SEO Checklist
A comprehensive guide to auditing and optimizing your website
Table of Contents
Technical SEO Checklist
Crawling & Indexing
- Verify robots.txt configuration
- Submit XML sitemap to search engines
- Check index coverage in Search Console
- Implement proper canonical tags
- Configure meta robots tags
- Ensure proper URL structure
- Check for crawl errors
- Monitor crawl budget usage
Site Performance
- Optimize Core Web Vitals
- Implement browser caching
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
- Optimize and compress images
- Enable GZIP compression
- Reduce server response time
- Minimize render-blocking resources
- Implement lazy loading
Mobile Optimization
- Ensure responsive design
- Test mobile usability
- Configure viewport settings
- Check mobile loading speed
- Test touch elements
- Verify mobile rendering
- Check for mobile-first indexing
- Test cross-device functionality
On-Page SEO Checklist
Content Optimization
- Optimize title tags
- Write compelling meta descriptions
- Implement proper header structure
- Optimize image alt text
- Include relevant keywords naturally
- Create unique content for each page
- Ensure content depth and quality
- Update content regularly
URL Optimization
- Use descriptive URLs
- Keep URLs concise
- Include relevant keywords
- Implement proper URL structure
- Handle URL parameters correctly
- Set up proper redirects
- Fix broken links
- Manage duplicate content
Internal Linking
- Create logical site structure
- Implement breadcrumb navigation
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Check for broken internal links
- Optimize navigation menus
- Link to important pages
- Balance link distribution
- Use relevant contextual links
Content SEO Checklist
Keyword Strategy
- Conduct keyword research
- Analyze search intent
- Map keywords to content
- Track keyword rankings
- Identify content gaps
- Monitor competitor keywords
- Update keyword strategy
- Focus on long-tail keywords
Content Quality
- Create comprehensive content
- Ensure readability
- Check grammar and spelling
- Include relevant media
- Update outdated content
- Add internal citations
- Link to authoritative sources
- Implement proper formatting
Rich Results
- Implement schema markup
- Optimize for featured snippets
- Create FAQ content
- Add structured data
- Test rich results
- Monitor SERP features
- Optimize video content
- Create how-to content
Off-Page SEO Checklist
Link Building
- Audit existing backlinks
- Create linkable content
- Conduct outreach campaigns
- Monitor competitor backlinks
- Remove toxic links
- Build local citations
- Engage in guest posting
- Track link metrics
Social Signals
- Optimize social profiles
- Share content regularly
- Engage with followers
- Monitor social mentions
- Track social engagement
- Create shareable content
- Implement social schema
- Build brand presence
Brand Building
- Monitor brand mentions
- Manage online reputation
- Create brand guidelines
- Maintain consistent NAP
- Build brand authority
- Engage in communities
- Create brand content
- Track brand metrics
Local SEO Checklist
Google Business Profile
- Claim and verify listing
- Complete all information
- Add business photos
- Manage reviews
- Post regular updates
- Set correct categories
- Add business hours
- Monitor Q&A section
Local Content
- Create location pages
- Optimize for local keywords
- Add local business schema
- Create local content
- Build local backlinks
- Manage local citations
- Optimize for near me searches
- Create location-specific offers
Monitoring & Maintenance
Analytics & Tracking
- Set up Google Analytics
- Configure Search Console
- Track conversions
- Monitor site performance
- Check crawl stats
- Track rankings
- Monitor competitor performance
- Create regular reports
Regular Maintenance
- Update content regularly
- Fix technical issues
- Monitor security
- Update XML sitemaps
- Check for broken links
- Update schema markup
- Review robots.txt
- Monitor site speed