39 Point New Website Launch SEO Checklist

LLaunching a website is cool, but honestly, just putting a site live doesn’t do anything. If you want traffic, rankings, or even basic visibility, you need some SEO setup from day one. Here’s the simple version of what actually matters.

1. Pre-Launch SEO Setup

Before you make the site public, get these basics done:

• Domain Name: Keep it short and easy. If it fits your niche, even better.
• Hosting: Don’t cheap out here. Pick something stable so the site doesn’t lag.
• SSL Certificate: Make sure the site is HTTPS. Google doesn’t like non-secure sites.

A few more things before launch:

• Mobile-Friendly: Your site should work properly on phone, tablet, laptop – everything.
• Robots.txt: Tell search engines what they can and can’t crawl.
• XML Sitemap: Upload it in Search Console so Google understands your site layout.

2. Keyword Research: Build the Base

This part decides what you’ll rank for.

• Primary Keywords: Use tools like Keyword Planner to find keywords with good volume.
• Long-Tail Keywords: These get fewer searches but convert way better.
• Competitor Research: Look at what your top competitors rank for and figure out the gaps.

3. On-Page SEO: Basic Page Optimization

• Title Tags: Keep them short and use the main keyword.
• Meta Descriptions: Write simple, clear descriptions so people know what the page is about.
• Heading Structure: Use H1 for the main topic, H2/H3 for sections. Keep it clean.

More on-page stuff:

• URLs: Short, clean URLs. No weird numbers or random strings.
• Images: Compress them and add alt text.
• Internal Links: Link related pages so users and Google can navigate your site better.

4. Technical SEO: Fix the Backend Stuff

• Speed: Use PageSpeed Insights and fix whatever slows your site.
• Mobile-First: Google checks mobile performance first, so don’t ignore it.
• Schema: Add structured data so your content is easier for Google to understand.
• Canonical Tags: Avoid duplicate content issues with proper canonicals.

5. Content Strategy: Don’t Just Publish for the Sake of It

• Quality Content: Write something useful. Not fluff. Not filler. Something that actually helps.
• E-A-T: Show expertise. Link credible sources. Prove you know your stuff.
• Blog/Resources: Publish content regularly – consistency is what works.

Content tips:

• Longer content (1000+ words) usually performs better because it covers topics in detail.
• User Intent: Understand what people actually want when they search – then write for that.

6. Off-Page SEO: Build Authority Slowly

• Backlinks: Earn good links through outreach, guest posts, PR, etc.
• Social Presence: Share your content so at least someone sees it at the start.
• Brand Mentions: Track unlinked mentions and turn them into backlinks when you can.

7. Local SEO (If your business serves a local area)

• Google Business Profile: Keep your info updated and consistent.
• Local Citations: Same NAP (name, address, phone) everywhere.
• Reviews: Get real customer reviews – they help with rankings and trust.

8. Analytics & Tracking

• Google Analytics: Check traffic and user behavior.
• Search Console: Look at indexing, search queries, and any errors.
• Monthly Audits: Clean up issues regularly so they don’t pile up.

9. Post-Launch SEO

• Indexing: Make sure Google actually indexes your pages.
• Broken Links: Fix them using tools like Screaming Frog.
• Content Refresh: Keep updating old content – it matters more than people think.

10. Stay Updated

• Follow new Google updates – things change often.
• Stay connected with SEO communities.
• Don’t stick to old strategies; update your approach when needed.

Final Thoughts

If you follow this checklist properly, your website won’t just “exist”, it’ll actually start performing. SEO isn’t a one-time thing. You build it slowly, you fix things regularly, and over time, the site grows.

So the real question is: Are you planning for a launch or planning for long-term growth?