| Task | Details/Notes |
| Keyword Research | Identify primary keywords for your niche using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Keyword Planner. |
| Competitor Analysis | Analyze top competitors for keyword targets, backlink profiles, and content strategy. |
| Meta Tags Optimization | Ensure all pages have unique title tags (50-60 characters) and meta descriptions (150-160 characters). |
| Headings Structure | Use H1 for titles and H2-H6 for subtitles in a hierarchical way, including keywords naturally. |
| Alt Text for Images | Add descriptive alt text to all images, incorporating keywords where appropriate. |
| URL Structure | Use clean, descriptive URLs with keywords, avoiding special characters and long strings. |
| Internal Linking | Create a web of links within your site to keep users engaged and distribute page authority. |
| External Linking | Link out to authoritative and relevant sources to enhance information quality and credibility. |
| Mobile-Friendliness | Test your site using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test and ensure it's responsive. |
| Page Speed Optimization | Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to improve load times. |
| SSL Certificate | Secure your site with HTTPS to protect user data and improve trustworthiness. |
| XML Sitemap Submission | Submit an up-to-date sitemap to Google Search Console for better indexing. |
| Robots.txt File | Implement a robots.txt file to guide search bots on how to crawl your site. |
| 404 Error Management | Create custom 404 pages to improve user experience and retain visitors. |
| Content Quality | Produce high-quality, original content that adds value and incorporates keywords effectively. |
| Content Freshness | Regularly update your site with new content and refresh old content. |
| Schema Markup | Use structured data markup to help search engines understand and display your content. |
| Local SEO | Optimize for local search with Google My Business and local keywords. |
| Backlink Strategy | Develop a strategy for gaining high-quality backlinks to your site. |
| Social Media Integration | Include social sharing buttons and link your content to your social media profiles. |
| User Engagement Metrics | Analyze metrics like bounce rate and time on site to understand user engagement. |
| SEO Audit | Regularly perform a comprehensive SEO audit to identify and fix issues. |
| Accessibility | Ensure your site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. |
| Legal Compliance | Comply with laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and ADA as applicable. |
| Multilingual SEO | If your audience is global, ensure proper implementation of hreflang tags. |
| Monitoring Rankings & KPIs | Track your search rankings and other key performance indicators regularly. |
| Continual Learning | Stay updated on SEO best practices and algorithm changes. |
SEO Checklist for Website Owners
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