Comprehensive SEO Checklist: Quickest to Slowest Impact on SERPs (with examples, ideal requirements and tips).
This list prioritises quick, on-page optimisations and technical SEO elements that can be implemented rapidly, and often show quick results. Do them in the order shown and do not miss any out.
If you are short on time, no's 1 - 11 are the easiest to do.
It's important to note that a comprehensive SEO strategy should include all of these elements for the best long-term results. If even this list is too much for you to do, then call us at Digital Advantage - digitaladvantage.me
1. Title tags
* Brief: Optimise your page titles with relevant keywords.
* Example: "Best SEO Practices for 2024 | Expert Guide".
* Ideal length: 50-60 characters (including spaces).
* Tip: Place important keywords near the beginning.
2. Meta descriptions
* Brief: Write compelling summaries for search results.
* Example: "Discover top SEO strategies for 2024. Our expert guide covers everything from on-page optimisation to link building."
* Ideal length: 150-160 characters (including spaces).
* Tip: Include a Call To Action (CTA) and your primary keyword.
3. Header tags and subheadings
* Brief: Use H1, H2, H3 tags with keywords for content structure.
* Example: `<h1>SEO Best Practices</h1>` `<h2>On-Page Optimisation</h2>`.
* Tip: Use only one H1 per page, multiple H2s and H3s as needed.
* Ideal structure: H1 > H2 > H3 > H4, maintaining a logical hierarchy.
4. URL with keyword
* Brief: Include target keywords in your URLs.
* Example: `www.example.com/seo-best-practices-2024`.
* Ideal length: 3-5 words, separated by hyphens.
* Tip: Keep URLs under 60 characters when possible.
5. Image optimisation
* Brief: Optimise image file names, sizes, and alt text.
* Example: File name: "seo-infographic-2024.jpg", Alt text: "SEO best practices infographic 2024".
* Ideal alt text length: 50-125 characters.
* File size: Aim for under 200KB for most images, use appropriate formats (JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics, WEBP for both).
6. Internal linking + anchor text
* Brief: Link related pages within your site using descriptive anchor text.
* Example: "Learn more about <a href="/on-page-seo">on-page SEO techniques</a>."
* Ideal anchor text length: 2-5 words.
* Tip: Vary your anchor text naturally, avoid over-optimisation.
7. Fix crawl errors
* Brief: Identify and resolve 404 errors and broken links.
* Example: Use Google Search Console to find and fix 404 errors.
* Tip: Aim for zero crawl errors, prioritise high-traffic pages and create a branded 404 error page. If your homepage has links to the rest of your site hidden in Javascript elements, you need to enable JS-rendering.
8. Use XML sitemaps
* Brief: Create and submit XML sitemaps to search engines.
* Example: Generate a sitemap using a tool like XML-Sitemaps.com and submit it via Google Search Console.
* Tip: Limit to 50,000 URLs or 50MB per sitemap file.
9. Create a robots.txt file
* Brief: Guide search engines on how to crawl your site.
* Example: `User-agent: - Disallow: /private/`.
* Tip: Keep it simple, only block what's necessary.
10. Set up HTTPS (use SSL/TLS)
* Brief: Secure your site with HTTPS for better rankings and user trust.
* Example: Install an SSL certificate from a provider like Let's Encrypt (free) or your ISP host (most require payment).
* Tip: Ensure all resources (images, scripts) are also loaded over HTTPS.
11. Mobile optimisation
* Brief: Ensure your site is fully responsive and mobile-friendly.
* Example: Use responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes.
* Tip: Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check your pages.
12. Core Web Vitals optimisation
* Brief: A collection of metrics that indicate how user-friendly a website is, based on load time, visual stability and interactivity. Improve LCP, FID, and CLS for better user experience and rankings.
* Example: Optimise image sizes to improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
* Targets: LCP < 2.5s, FID < 100ms, CLS < 0.1.
13. Featured snippets optimisation
* Brief: Structure content to potentially appear in featured snippets.
* Example: Use a Q&A format for FAQs, like "What is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation...".
* Ideal length for featured snippet content: 40-60 words.
* Tip: Use clear, concise language and format content in lists or tables when appropriate.
14. Speed optimisation
* Brief: Improve page load times, especially for mobile devices.
* Example: Compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript files.
* Target page load time: Under 3 seconds.
