also use keywords in your meta description, as this will help to improve your ranking even further.
If you need help writing effective meta descriptions for your blog posts, contact us today.
We can help you create descriptions that will help you attract more readers and improve your search engine ranking.
67. Use only one h1 tag per content
The h1 tag is the most important heading tag for SEO and should be used only once per content. All other heading tags (h2, h3, etc.) should be used for subheadings. The h1 tag should include the target keyword for the page.
68. Run content audits
- Do a content audit to look for opportunities to improve the SEO of your website’s content.
- Look for low-hanging fruit, such as title tags and meta descriptions that could be improved, or pages that are not properly indexed by search engines.
- Identify any orphan pages or content that is not linked to other pages on your website.
- Check for duplicate content, and see if there are ways to improve the uniqueness of your content.
- Make sure your content is properly formatted for both humans and search engines.
- Use keyword research to determine which keywords to target in your content.
- Incorporate keywords into your content in a way that is both natural and effective.
- Make sure your website’s content is updated regularly.
- Monitor your website’s search engine rankings and traffic levels to ensure that your content is effective.
SEO is all about optimizing your website’s content so that it will rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
But what does that mean for you and your website?
The first step is to do a content audit. This means taking a look at all the content on your website, from the title tags and meta descriptions to the actual content on the pages.
You want to look for areas where you can improve the SEO of your content.
Link building Checklist
Building links is one of the most important aspects of SEO. Here is a link-building checklist to help you get started.
69. Build quality links with Guest posting
Guest posting is one of my favorite techniques for building high-quality links. When done correctly, guest posting can help you increase your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs), drive traffic to your website, and improve your website’s authority.
But, before you start guest posting, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that your guest posts are effective. Here’s a checklist of things to do before you start guest posting:
Choose the right website to guest post on
Not all websites are created equal when it comes to guest posting. When choosing a website to guest post on, you need to make sure that it is high-quality and relevant to your target audience.
You can find high-quality websites to guest post on by using a tool like Ahrefs’s Site Explorer. Simply enter the website you want to guest post on into the tool, and it will show you a list of its most popular pages.
Research the website’s audience
Before you start writing your guest post, you need to make sure that you know who the website’s audience is. This will help you ensure that your guest post is relevant to the website’s audience and that it provides value to them.
You can research a website’s audience by using a tool like BuzzSumo. Simply enter the website’s URL
70. Use Internal Links
Internal links are one of the most important aspects of SEO. They help search engines crawl your website and index your pages.
They also help spread the ranking power of your pages to improve your site’s overall authority.
71. Use External Links
The best way to increase your website’s search engine ranking is to include high-quality, external links from other websites.
These links show the search engines that your website is an authoritative source of information on the topic and is worth ranking higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
When creating links to your website, make sure that the anchor text (the text you use to create the link) is relevant to the content on your website.
For example, if you have a website about dogs, you would want to create links with the anchor text “dog breeds”, “puppies”, etc. rather than “click here”.
Some things to keep in mind when creating links to your website:
- Only include links from websites that are relevant to your website’s topic
- Include a variety of link types, such as text links, image links, and banner links
- Make sure that the links are high quality and add value to the reader
- Include a link to your website’s home page as well as to individual pages on your website
- Don’t use too many links or too few links
- Use anchor text that is relevant to the content on your website
- Make sure that the links are easy to find and use
- Make sure that the links are properly formatted
Social Media SEO Checklist
It is no secret that social media can be a powerful tool for SEO. By creating high-quality content and optimizing it for sharing on social media platforms, businesses can increase their website’s visibility and drive more traffic to their websites.
However, optimizing content for social media can be a daunting task. There are so many social media platforms, and each one has its own unique set of guidelines and best practices.
That’s why we’ve created a social media SEO checklist. This checklist will help you to optimize your content for social media and get the most out of your social media campaigns.
72. Make Sharing Your Content Easy for Users
If you want people to share your content, you need to make it easy for them. Here are some tips for optimizing your content for social media sharing:
Make your titles catchy.
Your title is the first thing people will see when they’re browsing their social media feeds, so make sure it catches their attention. Use keywords that are likely to be searched by your target audience, and make sure your title is interesting and relevant to your topic.
Include social media buttons.
Make it easy for people to share your content by including social media buttons on your website and blog posts. These buttons make it easy for people to share your content with just a few clicks.
