# New Website SEO Launch Checklist

Launching a new website? This checklist walks you through every essential SEO step—from technical foundations to content optimization—so you can hit the ground running and capture organic traffic from day one.

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## 1️⃣ Pre‑Launch Technical Audit  

- [ ] Verify that the site is hosted on a fast, reliable server (response time < 200 ms).  
- [ ] Set up HTTPS with a valid SSL/TLS certificate and redirect all HTTP URLs to HTTPS.  
- [ ] Create and submit a **robots.txt** file that blocks only non‑essential pages (e.g., admin, staging).  
> 💡 Use `Disallow: /wp-admin/` and `Allow: /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` for WordPress sites.  
- [ ] Generate an XML sitemap that includes only canonical, indexable pages and submit it to Google Search Console (GSC) and Bing Webmaster Tools.  
- [ ] Ensure all pages return correct HTTP status codes (200 for live pages, 301 for moved content, 404 for removed pages).  
- [ ] Implement hreflang tags if the site targets multiple languages or regions.  
- [ ] Add a favicon and Apple touch icon for brand consistency across browsers and devices.  
- [ ] Set up structured data (Schema.org) for core content types (Article, Product, FAQ, Breadcrumb).  
- [ ] Verify mobile‑friendliness with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test; fix any viewport or tap‑target issues.  
- [ ] Enable caching (browser & server) and compress assets (gzip/Brotli).  

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## 2️⃣ On‑Page SEO Foundations  

- [ ] Conduct keyword research for each primary page; record target keyword, search volume, and intent.  
- [ ] Optimize title tags (≤ 60 characters) to include the primary keyword and brand name.  
- [ ] Write compelling meta descriptions (≤ 160 characters) with a call‑to‑action and target keyword.  
- [ ] Ensure each page has one H1 tag that matches the title tag and includes the primary keyword.  
- [ ] Use H2–H4 hierarchy to structure content; incorporate LSI keywords naturally.  
- [ ] Insert the primary keyword within the first 100 words of the page copy.  
- [ ] Optimize images: descriptive file names, alt text with keywords, and compressed size (< 100 KB).  
- [ ] Add internal links to at least 2–3 relevant pages per piece of content, using keyword‑rich anchor text.  
- [ ] Set canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues.  
- [ ] Verify that nothin​g‑index or nofollow tags are unintentionally applied to important pages.  

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## 3️⃣ Content Quality & User Experience  

- [ ] Publish at least 5 pillar/content hub pages covering core topics of the site.  
- [ ] Ensure each page has a minimum word count appropriate for its topic (e.g., 1,200 words for in‑depth guides).  
- [ ] Include multimedia (images, videos, infographics) to boost dwell time; add transcripts for video/audio.  
- [ ] Implement clear, descriptive CTAs above the fold and at the end of each content piece.  
- [ ] Conduct a readability test (Flesch‑Kincaid grade ≤ 8) and edit for clarity.  
- [ ] Add breadcrumb navigation for all interior pages.  
- [ ] Set up a 404 error page that suggests related content and includes a search bar.  
- [ ] Test page load speed with PageSpeed Insights; aim for ≥ 90 (mobile) and ≥ 95 (desktop).  
- [ ] Ensure all forms have proper validation and a thank‑you/confirmation page that is indexable (or blocked if not needed).  

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## 4️⃣ Local & International SEO (if applicable)  

- [ ] Create or claim a **Google Business Profile** and populate NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details.  
- [ ] Add the business address and phone number in schema markup (LocalBusiness).  
- [ ] Build citations on top local directories (Yelp, TripAdvisor, industry‑specific sites).  
- [ ] Set up location‑specific landing pages with unique, geo‑targeted content.  
- [ ] Verify that the site’s country code top‑level domain (ccTLD) or subdirectory matches the target region.  
- [ ] Submit the site to regional search engines (e.g., Yandex for Russia, Baidu for China) if relevant.  

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## 5️⃣ Analytics & Tracking  

- [ ] Install Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and verify data collection on all pages.  
- [ ] Link GA4 to Google Search Console for integrated reporting.  
- [ ] Set up conversion goals (form submissions, purchases, newsletter sign‑ups) in GA4.  
- [ ] Add UTM parameters to any pre‑launch marketing campaigns.  
- [ ] Enable event tracking for outbound links, video plays, and file downloads.  
- [ ] Configure Google Tag Manager (GTM) for flexible tag management; test all tags with preview mode.  

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## 6️⃣ Post‑Launch Monitoring  

- [ ] Crawl the live site with Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to catch 404s, broken links, and duplicate content.  
- [ ] Check GSC for indexing errors, coverage issues, and manual actions; resolve within 48 hours.  
- [ ] Monitor core web vitals (LCP, FID, CLS) in GSC and PageSpeed Insights; aim for “Good” scores.  
- [ ] Review organic traffic and keyword rankings after 7, 14, and 30 days; note any sudden drops.  
- [ ] Set up alerts for sudden traffic spikes or drops (Google Analytics custom alerts).  
- [ ] Conduct a backlink audit to ensure no toxic links are pointing to the new domain.  

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## 7️⃣ Ongoing SEO Maintenance (Monthly)  

- [ ] Refresh or expand existing content based on performance data and new keyword opportunities.  
- [ ] Add internal links to newly published articles where contextually relevant.  
- [ ] Audit and update meta titles/descriptions for click‑through rate (CTR) improvements.  
- [ ] Check for and fix any new broken links or 404 errors.  
- [ ] Review structured data for errors in GSC’s Rich Results report.  
- [ ] Build at least 3 high‑quality backlinks per month through outreach or content promotion.  

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## How to use this checklist  

1. **Print or duplicate** the list in your project management tool (e.g., Asana, Trello).  
2. **Assign owners** to each task—technical SEO to the dev team, content to writers, analytics to the marketer.  
3. **Mark items as complete** in real time; the checklist is designed for a linear flow but can be adapted to parallel workstreams.  
4. **Review the “💡 Tips”** for quick best‑practice reminders that often prevent common oversights.  
5. **Schedule the post‑launch monitoring** tasks for the exact dates listed (Day 1, Day 7, etc.) to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.  
6. **Re‑run the entire checklist** after major site updates or redesigns to maintain SEO health.  

Keep this checklist handy throughout the project and beyond—SEO is an ongoing process, not a one‑time launch task. Good luck!