SEO Checklist
The fixes that actually move rankings, not a 70+ items audit dump.
On-Page SEO
0/16- CriticalTitle tag optimized
50-60 chars, includes primary keyword
- HighMeta description present
120-160 chars, compelling CTA
- CriticalH1 tag exists
Single H1 per page with main keyword
- HighHeading hierarchy correct
H1 > H2 > H3, no skips
- MediumImage alt text on all images
Descriptive alt for accessibility & SEO
- HighInternal linking
Relevant links to other site pages
- MediumKeyword in first paragraph
Natural placement near top
- HighContent length adequate
Sufficient depth for topic
- MediumURL is SEO-friendly
Short, descriptive, uses keywords
- CriticalMeta robots allows indexing
No noindex unless intended
- CriticalCanonical URL set
Prevents duplicate content issues
- MediumOpen Graph tags
Social sharing previews configured
- MediumBreadcrumb navigation + schema
Improves UX and shows breadcrumb trail in search results
- MediumTable of contents on long-form pages
Boosts featured-snippet eligibility and scannability
- MediumOutbound links to authoritative sources
Reinforces topical trust and relevance
- HighNo duplicate titles/descriptions across pages
Templated tags across many pages confuse ranking signal
Technical SEO
0/18- CriticalSSL/HTTPS enabled
Secure connection for users
- CriticalMobile responsive
Works on all device sizes
- HighPage speed under 3s
Fast load time for users
- CriticalXML sitemap present
Helps search engines crawl
- CriticalRobots.txt configured
Proper crawl directives
- HighNo broken links
All links return 200
- MediumStructured data/Schema
JSON-LD for rich snippets
- MediumHreflang tags (if multilingual)
Language/region targeting
- MediumLazy loading for images
Improves initial load
- MediumGZIP compression
Reduces transfer size
- HighNo duplicate content
Unique or canonicalized
- MediumClean URL structure
Readable, logical paths
- HighServer response time (TTFB) is fast
Slow TTFB delays everything downstream, including crawl efficiency
- MediumNo mixed-content warnings
HTTP resources loaded on an HTTPS page get flagged as insecure
- MediumCustom 404 page with navigation
Keeps users on-site instead of bouncing on dead links
- HighJS-rendered content is actually crawlable
Client-side-only content can be missed or delayed by crawlers
- MediumSecurity headers configured (HSTS, CSP)
Signals a well-maintained, trustworthy site
- MediumNo orphan pages
Pages with zero internal links in are hard for crawlers to find
Content
0/14- CriticalUnique and valuable content
Original, not copied
- CriticalKeyword research done
Target terms identified
- MediumContent freshness/updated
Regular updates when needed
- MediumReadability score good
Easy to scan and read
- HighNo thin content
Substantial, useful content
- MediumFAQ section
Answers common questions
- CriticalContent matches search intent
Fulfills user intent
- MediumMultimedia used
Images, video where helpful
- HighNo keyword stuffing
Natural keyword usage
- HighContent is comprehensive
Covers topic thoroughly
- MediumTopic clusters / pillar-page structure
Organizes related content around a pillar page for topical authority
- HighAuthor bio/credentials shown (E-E-A-T)
Demonstrated expertise matters most on YMYL topics
- MediumContent gap analysis vs competitors
Surfaces topics competitors rank for that you're missing
- MediumPlagiarism/originality check before publish
Copied or spun content can get filtered out entirely
Off-Page SEO
0/12- MediumGoogle Business Profile
Optimized for local search
- MediumSocial media profiles linked
Consistent presence
- HighBacklink strategy
Quality link building plan
- MediumGuest posting plan
Outreach for placements
- MediumBrand mentions monitored
Track unlinked mentions
- MediumLocal citations (if local)
NAP consistency
- MediumReview management
Respond to reviews
- HighCompetitor analysis done
Understand competitive landscape
- MediumDofollow/nofollow ratio looks natural
A backlink profile that's too clean can look manipulated
- MediumDisavow file reviewed for toxic links
Protects against penalties from bad-neighborhood links
- MediumDigital PR / press coverage pursued
High-authority mentions are the hardest links to fake
- MediumCompetitor backlink gap analyzed
Finds link sources competitors have that you don't yet
Analytics & Monitoring
0/12- CriticalGoogle Analytics installed
Traffic data tracked
- CriticalGoogle Search Console verified
Search performance data
- HighSitemap submitted
Submitted to GSC
- HighCore Web Vitals monitored
LCP, FID, CLS tracked
- Medium404 errors tracked
Broken pages identified
- MediumRanking tracking setup
Keyword positions monitored
- HighConversion tracking
Goals and events configured
- MediumRegular SEO audits scheduled
Ongoing optimization
- HighKeyword cannibalization report reviewed
Multiple pages competing for the same query split rankings
- MediumCTR per query reviewed in Search Console
Low CTR on good rankings usually means the title/meta need work
- MediumBounce rate / engagement time monitored
Signals whether content actually matches what searchers wanted
- MediumUptime monitoring configured
Downtime during a crawl damages trust and can drop rankings