Include images and videos.
Images and videos are more likely to be shared on social media than text-only content. Make sure your blog posts and website pages include high-quality images and videos that capture your audience’s attention.
Make it easy to share your content.
Make sure your website and blog posts are easy to share by including social media buttons and sharing widgets. These tools make it easy for people to share your content with just a few clicks.
Make your content readable on mobile devices.
More and more people are accessing the Internet through their mobile devices, so you need to make sure your content is readable on mobile devices. Use a responsive design to make your website and blog posts look good on all types of
73. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles
Optimizing your social media profiles for SEO is a great way to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract more visitors to your social media pages. By following the steps in this social media SEO checklist, you can make sure that your social media profiles are properly optimized for SEO.
74. Optimize Your Images for Social Sharing
Images are an important part of social media marketing, but if they’re not properly optimized, they can hurt your SEO efforts.
Follow these simple tips to make sure your images are ready for social sharing.
Use high-quality images.
When you’re sharing images on social media, you want to make sure they look their best. Use high-resolution images that are at least 720 pixels wide.
Use the right file format.
Make sure your images are in the correct file format. Most social media platforms prefer JPEG images, but some (like LinkedIn) prefer PNG images.
Use the right dimensions.
Each social media platform has different recommended dimensions for images. Be sure to use the correct dimensions for the platform you’re sharing to.
Include a caption.
Captions are a great way to add context to your images and help engage your audience.
Use relevant keywords in your caption.
Including keywords in your captions can help your images rank higher in search results.
Use a relevant hashtag.
Hashtags can help your images reach a wider audience. Make sure the hashtags you use are relevant to your image and your target audience.
Add an alt tag.
Alt tags are a great way to help your images rank higher in search results. Include relevant keywords in your
75. Engage In Active Conversation With Fans
As a business owner, you know that social media is an important part of your marketing strategy.
But did you know that social media can also help improve your SEO?
When you engage in active conversation with your fans on social media, you not only create a stronger connection with them but also help improve your SEO. By creating valuable content and interacting with your fans, you can improve your website’s search engine ranking and attract more visitors.
Here are a few tips for engaging in active conversation with your fans on social media:
Make sure your content is valuable and relevant.
When you post valuable and relevant content, your fans will be more likely to engage with you. Make sure your content is interesting and useful, and be sure to post regularly.
Interact with your fans.
When you interact with your fans, they will feel more connected to you and your brand. Respond to comments and questions, and show that you’re interested in what your fans have to say.
Be social.
Make sure your social media profiles are active and engaging. Post interesting content, and respond to comments and questions. The more social you are, the more engaged your fans will be.
By following these tips, you can engage in active conversation with your fans on social media and help improve your SEO.
76. Come up with a social media marketing plan
Know your audience.
Who are you trying to reach with your social media marketing? Knowing your target audience is key to creating effective social media content. Do some research to figure out what demographics and interests your target audience has.
Choose the right social media platforms.
Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some platforms are better suited for certain types of content than others. Do some research to figure out which platforms are the best fit for your brand and your target audience.
Schedule your content.
If you want your social media content to be effective, you need to schedule it. Make a content calendar and plan out your content ahead of time. This will help you ensure that your content is timely and relevant.
Monitor your results.
Track the results of your social media marketing efforts. Measure the number of followers you’ve gained, the engagement level of your posts, and the amount of traffic your social media accounts are generating.
This will help you determine which tactics are working and which ones need improvement.
77. Evaluate Your Social Media Marketing Operations
Are you getting the most out of your social media marketing efforts? Are you reaching your target audience? Are you engaging your customers and followers?
To help you answer these questions, we’ve put together a social media SEO checklist. Use this checklist to evaluate your social media marketing operations and identify areas where you can improve.
Evaluate your target audience.
Who are you trying to reach with your social media marketing? Do your marketing efforts align with your target audience?
Evaluate your content.
Is your content interesting and engaging? Does it provide value to your audience?
Evaluate your social media presence.
Are you active on the social media networks that your target audience uses? Are your social media profiles complete and up-to-date?
Evaluate your social media marketing campaigns.
Are your social media marketing campaigns well-planned and well-executed? Are they achieving the desired results?
Evaluate your social media analytics.
Are you tracking the results of your social media marketing campaigns? Are you seeing positive ROI?
