Verify in Google Search ConsoleHighGetting Started

Add and verify your site in GSC to monitor indexing, crawl errors, and search performance.

Submit XML sitemapHighGetting Started

Create and submit sitemap.xml to GSC so Google can discover all your pages.

Check robots.txtHighGetting Started

Ensure robots.txt doesn't block important pages. Test it in GSC's robots.txt Tester.

Unique title tags (50-60 chars)HighOn-Page

Each page should have a unique, descriptive title including your primary keyword.

Meta descriptions (120-160 chars)HighOn-Page

Write compelling meta descriptions that improve CTR even though they don't directly affect ranking.

One H1 per pageHighOn-Page

Each page should have exactly one H1 that includes the primary keyword.

Image alt textMediumOn-Page

Add descriptive alt attributes to all images for accessibility and image search.

Internal linkingMediumOn-Page

Link to related pages within your site to distribute PageRank and improve crawlability.

Keyword in URL slugMediumOn-Page

Use short, descriptive URLs with the target keyword. Use hyphens to separate words.

HTTPS enabledHighTechnical

Ensure your site uses HTTPS. Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal.

Mobile-friendly designHighTechnical

Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test. Google uses mobile-first indexing.

Page speed < 3 secondsHighTechnical

Use PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix performance issues.

Fix crawl errorsHighTechnical

Check GSC Coverage report and fix 404s, server errors, and redirect issues.

Canonical tagsMediumTechnical

Use rel=canonical to prevent duplicate content issues.

Structured data / JSON-LDMediumTechnical

Add Schema.org markup (Article, Product, FAQ, HowTo) to enable rich results.

Core Web Vitals passHighTechnical

LCP < 2.5s, INP < 200ms, CLS < 0.1. Check in GSC Core Web Vitals report.

Keyword researchHighContent

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or free alternatives to find target keywords.

Topic clusters / pillar pagesMediumContent

Organize content into pillar pages and cluster pages to establish topical authority.

E-E-A-T signalsHighContent

Show Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust: author bios, citations, About page.

Content length (match intent)MediumContent

Match content depth to user intent. Informational queries often rank better with comprehensive content.

Update stale contentMediumContent

Refresh old posts with new data, examples, and updated publish dates.

Backlink auditMediumLink Building

Use Ahrefs or Google Search Console to review your backlink profile and disavow toxic links.

Competitor backlink analysisMediumLink Building

Find link opportunities by analyzing where competitors get their backlinks.

Google Business ProfileHighLocal SEO

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile for local search visibility.

NAP consistencyHighLocal SEO

Ensure Name, Address, Phone is consistent across your website and all directories.

Open Graph tagsMediumSocial

Add og:title, og:description, og:image for attractive social media link previews.

Twitter Card tagsLowSocial

Add twitter:card, twitter:title, twitter:image for rich Twitter link previews.

SEO Checklist