SEO doesn't have to be complicated. This checklist breaks down everything a small business needs to do to improve search rankings and drive more organic traffic.
Technical SEO Checklist
Website Foundation
- [ ] Site loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
- [ ] Website is mobile-responsive
- [ ] SSL certificate installed (https://)
- [ ] XML sitemap created and submitted to Google Search Console
- [ ] Robots.txt file properly configured
Core Web Vitals
- [ ] Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 seconds
- [ ] First Input Delay (FID) under 100 milliseconds
- [ ] Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) under 0.1
Crawlability
- [ ] No orphan pages (every page linked internally)
- [ ] Clean URL structure (e.g., /services/web-design not /page?id=123)
- [ ] No broken internal links (404 errors)
- [ ] Proper use of canonical tags
On-Page SEO Checklist
Title Tags
- [ ] Unique title for every page
- [ ] Primary keyword near the beginning
- [ ] Under 60 characters
- [ ] Includes brand name
Meta Descriptions
- [ ] Unique description for every page
- [ ] 150-160 characters
- [ ] Includes primary keyword naturally
- [ ] Compelling call-to-action
Header Tags
- [ ] One H1 per page with primary keyword
- [ ] H2s used for main sections
- [ ] Logical heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
- [ ] Headers describe content accurately
Content Optimization
- [ ] Minimum 500 words for service pages
- [ ] Minimum 1,500 words for blog posts
- [ ] Primary keyword in first 100 words
- [ ] Related keywords used naturally throughout
- [ ] Content answers user questions comprehensively
Images
- [ ] Descriptive file names (e.g., "blue-widget-product.jpg")
- [ ] Alt text for all images with relevant keywords
- [ ] Images compressed for fast loading
- [ ] Next-gen formats (WebP) when possible
Local SEO Checklist
Google Business Profile
- [ ] Profile claimed and verified
- [ ] Business name, address, phone consistent everywhere (NAP)
- [ ] Correct business categories selected
- [ ] Complete business description with keywords
- [ ] Photos uploaded (exterior, interior, team, products)
- [ ] Regular posts (weekly minimum)
- [ ] Q&A section monitored and answered
Local Citations
- [ ] Listed on major directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc.)
- [ ] Industry-specific directories
- [ ] NAP consistent across all listings
- [ ] Duplicate listings removed
Reviews
- [ ] Active review generation strategy
- [ ] All reviews responded to within 24-48 hours
- [ ] Negative reviews addressed professionally
Content SEO Checklist
Blog Strategy
- [ ] Publishing schedule established (minimum 2x/month)
- [ ] Keyword research for each post
- [ ] Posts optimized for specific long-tail keywords
- [ ] Internal links to service pages
- [ ] External links to authoritative sources
Content Types
- [ ] How-to guides for your services
- [ ] Industry trend articles
- [ ] FAQ pages addressing common questions
- [ ] Case studies and success stories
- [ ] Local content for your service area
Link Building Checklist
Foundation Links
- [ ] Social media profiles created and linked
- [ ] Industry association directories
- [ ] Chamber of commerce listing
- [ ] Better Business Bureau (if applicable)
Ongoing Link Building
- [ ] Guest posting strategy
- [ ] Local partnerships and sponsorships
- [ ] PR and local news coverage
- [ ] Quality over quantity approach
Measurement Checklist
Tools Setup
- [ ] Google Search Console connected
- [ ] Google Analytics 4 installed
- [ ] Rank tracking for target keywords
- [ ] Monthly reporting schedule
Key Metrics to Track
- [ ] Organic traffic (month over month)
- [ ] Keyword rankings for target terms
- [ ] Click-through rate from search results
- [ ] Conversions from organic traffic
- [ ] Page speed scores
Priority Order
If you're just starting, focus on these areas first:
- Technical foundation (speed, mobile, security)
- Google Business Profile (for local businesses)
- On-page optimization for key service pages
- Content creation for target keywords
- Link building for authority
Need Help With SEO?
This checklist gives you a roadmap, but SEO takes consistent effort over time. If you'd rather focus on running your business while experts handle your SEO, contact us to learn about our SEO services.
