The Ultimate SEO Checklist for 2023
Your Go-To SEO Checklist for 2023
A new year means a new site, and search engine optimization (SEO) will get your pages to the top of search results. Whether you’re starting from scratch or building out your strategy, a basic SEO checklist will help you hit the major points.
Keep the following checklist nearby while you run through your site factors. If you want more insights like this article, subscribe to Revenue Weekly and join over 190,000 marketers who trust WebFX for marketing advice!
On-page SEO factors
You have complete control over your on-page SEO. Implement this on-page SEO checklist to get the most out of each page.
1. Complete keyword research
Keywords are phrases that users enter into search engines to find relevant pages. Your pages should incorporate appropriate keywords so Google can pull your content into the results.
To do keyword research on your own, you can use free tools like:
For the best results, use long-tail keywords with lower competition to tell Google what a page covers. “Plumbing services” could be your topic, while “drain repair services in Harrisburg, PA” could be your long-tail, specific keyword.
2. Create quality content
A content marketing strategy is the first step to making any website. Creating content will:
- Prove to Google that you’re a trustworthy source.
- Keep your site current with industry trends.
- Give users a reason to stay on your site and boost your traffic.
- Build trust with prospects and customers.
Your content should be readable, relevant, and pertinent to your client base. Look out for grammatical errors or duplicate content — these factors tell Google your content is unreliable or harmful to user experience (UX).
3. Use internal linking
As you create more blog, service, and industry pages, add links between them to guide users through the sales funnel and help Google crawl your new pages.
Say you are targeting people looking for plumbing services. They could search “how to remove a clog” and land on your blog post that explains different unclogging methods. You can then point them to your service page to learn more.
Internal linking shows Google that your site is current and easy to navigate. As Google crawls your site, it will use your links to see related pages and make connections.
4. Create meta descriptions and title tags
Your meta descriptions and title tags should include relevant keywords to tell Google what your pages are about. The meta description below is one example.
Optimizing these short descriptions encourages users to click on your page and tells them what to expect when they land on your site.
You should also try to include the keyword in your title, like these SEO research examples.
5. Prioritize user-friendly web design
Without a usable design, your SEO efforts won’t be enough. Good web design targets users and search engines, encouraging both to stay and browse.
Your web design should include:
- High-quality images and videos with proper names and descriptions.
- Navigation tools that help the user find relevant pages.
- Clean URLs, descriptions, and copy text.
- A clear interface without ads or images that block critical information.
Off-page SEO
Your off-page SEO includes actions outside your website that boost your rankings. Below are a few examples to help you get started.
1. Complete a competitor analysis
You must see how your competitors are doing to be a leader in your industry. Check their websites periodically and see how they rank in search results. Look at:
- Blog posts
- Keyword usage
- Linking practices
- Page design
Our proprietary CompetitorSpyFX tool can help you accomplish the steps above through accessible reports. Along with evaluating your competitors, you can use CompetitorSpyFX to create projections and see how to improve your SEO.
2. Sign up for a Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile helps your site appear in relevant local searches. You can input your contact information, address, hours, and more to help users find you.
Check out this example on the Google Business Profile page.
3. Build backlinks
A backlink is any link to your site from another credible source. When more people link to your content, Google will recognize you as an industry leader with useful content.
To generate backlinks, you can:
- Create impressive content that other users will link to naturally.
- Form partnerships with other industry blogs and have them link to your posts.
- Submit guest blog posts and encourage traffic to your site.
While building links doesn’t happen overnight, you can measure your progress and see long-term results with consistency.
4. Encourage reviews
Encourage reviews after purchase or ask your loyal customers to comment on their experience. More reviews will tell Google that you’re a relevant source. Tools like ReviewAcceleratorFX can help you evaluate your online presence and manage your reviews!
Any review — positive or negative — gives you a chance to show off your customer service. By responding to negative reviews, you can show existing customers and prospects that you care about their experience and want to make it right.
Technical SEO
Your site’s technical aspects are your operation’s foundation. The following technical tips can set you up for success.
1. Incorporate mobile web design
More than 50% of Internet traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t optimized, visitors will click off, so you’ll lose sales before they begin.
You can choose between responsive or mobile sites:
- Responsive sites: Mobile responsive designs load differently across devices to accommodate their screen sizes and power. Users can enjoy a smooth experience on their phone, tablet, or computer.
- Mobile sites: A mobile site is designed to fit mobile devices only. This other version of your website ensures a positive experience, but there are limitations to what you can include.
2. Optimize page speed
Page loading speed is a crucial ranking factor. If your page takes ages to load, people are more likely to bounce from your site.
You can help boost page speed by:
- Optimizing images: Reducing file sizes and limiting your image use will help your page load faster. These 10 tips for image SEO can also reduce page load time.
- Limiting redirects: A redirect is a piece of code that sends users to another page when they click on a link. Some redirects are useful — like for site maintenance — but try to limit unnecessary ones that slow down page speed.
- Choosing a quality host: Your website host gives you space to display your files on a server. Website builders, shared hosts, and private hosts have unique perks, but choose one that suits your website demands and loads quickly.
This checklist for improving page speed can also help you accomplish this step.
3. Submit a sitemap
A sitemap is a complete chart of your site that details each page, its content, and how they all connect. A sitemap helps Google index your website, determine its ranking, and evaluate its quality.
You can submit an XML sitemap to Google and create an HTML sitemap in your page footer to help users access any page on your site.
Common SEO mistakes
Some mistakes users make when implementing their SEO include the following:
- Neglecting local search: If you have a physical location or serve a certain area, account for that with your SEO. You can target local SEO practices to reach the right audience.
- Overoptimizing your site: Adding too many keywords or stuffing links where they don’t fit will impact UX, and Google will penalize your efforts.
- Not measuring results: How can you know that your SEO works if you don’t check? Set up an analytic system before and after you make changes to see if you get more traffic, higher rankings, or more leads.
- Making inconsistent changes: SEO is an ongoing process that takes time to develop. If you make changes all at once and don’t follow up, you will see tapered results. Keep up with your blog and develop your site over time to boost rankings.
Manage your SEO with WebFX
Once you use this article as an SEO checklist template, you must follow Google algorithm updates, maintain your site, and monitor your analytics to see what’s working. A trusted SEO agency will make sure your changes are effective.
WebFX offers SEO services to help your site rank higher and earn long-term benefits. In the past five years alone, we have generated nearly 7.8 million leads and $3 billion in revenue — imagine what we could do for you.
Check out our SEO services for more information or call 888-601-5359 to speak with an FXer today!