1. Planning & Setup
- Define your website’s purpose
- Brochure site? E-commerce? Lead generation?
- Choose a domain name
- Keep it short, brandable, and easy to spell (match your business name if possible)
- Select a hosting provider
- Shared hosting (Bluehost, SiteGround) for starters
- Consider speed/security (Cloudflare, WPX for scaling)
- Install SSL certificate (HTTPS – critical for SEO & trust)
2. Website Development
- Pick a platform/CMS
- WordPress (most flexible for SEO)
- Shopify (e-commerce)
- Squarespace/Wix (simpler but limited SEO)
- Mobile responsiveness
- Test on all device sizes (Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test)
- Core pages to include:
- Homepage (clear value proposition)
- About Us (builds trust)
- Products/Services (detailed with pricing if possible)
- Contact (phone, email, form, Google Maps)
- Blog (for SEO content)
- Privacy Policy & Terms (legal compliance)
3. On-Page SEO Essentials
- Keyword research
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic
- Target 3–5 focus keywords (mix of short- and long-tail)
- Optimize page elements:
- Title tags (under 60 chars, include keywords)
- Meta descriptions (under 160 chars, compelling CTA)
- Header tags (H1, H2, H3 with keyword variation)
- Content optimization:
- Original, helpful content (500+ words for blogs)
- Internal linking (link related pages/posts)
- Image optimization (compress with TinyPNG, use alt text)
4. Technical SEO
- Submit sitemap to Google Search Console
- Fix broken links (use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs)
- Improve page speed:
- Compress images (WebP format)
- Enable caching (WP Rocket plugin for WordPress)
- Minimize plugins (if using WordPress)
- Set up Google Analytics 4 & Search Console
5. Local SEO (For Brick-and-Mortar Businesses)
- Claim Google Business Profile (verify your listing)
- Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone # on website and directories)
- Get local citations (Yelp, Yellow Pages, industry directories)
- Encourage customer reviews (Google, Facebook)
6. Launch & Promotion
- Submit to search engines (Google, Bing)
- Set up social media profiles (link to website)
- Start a content calendar (blog consistently for SEO)
- Build backlinks:
- Guest posting
- Local sponsorships
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
7. Maintenance
- Update content regularly (refresh old posts)
- Monitor rankings (free tools like Google Search Console)
- Check for 404 errors monthly
- Back up your site weekly
Pro Tips for Small Businesses
- Free Tools: Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Keyword Planner
- Prioritize UX: Fast load times > fancy design (53% of users leave if a site takes >3 sec to load)
- Start small: Focus on 1–2 social platforms where your audience lives