If you find that your social media marketing efforts are lacking, don’t worry – there are many things you can do to improve your performance.
Start by evaluating your target audience, content, social media presence, and marketing campaigns. And be sure to track the results of your efforts using social media analytics tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SEO?
SEO is the process of optimizing a website for Google search to earn higher web traffic levels and improve the visibility of the site. The practice of SEO is all about understanding how Google search works and then using that knowledge to tweak a website so that it will rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO is a long-term marketing strategy that requires patience, dedication, and effort. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how to improve a website’s SEO, so SEO professionals must continuously test and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for each website.
SEO is a constantly evolving field, and the tactics that work today may not work tomorrow. That’s why it’s important for SEO professionals to stay up-to-date on the latest Google algorithm changes and to always be testing new methods.
What Does SEO stand for?
SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization”. It is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. This can be done by optimizing the website content, structure, and on-page elements like titles, metatags, and anchor text.
Does My Business Need SEO?
If you have a website, then the answer is unequivocal yes. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of your website on search engines. To compete in today’s online marketplace, it is essential to have a well-optimized website.
SEO can help your business in a number of ways. First and foremost, it can help you to attract more visitors to your website. By improving your ranking on search engines, you can ensure that your website is one of the first results that potential customers see.
Additionally, SEO can help you to convert more of those visitors into customers. By optimizing your website for lead generation and improving your conversion rate, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your traffic.
In addition to attracting more visitors and converting more of them into customers, SEO can also help you to improve your brand’s visibility online.
By improving your ranking and increasing your website’s visibility, you can ensure that your brand is being seen by more people online. This can help you to build brand awareness and drive more traffic to your website.
Overall, SEO can be an invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes. If you are looking to improve your website’s visibility, ranking, and ROI, then SEO is the solution for you. Contact a professional SEO company today to learn more about how SEO can benefit your business.
How Does SEO Work?
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about what SEO is and how it works.
Some people think that if they can just cram the right keywords into their website, they’ll magically start ranking high on search engine results pages.
Others believe that SEO is all about link building and cheating the system to get an unfair advantage over the competition.
The truth is, that SEO is a lot more complicated than that. It’s not easy, and it certainly doesn’t happen overnight. But it is possible to improve your website’s ranking with some careful planning and execution.
So how does SEO work, exactly? Here’s a simplified explanation:
Search engines use algorithms to rank websites. These algorithms are complex and constantly changing, but they look at a variety of factors including the number and quality of links to a website, the website’s content, and the keywords used.
If you want your website to rank higher, you need to focus on improving these factors. You can do this by optimizing your website’s content, building quality links, and using the right keywords.
SEO is a long-term strategy, and it takes time to see results. But with the right approach, you can improve your website’s ranking and attract more traffic.
How Can I Find The Keywords That People Are Searching For To Find Businesses Like Mine?
If you’re trying to determine what keywords people are using to find businesses like yours, there are a few different ways to go about it.
The first is to use a tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner. This tool will show you the estimated number of monthly searches for a given keyword, as well as other related keywords.
Another way to find keywords is to use a tool like Google Trends. This tool lets you see how popular a keyword is over time.
You can also use Google Autocomplete to get ideas for keywords. Autocomplete will show you the most popular searches that include a given keyword.
Why Isn’t My Website Ranking on Google?
If your website isn’t ranking on Google, you’re likely wondering why. After all, Google is the most popular search engine in the world, so ranking on it is essential for any business looking to grow online.
There are a variety of reasons why your website might not be ranking on Google. The most common are:
- Your website isn’t optimized for search engines.
- Your website is low quality.
- Your website is new and hasn’t had time to rank.
- You’re not using the right keywords.
- Your website is penalized by Google.
- You’re not using Google AdWords.
- You’re not using Google Analytics.
- You’re not using Google Webmaster Tools.
- Your website is blocked by robots.txt.
- Your website has a bad reputation.
If your website isn’t ranking on Google, the first step is to diagnose the problem. Once you know the reason, you can then take steps to fix it.
Why Has My Organic Traffic Dropped?
Organic traffic is the lifeblood of any website. Without it, your website is nothing.
So, when your organic traffic drops, it can be a cause for concern.
There are a number of reasons why your organic traffic might have decreased. It could be that your website has been penalized by Google.
It could be that your website is no longer appearing on the search engine results pages (SERPs). It could be that your website’s ranking has decreased.
