SEO checklist for SEO success in 2023
Senior SEO-specialist
Get your website on #1 in Google today. Save high marketing costs and learn SEO yourself using three practical SEO checklists. Directly applicable to your business.
For all business owners who want to get started with SEO themselves (without an SEO specialist), at their convenience. Work through the list, solve problems and maximize opportunities in Google. Good luck!
My complete SEO checklist
Here is a general SEO checklist. Please note that the exact length of time may vary depending on the size and complexity of the website, and the skill and availability of the teams involved. Therefore, the times indicated are only estimates.
| Section | Priority | Duration | Webshop or website | Required Stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword research | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Competitive Analysis | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Technical SEO audit | High | 1-3 weeks | Both | SEO, IT |
| On-page optimization | High | 1-3 months | Both | SEO, content, IT |
| Optimization of load times | High | 1-2 months | Both | SEO, IT |
| Responsive/Mobile optimization | High | 1-2 months | Both | SEO, IT, design |
| Implementation of SSL/HTTPS | High | 1 day | Both | IT |
| Developing link building strategy | Average | 1-2 months | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Creating quality content | High | Continuous | Both | SEO, content |
| Optimization of product descriptions | Low | 1-3 months | Webshop | SEO, content, sales |
| Local SEO (for physical locations) | Low | 1-2 weeks | Website | SEO, marketing |
| Implementation of structured data | Average | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, IT |
| Optimization of images | Average | 1-3 months | Both | SEO, design, IT |
| Social media integration | Low | 1 week | Both | Marketing, social media |
| Optimization of URL structure | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, IT |
| Implementation of an XML sitemap | High | 1 day | Both | SEO, IT |
| Setting up Google Search Console | High | 1 day | Both | SEO, IT |
| Analysis and optimization of bounce rate | Low | Continuous | Both | SEO, marketing, IT |
These are general tasks involved in most SEO projects. The exact needs of your website or web shop may vary. Therefore, it is important to start with a comprehensive SEO audit to understand where your current strengths and areas for improvement lie.
SEO checklist before starting a journey
A good start is half the battle. In this table you can find the different tasks along with the required stakeholders and time duration for implementation for the start of an SEO project.
| Section | Required stakeholders | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Setting objectives | Management, SEO, marketing | 1 week |
| Keyword research | SEO, marketing | 1-2 weeks |
| Competitive Analysis | SEO, marketing | 1-2 weeks |
| Technical SEO audit | SEO, IT | 1-3 weeks |
| On-page SEO audit | SEO, Content, Marketing | 1-2 weeks |
| Link profile audit | SEO | 1-2 weeks |
| Content audit | SEO, content | 2-4 weeks |
| Determine SEO KPIs and set up a dashboard | SEO, IT, marketing | 1 week |
| Setting up Google Analytics and Google Search Console | SEO, IT | 1 day |
| Implementation of an XML sitemap and Robots.txt file | SEO, IT | 1 day |
This list provides a general overview of the steps to follow when starting an SEO journey. Remember that each project is unique and may require additional steps based on your specific situation and goals.
SEO checklist for local SEO
Getting started with local SEO? Here is a sampling of my local SEO checklist.
| Local SEO Task | Priority | Duration | Relevant For | Required Stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Researching local keywords | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Set up Google My Company | High | 1 day | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Local competitive analysis | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Optimization of Local On-Page SEO | High | 1-2 weeks | Both | SEO, content, IT |
| Schema Markup for Local SEO | High | 1 week | Both | SEO, IT |
| Local link building | Average | Continuous | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Management of online reviews and ratings | Average | Continuous | Both | Marketing, customer service |
| Creating locally targeted content | Average | Continuous | Both | Content, marketing, SEO |
| Local SEO analysis and reporting | Average | Continuous | Both | SEO, marketing |
| Social media optimization for local SEO | Low | Continuous | Both | Social media, SEO, marketing |
| Optimization of Google Maps | High | 1 day | Both | SEO, marketing |
Note that the length of time and priority can vary depending on several factors, including the current state of the website, competition and business goals. It is important to create a specific plan that fits your organization’s unique needs and goals.
Conclusion
Employ these SEO checklists for your organization to take the next step within Google. If you don’t figure something out, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most frequently asked questions
How is the SEO optimization course structured?
During the course we will dive into the depths of content, technology and link building. We put maximum effort into each element and utilize the highest potential. Clean code, site structure, speed and tools are covered during the training.
The most important pillar for Google is user experience. Every SEO decision must be made for the good of your visitor. We discuss it at length.
We explain the knowledge concepts using practical examples and case histories from different industries.
Do I need to be technically minded for SEO?
No. Technology is an important component of SEO, however, it is not necessary to have experience with or a background in technology. We formulate the knowledge we provide in an accessible way. We explain everything step-by-step so that it can be followed by everyone.
How do you measure SEO success?
In the course, we cover useful tools that will help you continue to monitor your SEO. This allows you to see in an instant how you are doing. It depends on what you want to achieve with SEO. For example, you measure how much more traffic is directed to your website.
What is the effect of a particular landing page? More conversions, more traffic for certain keywords or more traffic through backlinks. You can see all this in your website’s statistics.
How do you measure SEO success?
