Optimize your website for search engines with this comprehensive SEO checklist.

Before Publishing

Site Information:

• Add a site title under 60 characters with relevant keywords
• Create a site description (50-300 characters) that appears in search results
• Write unique SEO descriptions for all pages, blog posts, products, and events
• Verify page title formatting in browser tabs and social shares

Site Design:

• Upload a favicon for consistent branding
• Add social sharing images for your site, pages, and content items
• Create a custom 404 page with helpful navigation links
• Follow content best practices across all pages

Domain and URL Setup:

• Connect a custom domain for better brand recognition
• Link social media profiles and enable social sharing
• Enable SSL security
• Check and optimize URL slugs
• Configure blog post URL format

Location Information:

• Add your business address on a Contact page with a map
• Create a Google Business listing

After Publishing

Search Engine Tools:

• Verify your site with Google Search Console
• Submit your site for Google indexing
• Set up Bing Webmaster Tools
• Connect Google Analytics

Ongoing Optimization

Content Management:

• Follow content best practices for new pages
• Create URL redirects when changing page URLs
• Update content regularly
• Maintain a blog for fresh content

Traffic Monitoring:

• Review Search Keywords panel
• Track analytics data (Activity Log, Popular Content, Traffic)
• Analyze Google Analytics metrics

Content Best Practices

Text Optimization:

• Use strategic keywords naturally
• Structure content with clear headings
• Create scannable, well-organized text

Image Optimization:

• Add descriptive alt text
• Use clear image filenames
• Keep image sizes under 500KB
• Maintain total page size under 5MB

Page Organization:

• Include social sharing images
• Add SEO descriptions
• Use tags and categories
• Create internal links between pages
• Optimize URL slugs

Note: Rankings may fluctuate temporarily after making SEO changes while search engines reindex your site. Monitor analytics to identify traffic patterns and adjust your strategy accordingly.

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