SEO CHECKLIST

Step by step optimisation and what you need to know to launch a successful website

Welcome to Kasia’s SEO checklist. This section explains SEO as optimising a website to rank higher on search engines, increasing visibility and traffic. Key elements include keywords, meta tags, backlinks, and local SEO. The check list highlights SEO’s role in building trust and generating long-term leads.

It covers pre-launch optimisation, post-launch verification, and ongoing maintenance to keep a site search-friendly.

If at any time of reading it you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

T +44 (0) 1590 719 761

E admin@hampshirewebsites.com

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) helps a website show up higher on Google and other search engines so more people can find it. This is done by improving the website’s structure and content to make it easy to use and search-friendly. A well-optimised site gets more visitors.

Key parts of SEO:

  • Keywords – Using the right words people search for.

  • On-page tweaks – Improving titles, descriptions, and images.

  • Backlinks – Getting links from trusted websites.

  • Local SEO – Making businesses easier to find in local searches.

The better a website ranks, the more people visit, leading to more customers.

Why is SEO important?

SEO helps your business get found on Google. Higher rankings increase visibility, build trust, and bring a steady flow of leads. Without SEO, even a great website may go unnoticed. A new website won’t appear on Google if it’s not optimised with title tags, meta descriptions, and keywords. SEO ensures your site reaches the right audience.

SEO takes time—usually 4-6 months—but the results are worth it. Once ranked, your site attracts organic traffic without ongoing costs. Unlike quick but expensive Google Ads, SEO is a long-term investment with lasting benefits.

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

What can you do to improve your website’s chances of ranking high on Google?

Before publishing: optimise your site for search engines

Site information

  • Add a site title – Include a site title, as search engines may index this text. Keep it under 60 characters and include relevant keywords.

  • Add a site description – Write a short (50-300 characters), clear description of your site. This may appear in search results under your site title.

  • Add SEO descriptions – Each page should have a unique SEO description (50-300 characters) that accurately reflects its content.

Site Design

  • Add a favicon (Browser Icon) – A favicon enhances brand visibility in search results and browser tabs.

  • Set social sharing images – Assign images that will appear when your site is shared on social media. Customise these for the entire site, individual pages, blog posts, products, and events.

  • Create a custom 404 page – Design a helpful 404 page with links to key areas of your site to keep visitors engaged if they encounter a broken link.

  • Review content – Ensure all pages follow best content practices for readability and SEO.

Domain & URL Setup

  • Connect a custom domain – A branded domain improves your credibility and search rankings.

  • Integrate social media – Link your social profiles, enable social sharing, and push content automatically.

  • Enable SSL – Ensure your site is secured with SSL, as non-secure sites may be penalised in search rankings.

  • Optimise URL slugs – Use descriptive, readable URLs instead of random characters for blog posts, products, and pages.

  • Customise blog post URLs – Choose a structured format for blog URLs, ideally including the post title.

Location Information

  • Add your location – Businesses with a physical location should create a "Contact Us" page with an address and map for better local search rankings.

  • Set up a Google Business Profile – This improves visibility in local search results and helps manage business information across Google services.

After Publishing: Boost Your Search Presence

  • Verify your site with Google Search Console – Manage search visibility and track how visitors find your site.

  • Request indexing from Google – Ask Google to crawl and update its search results with your new content.

  • Connect Google Analytics – Monitor traffic, user behaviour, and site performance.

  • Enable AMP for blogs – Improve mobile loading speed by enabling Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP).

As Your Site Evolves: Keep It SEO-Friendly

  • Optimise new content – Continue following SEO best practices as you update your site.

  • Redirect broken or changed Links – Set up URL redirects when modifying page URLs to prevent broken links.

  • Keep content fresh – Regularly updating your site signals activity to search engines. Blogging is an effective way to maintain fresh content.

Any questions? Please call +44 (0) 1590 719 761 or email me at admin@hampshirewebsites.com