SEO Checklist: 50+ Steps for Website Audit

How to Use the SEO Checklist

SEO is a time-consuming and long-term task. Every point on this list is a separate topic, and understanding these topics is crucial for any digital marketing specialist. Here are the categories covered:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F4dHLN2aB-By1XXjNIYe1EGxUxJRJ51J635DhOUJotQ/edit

Basic SEO

1. Install Google Search Console
2. Google Search Console is a free tool that provides essential insights about website traffic and keyword positioning.
3. Install Bing Webmaster Tools
4. Similar to Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools can help improve SEO on Bing.
5. Set Up Google Analytics 4
6. Google Analytics 4 provides detailed insights about audience interaction, traffic sources, and conversions.
7. Install SEO Plugins
8. If your site is built on WordPress, using plugins like Rank Math will simplify SEO processes.
9. Create a Sitemap & Submit to GSC
10. A sitemap helps Google find and index your site’s pages more efficiently.
11. Create a Robots.txt File
12. This file tells Google which pages to index and which to avoid.

Technical SEO Checklist

1. Ensure Mobile Compatibility
2. Use tools like the "Mobile-Friendly Test" to check how your site performs on mobile devices.
3. Check Site Speed
4. Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve your site’s loading time.
5. Resolve Crawling Errors
6. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Semrush to detect crawling issues.
7. Fix Indexing Errors
8. Ensure all important pages are being indexed using Google Search Console.
9. Ensure HTTPS Version
10. HTTPS is a basic ranking factor; make sure your site is secure with an SSL certificate.
11. Check for Duplicate Content
12. Use tools like Screaming Frog to find and fix duplicate content on your site.
13. Use Canonical Tags
14. Canonical tags help avoid duplicate content issues.
15. Fix Broken URLs (404 Errors)
16. Use 301 redirects to fix broken URLs and improve user experience.
17. Resolve Orphan Pages
18. Find and link orphan pages that aren’t connected to other parts of your site.

Keyword Research Checklist

1. Create a Keyword Strategy
2. Start by defining your primary and related keywords for targeting.
3. Use Long-Tail Keywords
4. Tools like Google and AnswerThePublic can help find long-tail keywords for better targeting.
5. Use Semrush for Keyword Research
6. Semrush can help you discover relevant and valuable keywords for your site.
7. Group Keywords
8. Organize your keywords based on topic and relevance.

Content SEO Checklist

1. Focus on Featured Snippets
2. Optimize content to appear in Google’s featured snippets for more visibility.
3. Use Heading Tags
4. Structure content using H1, H2, H3 tags to improve readability and SEO.
5. Use Short Sentences and Paragraphs
6. Break content into digestible chunks to improve user experience.
7. Add Table of Contents
8. A table of contents improves user navigation and helps with search engine indexing.
9. Use Images and Videos
10. Visual content increases engagement and breaks up text.
11. Update Content Regularly
12. Keep your content fresh and updated to maintain or improve rankings.

Internal SEO Checklist

1. Write Targeted Meta Descriptions
2. Meta descriptions should be concise, keyword-rich, and attract users to click on your page.
3. Include Keywords in Titles, URLs, and Headings
4. Ensure your main keyword is present in page titles, URLs, and subheadings for better SEO.
5. Use Short URLs
6. Short, keyword-optimized URLs are preferred for SEO.
7. Use Internal Linking
8. Strengthen internal links with varied anchor texts to boost page authority.
9. Optimize Images
10. Use alt text for all images, and convert them to web-friendly formats like webp.

External SEO (Backlinking) Checklist

1. Build High-Quality Backlinks
2. Focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable and authoritative sites.
3. Check Your Backlink Profile
4. Tools like Semrush can help you analyze your existing backlink profile and identify areas for improvement.

By following this SEO checklist, you can ensure that your site is optimized for better performance in search engines, leading to increased traffic and improved rankings.