Or it could be that your website is no longer attracting the same amount of traffic as it used to.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why your organic traffic has decreased and take steps to rectify the situation. Here are a few tips:
1. Check your website’s Google Analytics data.
The first step is to check your website’s Google Analytics data. This will give you a good idea of what’s causing your organic traffic to drop.
2. Check your website’s search engine rankings.
The next step is to check your website’s search engine rankings. This will tell you whether your website’s ranking has decreased and, if so, by how much.
3. Perform an SEO audit.
If you suspect that your website’s ranking has decreased because of an SEO issue, then you need to perform an SEO audit. This will help you identify
What Is A Google Penalty?
A Google penalty is the punishment that Google imposes on websites that violate its webmaster guidelines.
These guidelines are designed to ensure that websites are high-quality and provide a good user experience.
There are many different types of Google penalties, but the most common is the manual penalty and the algorithm penalty.
A manual penalty is when a Google employee manually penalizes a website for violating the webmaster guidelines. This is usually done when the website has been caught doing something black-hat, such as keyword stuffing or buying links.
An algorithm penalty is when Google’s algorithm detects that a website is violating the webmaster guidelines, and then penalizes the website as a result. This is usually done through the use of the Panda or Penguin algorithm.
If your website is penalized, it will likely see a decrease in organic traffic from Google. In some cases, a website may even be removed from Google’s search results altogether.
The best way to avoid a Google penalty is to ensure that your website follows the webmaster’s guidelines. You can do this by making sure your website is well-optimized, has high-quality content, and doesn’t engage in any black-hat SEO techniques.
How Long Does It Take To Rank on Google?
There is no definitive answer to this question as ranking on Google is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the website’s content, keywords, and backlinks.
However, with a good SEO strategy in place, it is possible to rank on Google within a few months.
One of the most important factors in ranking on Google is the website’s content. Google’s algorithm takes into account a variety of factors when ranking websites, including the quality and relevance of the content.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that the website’s content is high quality and relevant to the target audience.
Another important factor in ranking on Google is the website’s keywords. It is important to target the right keywords that have high search volume and low competition.
There are a variety of tools and techniques that can be used to identify the right keywords, including but not limited to Google AdWords, Google Trends, and the Google Keyword Planner.
Finally, another important factor in ranking on Google is backlinks. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to the website in question.
The higher the number of quality backlinks, the higher the website will rank on Google. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to increase the number of backlinks, including but not limited to guest blogging, link building, and directory submission.
Side Gist: Bloggers are the new journalists.
Though the term “blogger” is often used to describe anyone who writes a personal online diary, it is also used to describe professional journalists who use the blog format to report the news.
The advantage of the blog format is that it is quick and easy to update, and it can include multimedia elements such as photos and videos.
Unlike traditional journalism, which is based on the idea of objectivity, bloggers often express their personal opinions in their blogs.
This can be a disadvantage because it can make it difficult to determine the truthfulness of the information in the blog. However, it can also be an advantage, because it allows the blogger to build a relationship with their readers and provide them with more personal information.
Most bloggers are unpaid, but there are a few high-profile bloggers who are paid to write their blogs. Some bloggers are also hired by companies to write blog posts about their products or services.
Blogging is a relatively new phenomenon, and it is still evolving. As more and more people start blogging, the quality of the information in blogs will continue to improve.
Find your top-ranking keywords.
There are a number of ways to find your top-ranking keywords. One of the most popular methods is using a tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner. This tool allows you to find out how many people are searching for a particular keyword each month. You can also use Google Trends to see how popular a keyword is over time.
Once you have your top-ranking keywords, you’ll want to make sure they are included in your website’s content. You can do this by including them in your blog posts, titles, and meta descriptions. You can also use them in your website’s SEO titles and descriptions.
When it comes to SEO, having a strong keyword strategy is essential. By including your top-ranking keywords in your website’s content, you can improve your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Conclusion
The SEO process is an ongoing one and it is important to keep track of your website’s rank and progress. Use the SEO checklist to make sure you are covering all of your bases and to keep your website in good shape.
If you are not sure where to start, many SEO services can help you get started. Just make sure you do your research and find a reputable company that will help you achieve your SEO goals.
SEO is a complex and ever-changing process, but following these simple steps will help you improve your website’s ranking and visibility.