The current fee for the training is a total of €249. You will receive the invoice for the training fee after payment. After the training, you’ll know all about SEO.
Included in the course is:
- 6 hours of footage divided into manageable chunks;
- The ability to watch the training back whenever and wherever you want one year after purchase;
- A comprehensive checklist for the purpose of optimizing your content;
- A complete technical SEO checklist that helps you optimize the technical side;
- relevant case histories from various industries.
Do I need marketing experience to follow the SEO checklist?
While it can be helpful to have some experience with marketing and SEO, it is not necessary to follow the SEO checklist. The checklist is designed to provide step-by-step instructions for optimizing your Web site for search engines, and most of the steps can be done without extensive marketing knowledge.
It is important to emphasize, however, that SEO is an ongoing process and involves a combination of technical, content and marketing aspects. It can therefore be helpful to expand your knowledge in this area and keep yourself abreast of the latest trends and developments in the SEO world. This can help you optimize your SEO efforts and get better results.
If you are new to SEO, there are many online resources available that can help you learn more about SEO and how to optimize your website for search engines. These resources range from blogs and tutorials to online courses and books. By continuing to educate yourself and experiment, you can improve your SEO knowledge and skills and help your website be better found in search engines.
What results can I expect if I follow the SEO checklist?
Following the SEO checklist can yield different results for your website, depending on the current status of your website and the extent to which you follow the checklist’s recommendations. Some possible outcomes are:
- Improved search engine visibility: by optimizing your website for search engines, you can be better found in search results. This can lead to more traffic and a higher conversion rate.
- Better user experience: optimizing your website for SEO also includes improving the user experience on your website. A better user experience can lead to higher visitor engagement and conversion rates.
- Higher DA score: by optimizing your website for search engines and obtaining quality inbound links, your domain authority (DA) can increase, which can lead to higher search engine rankings and higher credibility and authority of your website.
- Increased traffic: improved visibility in search engines can lead to more traffic to your website, which can result in higher conversion rates and more customers.
- Better ROI: By optimizing your website for SEO, you can lower the cost per acquisition and improve ROI. This can lead to increased profitability and growth of your business.
It is important to emphasize that improving your SEO results is an ongoing process and it can take time before you see significant results. However, by continuing to consistently work on optimizing your website for search engines, you can increase the likelihood of better results.
Do I need certain tools to use the SEO checklist?
There are several tools available that can help implement the recommendations from the SEO checklist. While it is not strictly necessary to use these tools, they can be useful to speed up the process and optimize results. Some useful tools you could use are:
- Google Analytics: a free tool from Google that allows you to analyze visitor traffic and behavior on your website. It can help you identify the most important pages of your website, as well as the sources of your traffic.
- Google Search Console: a free tool from Google that lets you monitor your website’s performance in Google search results. It can help you identify errors on your website, analyze search queries and check the indexing of your website.
- SEMrush: a paid tool that allows you to analyze your website’s search traffic, keywords and backlinks. It can help you analyze competitors and understand keyword research.
- Ahrefs: a paid tool that allows you to analyze your website’s backlinks and keyword performance. It can help you find link-building opportunities and identify your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Moz: a paid tool that allows you to analyze your website’s keyword performance, backlinks and technical SEO. It can help you identify technical errors and find link-building opportunities.
Using these tools can help speed up the optimization process and optimize results. However, it is important to stress that these tools are only tools and it is still necessary to follow the recommendations from the SEO checklist and keep working consistently to improve your SEO results.
Do I need to already have traffic on my website to apply the SEO checklist?
No, it is not necessary to already have traffic on your website to apply the SEO checklist. In fact, it is actually recommended to optimize your website for search engines before you have a lot of traffic because it can help make your website more findable to potential visitors and customers.
By following the recommendations from the SEO checklist, you can lay the groundwork for a good SEO strategy and increase the chances of your website being found better in search engines. This can lead to more traffic and better results in the long run.
However, it is important to stress that SEO is an ongoing process and it can take time before you see significant results. Therefore, it is important to keep working consistently to optimize your website for search engines, even if you don’t have a lot of traffic yet.
What SEO components are discussed in the SEO checklist?
The SEO checklist includes a wide range of components important for an effective SEO strategy. Below are some examples of the components that may be covered:
- Keyword research: identifying relevant keywords for your target audience and integrating them into your content and metadata.
- Technical SEO: optimizing the technical aspects of your website, such as loading speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability and indexability.
- On-page optimization: optimizing your website’s content, such as writing SEO-friendly titles, descriptions, headers and content, and adding images and videos.
- Link building: obtaining quality inbound links to your website from other relevant and authoritative websites.
- Local SEO: optimizing your website for local searches, such as including local keywords, creating a Google My Business profile and getting positive local reviews.
- Social media: optimizing your presence on social media, such as creating SEO-friendly profiles, sharing content and gaining likes, shares and followers.
- Analysis and reporting: monitoring your SEO performance using tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console, and tracking your SEO results with regular reporting.
It is important to emphasize that SEO is an ongoing process and that optimizing your website for search engines involves several aspects. By following the recommendations from the SEO checklist, you can increase the chances of your website being found better in search engines and achieving better results in the long run.