Here’s what every new site should include to rank well and grow organically:
1. Keyword Research
Start with understanding what your audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to discover relevant keywords with the right intent. Build content and pages around these terms—focusing on what your users need, not just what gets searched.
Related post: What Makes a Website Actually Work for Your Business?
2. On-Page SEO Essentials
Write unique meta titles and meta descriptions for each page
Use proper heading structure (H1 for titles, H2/H3 for sections)
Include target keywords naturally in URLs, headings, and throughout your content
Ensure each page has a clear, descriptive, SEO-friendly URL (e.g.,
/wordpress-developmentrather than/page-id-4)
3. Image Optimisation
Use descriptive filenames (e.g.,
seo-checklist-for-new-sites.jpg)Add keyword-relevant alt text for accessibility and search rankings (Why Website Accessibility Matters)
Compress images for performance — smaller files = faster load times
Tip: Tools like TinyPNG help reduce file size without quality loss.
4. Mobile Optimisation & Site Speed
Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your site must perform flawlessly on smartphones and tablets.
Use responsive design
Implement lazy loading (Lazy Loading Images: The SEO-Boosting, Speed-Improving Trick)
Check performance with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights
Explore: Website Maintenance to learn how ongoing upkeep supports speed and performance.
5. Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Add JSON-LD schema markup to your pages to tell search engines about your business, services, and reviews. Structured data boosts your chances of rich snippets in search results — vital for local SEO and credibility (Moz Guide to Structured Data).
See also: Why Website Accessibility Matters for Linking Accessibility Features to SEO Benefits.
6. Internal Linking Strategy
Link between your blog posts, services, and key content pages. This improves SEO by helping search engines crawl your site more efficiently and improves UX by guiding users to related content.
Helpful link: Strategy & Planning blog category
Final Thoughts
SEO is never a one-time task. But starting with a solid SEO foundation ensures everything you publish afterward has the best chance of being seen, ranking well, and converting visitors into customers.
