Here's an actionable SEO checklist organized by priority to get your new website ranking. Work through these phases sequentially:

Phase 1: Technical Foundation (Week 1)

Domain & Security

• Secure HTTPS certificate (non-negotiable—Google uses this as a ranking signal)
• Choose www vs. non-www and set canonical preferences in Google Search Console
• Set up proper URL structure (descriptive, lowercase, hyphens between words)

Core Technical Setup

• Create and submit XML sitemap to Google Search Console (GSC) and Bing Webmaster Tools
• Configure robots.txt to guide crawlers (block admin pages, allow important content)
• Implement Schema markup (Start with Organization, Website, and BreadcrumbList schemas)
• Set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and connect to GSC for data correlation

Performance Basics

• Test mobile-friendliness using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test
• Check Core Web Vitals in PageSpeed Insights (aim for LCP <2.5s, FID <100ms, CLS <0.1)
• Compress images (WebP format, max 100KB per image) and enable lazy loading

Phase 2: Keyword Strategy & Architecture (Week 1-2)

Keyword Foundation

• Map 5-10 primary "pillar" topics relevant to your business
• Use tools (Ubersuggest, Ahrefs free tier, or Google Keyword Planner) to find:
  • High-intent keywords (transactional: "buy," "service," "near me")
  • Long-tail variants (3+ words, lower competition)
  • Questions your audience asks (AnswerThePublic or "People Also Ask")
• Assign one target keyword per page (avoid cannibalization)

Site Architecture

• Create a flat structure (every page reachable within 3 clicks from homepage)
• Plan URL hierarchy: domain.com/category/subcategory/page
• Design internal linking strategy (link related content using descriptive anchor text)

Phase 3: On-Page Optimization (Week 2-3)

Content Essentials

• Write unique title tags (50-60 characters, keyword near front, compelling)
• Craft meta descriptions (150-160 characters, include CTA and primary keyword)
• Use H1 for main title (one per page) and logical H2-H3 hierarchy
• Include target keyword in first 100 words naturally

Media Optimization

• Rename image files descriptively (blue-running-shoes.jpg not IMG_001.jpg)
• Write alt text for accessibility and SEO (describe the image, include keyword if natural)
• Implement video schema if using video content

User Experience Signals

• Add breadcrumb navigation
• Ensure <3 second page load time on mobile
• Create 404 error page with search functionality and links to popular content

Phase 4: Content Development (Ongoing)

Launch Content

• Publish 5-10 high-quality cornerstone pages (2,000+ words, comprehensive)
• Create an "About" page that establishes E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness)
• Add contact page with NAP (Name, Address, Phone) if local business
• Write privacy policy and terms of service (trust signals)

Content Calendar

• Plan weekly blog posts targeting long-tail keywords
• Create topic clusters (pillar page + 3-5 supporting articles linking back)
• Update existing content every 3-6 months to maintain freshness

Phase 5: Off-Page & Authority Building (Month 2+)

Local SEO (if applicable)

• Create/claim Google Business Profile
• Ensure NAP consistency across all directories (citations)
• Submit to Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, and industry-specific directories

Link Building

• Set up social media profiles with website links (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• Create shareable assets (infographics, studies, calculators) for natural backlinks
• Reach out to suppliers/partners for homepage links
• Guest post on 2-3 reputable industry sites monthly

Phase 6: Monitoring & Iteration

Weekly Checks

• Review GSC for indexing errors and fix crawl issues immediately
• Check average position for target keywords
• Monitor site speed via GTmetrix or Pingdom

Monthly Audits

• Analyze top exit pages and improve internal linking
• Check for broken links using Screaming Frog (free for <500 URLs) or Ahrefs
• Review competitor content and identify content gaps to fill

Quick Wins for Immediate Impact

1. Submit sitemap immediately after launch—don't wait for Google to find you
2. Interlink aggressively between your first 10 pages (helps Google understand site structure)
3. Claim Google Business Profile even if you're national (increases trust signals)
4. Add FAQ schema to your homepage—it often wins featured snippets quickly

What type of website are you launching? (E-commerce, local service, blog, SaaS?)

And which phase do you want to dive deeper into? I can help you with:

• Specific keyword research tactics for your industry
• Technical implementation guides (WordPress, Webflow, custom code)
• Content templates that rank for your specific niche
• Local SEO setup if you serve a geographic area

SEO Checklist for Launching a New Website (2026 Edition)

Launching a new website in 2026 requires a strong SEO foundation to combat the "sandbox effect" (Google's delay in trusting new sites), prioritize E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), optimize for AI-generated search results (e.g., Google AI Overviews), and meet Core Web Vitals standards. Follow this step-by-step checklist before launch where possible, then verify post-launch. Use free tools like Google Search Console (GSC), PageSpeed Insights, and Mobile-Friendly Test first.

1. Pre-Launch Planning (1-2 Weeks Before Go-Live)

Set the strategy to avoid costly redirects later.

