SEO Checklist for New Websites

Doing SEO basics before and just after launch saves months of cleanup later. Work through this checklist in order.

Before launch — foundations

• Make sure the site is indexable (no stray "discourage search engines" setting).
• Use clean, lowercase, hyphenated URLs with no dates.
• Serve everything over HTTPS and check mobile speed.

On-page basics

• One clear H1 per page and a logical heading structure.
• Unique title tags and meta descriptions on every page.
• Descriptive image alt text and compressed images.

Content essentials

• A page for each core service and topic you want to rank for.
• Internal links connecting related pages.

Tracking

• Install GA4 and verify Google Search Console on day one.

Already live and not sure what you missed? A free audit catches the gaps fast. Next, read keyword research for beginners.