# New Website SEO Launch Checklist

Launching a new website? This checklist walks you through every critical SEO step—from pre‑launch technical prep to post‑launch performance monitoring—so you can start ranking fast and avoid common pitfalls. Print it out, tick each box, and keep it handy as you go live.

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## 1️⃣ Pre‑Launch Technical Foundations  

- [ ] Verify that the site is hosted on a fast, reliable server (aim for < 200 ms Time to First Byte).  
- [ ] Set up HTTPS with a valid SSL/TLS certificate and enforce 301 redirects from HTTP to HTTPS. > 💡 Use **Let’s Encrypt** for free certificates and enable HSTS (max‑age ≥ 31536000).  
- [ ] Install and configure Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools for the new domain.  
- [ ] Create a **robots.txt** file that blocks only non‑essential pages (e.g., admin, staging).  
- [ ] Generate and submit an XML sitemap (max 50,000 URLs) to both Google and Bing.  
- [ ] Ensure canonical tags are present on all duplicate‑prone pages (e.g., pagination, printer‑friendly versions).  
- [ ] Set up a 404 custom page with helpful navigation and a search box.  
- [ ] Implement structured data (Schema.org) for core content types (Article, Product, FAQ, Breadcrumb).  
- [ ] Add a **rel="next/prev"** for paginated series where applicable.  
- [ ] Verify that all internal links are **relative** or correctly absolute to avoid broken redirects after launch.  

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## 2️⃣ Content & On‑Page Optimization  

- [ ] Conduct keyword research for primary, secondary, and long‑tail terms per page.  
- [ ] Write unique, compelling title tags (≤ 60 characters) that include the target keyword near the beginning.  
- [ ] Craft meta descriptions (≈ 150‑160 characters) with a clear call‑to‑action and primary keyword.  
- [ ] Use H1 tags for the main headline; ensure only one H1 per page.  
- [ ] Optimize header hierarchy (H2‑H4) with secondary keywords and logical structure.  
- [ ] Include the target keyword in the first 100 words of the copy.  
- [ ] Optimize images: descriptive file names, alt attributes with keywords, and compressed to ≤ 100 KB.  
- [ ] Add internal links to at least 2–3 relevant pages per piece of content.  
- [ ] Ensure content length meets SERP expectations (e.g., 1,200+ words for pillar pages).  
- [ ] Implement outbound links to authoritative sources (≥ 30 days old, high domain authority).  

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## 3️⃣ Site Architecture & Navigation  

- [ ] Design a logical, shallow site hierarchy (max 3 clicks from homepage to any page).  
- [ ] Create a breadcrumb trail on all interior pages.  
- [ ] Ensure primary navigation uses **text links** (not images or JavaScript) for crawlability.  
- [ ] Add a footer with links to important pages (Contact, About, Privacy, Sitemap).  
- [ ] Set up a consistent URL structure: `https://example.com/category/keyword-friendly-page/`.  
- [ ] Remove or noindex thin or duplicate pages (e.g., tag archives, low‑value category pages).  
- [ ] Verify that pagination uses `rel="next"` and `rel="prev"` tags.  
- [ ] Implement lazy loading for below‑the‑fold images, but ensure they load for crawlers (use `loading="lazy"`).  
- [ ] Test mobile navigation (hamburger menu) for accessibility and clickability.  

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## 4️⃣ Performance & Mobile Optimization  

- [ ] Run a Lighthouse audit; achieve **≥ 90** for Performance, Accessibility, and Best Practices.  
- [ ] Enable **gzip** or **Brotli** compression on server for HTML, CSS, JS files.  
- [ ] Set appropriate cache‑control headers (e.g., `max-age=31536000` for static assets).  
- [ ] Optimize Core Web Vitals:  
  - LCP < 2.5 s  
  - FID < 100 ms  
  - CLS < 0.1  
- [ ] Use responsive design; verify that content scales correctly on devices from 320 px to 2560 px.  
- [ ] Eliminate render‑blocking resources: defer non‑critical JS, inline critical CSS.  
- [ ] Ensure tap targets are ≥ 48 × 48 dp with adequate spacing.  
- [ ] Check for viewport meta tag (`width=device-width, initial-scale=1`).  

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## 5️⃣ Analytics & Tracking  

- [ ] Install Google Analytics 4 (GA4) via **gtag.js** or Tag Manager.  
- [ ] Set up a **Google Tag Manager** container for all future tags.  
- [ ] Create conversion goals (e.g., form submissions, phone clicks, e‑commerce transactions).  
- [ ] Enable **Enhanced Measurement** for scroll depth, outbound clicks, and site search.  
- [ ] Add **Google Ads conversion tracking** if running paid campaigns.  
- [ ] Verify that UTM parameters are used on all external marketing links.  
- [ ] Set up **Search Console Performance** alerts for sudden drops in clicks or impressions.  

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## 6️⃣ Post‑Launch Verification  

- [ ] Crawl the live site with Screaming Frog (or similar) to catch 404s, redirect loops, and missing tags.  
- [ ] Check indexation status in Search Console → Coverage report; resolve any “Submitted URL not indexed” issues.  
- [ ] Verify that the XML sitemap is up‑to‑date and still accessible (`/sitemap.xml`).  
- [ ] Confirm that canonical tags point to the correct URLs.  
- [ ] Run a **mobile‑friendly test** (Google) and address any failures.  
- [ ] Submit the new robots.txt file (if changed) via Search Console “Robots.txt Tester.”  
- [ ] Monitor Core Web Vitals in Search Console > Page Experience for the first 30 days.  
- [ ] Check for any **manual actions** or security issues in Search Console.  
- [ ] Ensure social sharing meta tags (Open Graph, Twitter Cards) are correctly populated.  
- [ ] Review analytics data after 24 h for any traffic anomalies or bounce‑rate spikes.  

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## 7️⃣ Ongoing SEO Maintenance (First 90 Days)  

- [ ] Publish at least 2–3 high‑quality blog posts targeting long‑tail keywords.  
- [ ] Build 5–10 backlinks from relevant, high‑authority sites (guest posts, outreach).  
- [ ] Refresh top‑performing pages with updated stats, images, or internal links.  
- [ ] Conduct a weekly rank‑tracking report for primary keywords.  
- [ ] Review and update the XML sitemap quarterly or after major content additions.  
- [ ] Perform a monthly technical audit (crawl errors, broken links, duplicate content).  
- [ ] Optimize any under‑performing pages (high impressions, low CTR) by tweaking titles/meta.  

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## How to use this checklist  

1. **Print or duplicate** the list in your project management tool (Asana, Trello, Notion, etc.).  
2. **Assign owners** – designate a team member for each section (e.g., dev, content, SEO, design).  
3. **Prioritize** – complete all items in the *Pre‑Launch Technical Foundations* before moving to *Content & On‑Page*.  
4. **Check off** each box as you finish it; the visual progress helps keep the launch on schedule.  
5. **Schedule a post‑launch review** (Day 1, Day 7, Day 30) to verify that every item remains in compliance.  
6. **Iterate** – use the “Ongoing SEO Maintenance” section as a recurring sprint backlog to keep rankings improving.  

✅ When every box is ticked, you’ve covered the essential SEO bases for a successful website launch. Good luck!