A Simple SEO Checklist for New Websites

Introduction

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can feel overwhelming, especially when you're launching a new website. The good news? You don't need to be an expert to get started. This straightforward checklist covers the essential SEO fundamentals every new website owner should implement from day one.

No jargon, no complicated technical terms – just practical steps that will help your customers find you online. Let's break down SEO into manageable tasks you can actually complete.

Technical SEO Basics

Technical SEO ensures search engines can properly access and understand your website. These foundational elements should be in place before you launch:

Mobile-friendly design: Your website must work perfectly on smartphones and tablets
Fast loading speed: Aim for pages that load in under 3 seconds
Secure connection (HTTPS): Your website should have an SSL certificate
XML sitemap: A file that lists all your website pages for search engines
Robots.txt file: Tells search engines which pages to crawl
Clean URL structure: Use simple, descriptive URLs (e.g., /services/web-design instead of /page?id=123)

Good News: If you're working with a professional web designer, they should handle most of these technical elements automatically. Always confirm this is included in your project.

On-Page SEO Elements

On-page SEO refers to the elements on each page that help search engines understand your content. Here's what every page needs:

Essential elements for each page:

Page title (Title Tag): A unique, descriptive title for each page (50-60 characters)
Meta description: A brief summary of the page content (150-160 characters)
Heading structure: Use H1 for main title, H2 for sections, H3 for subsections
Image alt text: Describe what's in each image for accessibility and SEO
Internal links: Link to other relevant pages on your website
Clear call-to-action: Tell visitors what to do next

Example of good page titles:

Page Type	Poor Title	Good Title
Homepage	Home	Professional Web Design Services \| Your Business Name
Services	Services	Custom Website Design Services in Cape Town \| Your Business
About	About Us	About Our Web Design Studio \| Your Business Name

Content Optimization

Quality content is the foundation of good SEO. Search engines want to show users helpful, relevant information. Here's how to optimize your content:

Write for humans first: Focus on being helpful and clear, not on stuffing keywords
Use natural keywords: Include terms your customers actually search for
Answer questions: Address common questions your customers ask
Keep paragraphs short: Break up text for easy reading (2-3 sentences per paragraph)
Use bullet points and lists: Make information scannable
Include relevant images: Break up text and illustrate your points
Update regularly: Fresh content signals an active, maintained website

Content Tip: Think about what questions your customers ask before buying. Create content that answers these questions thoroughly and helpfully.

Recommended content length by page type:

Page Type	Minimum Words	Purpose
Homepage	300-500	Overview of business and services
Service Pages	500-800	Detailed service descriptions
About Page	400-600	Your story and credentials
Blog Articles	800-1500	In-depth information and expertise

Local SEO Setup

If you serve customers in specific locations (most small businesses do), local SEO is crucial. These steps help you appear in local search results:

Google Business Profile: Create and verify your free listing (formerly Google My Business)
Consistent NAP: Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number are identical everywhere online
Location pages: Create pages for each location you serve
Local keywords: Include city/region names in your content naturally
Customer reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews
Local directories: List your business in relevant South African directories

Setting up your Google Business Profile is one of the most important steps for local SEO. It's free, takes about 15 minutes, and can significantly increase your visibility in local searches.

Local SEO Tip: When customers search for 'web designer near me' or 'web design Cape Town', a properly optimized Google Business Profile can put you at the top of results.

Monitoring & Maintenance

SEO isn't a one-time task – it requires ongoing monitoring and adjustment. Set up these free tools to track your progress:

Essential free SEO tools:

Google Analytics: Track website visitors, behavior, and conversions
Google Search Console: Monitor search performance and technical issues
Google Business Profile Insights: Track local search visibility
Page speed tools: Regularly check your website loading speed

Monthly SEO maintenance checklist:

Check Google Search Console for errors or warnings
Review which pages are getting traffic
Update old content with new information
Add new content (blog posts, service updates, etc.)
Check for broken links
Monitor page loading speed
Respond to customer reviews

Maintenance Tip: Set aside 1-2 hours per month for basic SEO maintenance. This small investment keeps your website healthy and visible.

Conclusion

SEO doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on these fundamental elements – technical setup, on-page optimization, quality content, local SEO, and regular monitoring – you're giving your new website a strong foundation for search visibility.

Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy. You won't see results overnight, but consistent effort following this checklist will gradually improve your search rankings and bring more customers to your website.

The most important thing? Start with the basics and do them well. Don't get overwhelmed trying to implement advanced strategies before you've mastered the fundamentals.

Need help implementing SEO for your new website? At Naledi Creative Labs, we build SEO-friendly websites from the ground up, ensuring all these elements are properly configured before launch.