• Conduct keyword research: Use Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs Keywords Explorer (free trial), or Semrush Keyword Magic Tool. Target 5-10 long-tail keywords (low competition, high intent) per page. Prioritize search intent: informational (guides), commercial (comparisons), transactional (buy now).
  • Action: Create a keyword-to-URL map (e.g., Google Sheet: URL | Primary KW | Secondary KWs | Title | Meta).
• Competitor analysis: Identify gaps with Ahrefs Content Gap or Semrush Organic Research. Note top-ranking pages' structure, backlinks, and content length.
• Plan site structure: Sketch a silo architecture (e.g., homepage → /services → /services/plumbing). Use descriptive URLs like /emergency-dentist-tampa (hyphens, no dates).
• Build E-E-A-T signals: Add author bios, expert quotes, citations to authoritative sources (e.g., .gov sites). For new sites, publish 10-20 cornerstone pages pre-launch.

2. Technical SEO Foundation (Critical for Indexing)

Ensure Google can crawl, index, and render your site like users see it.

• Choose fast, secure hosting: Opt for VPS/managed hosting (e.g., SiteGround). Enable HTTPS with free SSL (Let's Encrypt).
• Submit XML sitemap: Generate via Yoast/RankMath (WordPress) or plugin. Submit to GSC and Bing Webmaster Tools.
• Configure robots.txt: Allow key crawlers (Googlebot, Bingbot, AI bots like GPTBot, OAI-SearchBot). Block /admin/. Test at yoursite.com/robots.txt.
• Core Web Vitals optimization:

  Metric	Target	Fix
  LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)	<2.5s	Compress images (WebP), minify CSS/JS, use CDN (Cloudflare).
  INP (Interaction to Next Paint)	<200ms	Defer non-critical JS.
  CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)	<0.1	Reserve space for images/ads.

  • Test: PageSpeed Insights (aim 90+ score), GSC Core Web Vitals report.
• Mobile-first & accessibility: Use responsive design. Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Tool and Lighthouse.
• Canonical tags & noindex: Add self-referential canonicals; noindex staging/dev pages.
• Fix basics: No 4xx/5xx errors, duplicate content, or redirect chains (use Screaming Frog free crawl).

3. On-Page SEO (Optimize Every Page)

Make pages rank-ready and click-worthy.

• Title tags: 50-60 chars, keyword front-loaded (e.g., "Best Emergency Dentist Tampa | 24/7 Service").
• Meta descriptions: 150-160 chars, include KW, benefits, CTA (e.g., "Open nights... Book now!").
• Headings: One H1 per page (KW near start), H2/H3 for structure (e.g., H2: "Why Choose Us?").
• Content body: 1,500+ words for pillars; natural KW density (1-2%), LSI terms. First 100 words: KW + hook.
• Images/videos: Descriptive filenames (e.g., emergency-dentist-tampa.jpg), alt text with KW. Compress with TinyPNG.
• Internal links: 3-5 per page, descriptive anchor text (e.g., "Learn about our services").
• Schema markup: Add JSON-LD for Organization, LocalBusiness, Article/Product via Google's Structured Data Markup Helper. Test in Rich Results Test.

4. Content Strategy (Publish 10+ Pages Pre-Launch)

Focus on helpful, original content for AI visibility.

• Create pillar-cluster model: Pillar page (broad, e.g., "Ultimate Guide to SEO 2026") linking to clusters (specific).
• Match user journey: Awareness (blogs), Consideration (comparisons), Decision (pricing/services).
• Quality checks: Original, up-to-date, scannable (short paras, bullets), readable (Flesch >60). Use Semrush SEO Writing Assistant.
• Internal linking hub: Link new pages from homepage/blog.

5. Local SEO (If Location-Based Business)

• Claim/optimize Google Business Profile (GBP): Complete all fields, add photos, posts, services. Verify via phone/postcard.
• Local citations: List on Yelp, BBB, YellowPages. Use BrightLocal or Moz Local.
• Embed Google Maps: On contact page.

6. Off-Page SEO Kickstart

New sites need authority signals.

• Build initial backlinks: Guest posts, directories (e.g., replicate competitors via Ahrefs Link Intersect), HARO responses.
• Social profiles: Claim/optimize Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., with consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone).
• Brand mentions: Set Google Alerts for your domain.

7. Tools & Monitoring Setup (Do Immediately)

• Free essentials:

  Tool	Purpose
  GSC	Indexing, errors, performance.
  GA4	Traffic analytics.
  PageSpeed Insights	Speed.

• Paid (optional): Semrush/Ahrefs for audits.
• Post-launch: Request indexing in GSC (URL Inspection), monitor for 404s weekly.

8. Post-Launch Verification (Week 1)

• Crawl site with Screaming Frog: Fix issues.
• Check GSC Coverage report: 100% indexed in 2-4 weeks.
• Track rankings: Semrush Position Tracking.
• Publish weekly content + promote for momentum.

Follow this sequentially for 80% of SEO success. Expect rankings in 3-6 months with consistency.

What's your website's niche or industry (e.g., e-commerce, local services)? Platform (WordPress, Shopify)? Main goals (traffic, sales)? Share details for customized tweaks!