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🚀 SEO Launch Checklist for New Websites

Launching a new website? Here's a comprehensive SEO checklist to ensure your site is search-engine-ready from day one. From technical setup to content optimization, follow this guide to build a solid foundation for long-term SEO success.

Technical SEO Setup

  • Connect your site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, which helps monitor indexing and performance.
  • Install Google Analytics 4 or another analytics platform, so you can track user behavior and traffic trends.
  • Ensure mobile responsiveness and pass Core Web Vitals tests, therefore providing a fast, user-friendly experience.
  • Use HTTPS and redirect HTTP to HTTPS, as this improves both security and search rankings.
  • Generate and submit an XML sitemap and robots.txt file, which guides search engines efficiently through your site.

Keyword & Content Planning

  • Conduct keyword research using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs, so you can identify high-potential opportunities.
  • Map keywords to landing pages and blog posts, thereby ensuring each page targets relevant search intent.
  • Write SEO-optimized content with H1, H2, and H3 structure, which helps both users and search engines navigate your content easily.
  • Create compelling meta titles and descriptions, so that your pages attract clicks from search results.

On-Page Optimization

  • Optimize URLs for target keywords, which helps search engines understand page relevance.
  • Include alt text for all images, so that visually impaired users and search engines can interpret them correctly.
  • Add internal and external links, thereby improving site navigation and authority.
  • Use schema markup (FAQ, Article, LocalBusiness, etc.), which ensures enhanced search result appearance and rich snippets.

Performance & Speed

  • Compress images and use modern formats like WebP, so that page load times are faster for users.
  • Enable browser caching and minify CSS/JS, which helps reduce server requests and improve site speed.
  • Use a CDN, thereby delivering content more quickly to users worldwide.
  • Test performance using PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix, so you can identify areas for improvement.

Mobile Usability & UX

  • Ensure responsive design across devices.
  • Use readable fonts and structured navigation.
  • Avoid intrusive popups or interstitials.

Pre-Launch QA

  • Test all internal links and CTA buttons, so that users can navigate your site without errors.
  • Validate meta tags and structured data, which ensures search engines correctly interpret your content.
  • Check spelling, grammar, and layout issues, thereby maintaining professionalism and readability.
  • Preview all pages across desktop and mobile, so you can ensure a consistent user experience on all devices.

Launch & Post-Launch Steps

  • Remove test data and go live.
  • Request indexing in Google Search Console.
  • Monitor crawl status and traffic in GA4/GSC.
  • Promote on social, Quora, Reddit, and email lists.
  • Begin link building campaigns.
🔍 Pro Tip: Use tools like Surfer SEO or Clearscope to benchmark your content against competitors and fine-tune keyword usage and structure.
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