* Tip: Use Google PageSpeed Insights for specific recommendations.
15. Check content (keyword placement, density)
* Brief: Ensure natural keyword usage throughout your content.
* Example: Include target keywords in the first paragraph, but avoid keyword stuffing.
* Ideal keyword density: 1-2% maximum of total word count.
* Tip: Focus on topical relevance rather than exact keyword matches.
16. Schema markup
* Brief: Implement structured data to help search engines understand your content.
* Example: Use Product schema for e-commerce sites to display prices and ratings in search results.
* Tip: Test your schema using Google's Structured Data Testing Tool.
17. Use Google Analytics & Search Console
* Brief: Set up tools to monitor traffic and search performance.
* Example: Track organic traffic sources in Google Analytics to identify successful keywords.
* Tip: Check data at least weekly, set up custom reports for key metrics.
18. Local SEO elements
* Brief: Optimise for local searches if applicable.
* Example: Claim and optimise your Google My Business listing.
* Tip: Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across all online directories.
19. Keyword research for content
* Brief: Identify relevant keywords to target in your content and go for Keyword Clustering - group related topics together.
* Example: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find high-volume, low-competition keywords.
* Tip: Focus on long-tail keywords (3-5 words) for easier ranking opportunities.
20. Graphics and text layout in logical flow
* Brief: Organise content for easy readability and user engagement.
* Example: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and relevant images to break up text.
* Ideal paragraph length: 2-4 sentences.
* Tip: Aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60-70 for general audience content.
21. User engagement optimisation
* Brief: Improve click-through rates from SERPs.
* Example: A/B test different title tags and meta descriptions, to increase CTR.
* Target CTR: Varies by position, but aim to beat industry averages
(e.g. 30%+ for position 1).
22. Content freshness
* Brief: Regularly update existing content, especially cornerstone pages. In long-form content creation add a table of contents and an FAQ at the end with questions from People Also Ask (PAA).
* Example: Update your "SEO Guide" annually with the latest trends and algorithm changes.
* Tip: Set a review schedule for key pages and add any missing or new PAAs (every 3-6 months).
23. Video SEO
* Brief: Optimise video content for search engines.
* Example: Add detailed descriptions and transcripts to YouTube videos.
* Ideal video description length: 150-300 words.
* Tip: Include timestamps for long videos to improve user experience.
24. Detailed site audit
* Brief: Conduct a comprehensive review of your site's SEO health.
* Example: Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify technical SEO issues.
* Frequency: Conduct a full audit quarterly or bi-annually.
25. Write "great content" via deep topic research
* Brief: Create in-depth, valuable content that covers topics comprehensively.
* Example: Write a 3000-word ultimate guide on a specific aspect of your industry.
* Ideal content length: Varies by topic and intent, but long-form content (1500+ words) often ranks better.
* Tip: Focus on quality and comprehensiveness rather than arbitrary word counts.
26. EAT optimisation
* Brief: Demonstrate Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EAT).
* Example: Include author bios with credentials for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content.
* Tip: Link to authoritative sources and keep content up-to-date.
27. Page experience signals
* Brief: Address elements like intrusive interstitials and safe browsing issues.
* Example: Ensure pop-ups don't cover the main content on mobile devices.
* Tip: Use Google's Page Experience report in Search Console to identify issues.
28. Semantic SEO
* Brief: Use related keywords and entities to provide comprehensive topic coverage, meaning and intent.
* Example: In an article about "coffee brewing," include related terms like "espresso," "French press," and "coffee grind size.".
* Tip: Use tools like Google's Natural Language API to identify related entities.
29. Social signals
* Brief: Encourage social sharing to increase visibility and potential backlinks.
* Example: Add social sharing buttons to blog posts and create shareable infographics.
* Tip: Engage with your audience on social platforms to boost shares and engagement.
30. Build high-quality backlinks
* Brief: Earn links from reputable, relevant websites.
* Example: Create a valuable industry report that other sites will want to link to.
* Tip: Focus on quality over quantity; a few high-authority links are often more valuable than many low-quality ones.
31. Use PR backlink strategy
* Brief: Leverage public relations for natural link building.
* Example: Write press releases for major company milestones and distribute them through PR channels.
* Ideal press release length: 300-800 words.
* Tip: Focus on newsworthy events and provide genuine value to journalists and readers.
Bear in mind that the effectiveness of each tactic can vary depending on your specific situation and niche.
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