So you’re thinking about having a new website? I’ve put together 6 SEO Checklist for New Websites to guide you along the way and make sure your website is optimized for search engines which will help your customers easily find you online.
1. Accessibility
Make sure users and search engines can access your site easily and readily. If your page has a slow download time or if visitors are being directed to a page other than your own, people will most likely opt-out and not visit your site again. These are sometimes caused by missing or broken links on your site. Having too many plugins on your site, can also slow down your load time. Here are a couple of tools that you can use to check if your site is optimized for search engines: Google Webmaster Tools or SEOmoz Pro Web App.
Click on the image to go to their site!
2. Keyword Targeting
Have you worked on finding and using the right keywords to use on your site so your ideal customers can find you online? Base the content of your site on the products and services you are offering. And make sure that the keywords you’re using have good search volume, high relevance and low difficulty. So for example: You may have a better chance at finding your target market by using the word “thingiemabob” rather than “thingie”. You get my point! 🙂
3. Content Quality & Value
Does your site offer content in such a way that makes your customers happy? Did you offer them solution(s) to their problem(s)? Did you answer their question? Make sure your content is visually intriguing to your customers so they learn to trust you…so they’ll come and visit your site again…so they’ll tell their friends about you and your services.
4. Design Quality. User Experience and Usability
Unless you have a design background, maybe look into hiring someone that can help you with this. This is something you really can’t skimp on. Your website is an extension of you, for brand. You want this something that can provide an exceptional experience to your customers. Make sure it’s pleasing to the eyes, easy for people to navigate through, easy to read, and make sure it’s fast! I can’t stress this enough. If your customers are frustrated with your site, they’re not going to come back. And one more thing, make sure it’s viewable on mobile devices. Mobile marketing is on the rise, I’ll cover this on another topic. But if you want to succeed in this ever-evolving digital world, you need to exist where your customers are.
5. Social Account Set-up
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, SEO and Social Media makes for a very happy marriage. They’re a good complement to one another. And as such, using both in your marketing strategies will contribute to your overall online business success. It is so easy nowadays to share content across the web so at the very least, make sure you have a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ accounts.
6. Link Building
OK, so you’ve spent so much time crafting your content and using all the right keywords, but what good is it if no one reads it? Learn some organic ways how to direct more traffic to your site, by reading my article about “Link Building Best Practices”.
Good luck! Hope these handy SEO checklist for your new website will help you become more successful with your online business and let major search engines know your website exist.
Feel free to post below if you have any questions or comments or if you want to share other suggestions. Thank you for stopping by!
‘Til next time….
Jocelyn Wilhelm, JW Social Media CEO
About Jocelyn Wilhelm
This is a great tool to have. I printed this article along with your link building one. Thanks for the excellent info.
Dawn at Aimee Mobile Marketing recently posted..Comment on Facebook Ads on Mobile….Mobile Marketing Next? by admin
Thanks Dawn! Glad you found this list helpful!
Jocelyn
This is a great list for early adopters. Those who need to get the foot in the door to get themselves found. One more that is easy and can have relevant results for local search is to ensure they have registered their address on Google Places.
Mallie Dein recently posted..Custom Conundrum
Great suggestion Mallie!
Jocelyn
These are all great things for people getting ready to create a new site. But they are also things that those of us who have long standing sites need to remember. Sometimes as time goes on we get relaxed about doing the tags and keywords and link building. So it is good to have that little nudge of a reminder. 🙂
Cindy
Your Marketing University
You are so right Cindy! This guide goes for both new websites and websites that have been running for quite some time. I should have probably called this a “checklist and maintenance list” too. 🙂
Thanks,
Jocelyn
Thanks for sharing! Mobile marketing is on the rise, true! How are developers handling SEO and development of mobile sites in the US? Here in Sweden I see a lot of horrifying examples.
Great question Matthias! A lot needs to be addressed when it comes to SEO and mobile web. As you’re probably aware, implementing it during the design phase is complicated and not to mention, very expensive to optimize a website for mobile devices. For me, I use Google Analytics and go by what the data says on what we need to optimize first. I’d love to hear some of your examples though.
nice article, after panda update content is now the one important factor to make the website more user search as well user friendly,because both need to look for fresh!
rambabu seo recently posted..Onpage Optimization Factors – Every SEO should know . .
Great post Jocelyn.