Launching a website without SEO is like opening a shop with no sign on the door. Here’s the complete checklist we follow when setting up SEO for every new client website.
Technical Foundation
- ✅ SSL certificate installed (HTTPS)
- ✅ XML sitemap generated and submitted to Google Search Console
- ✅ robots.txt file configured correctly
- ✅ Clean permalink structure (yoursite.com/page-name, not ?p=123)
- ✅ Mobile-responsive design (test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test)
- ✅ Page load speed under 3 seconds (check with PageSpeed Insights)
- ✅ Core Web Vitals passing (LCP, INP, CLS)
- ✅ 404 page set up with navigation back to the site
- ✅ Canonical URLs configured to prevent duplicate content
On-Page SEO
- ✅ Unique title tag for every page (under 60 characters, includes primary keyword)
- ✅ Meta description for every page (under 155 characters, compelling and relevant)
- ✅ One H1 tag per page containing the primary keyword
- ✅ Logical heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
- ✅ Internal links between related pages
- ✅ Image alt text describing every image
- ✅ Images compressed and served in WebP format
- ✅ Schema markup (Organisation, LocalBusiness, BreadcrumbList)
Content Strategy
- ✅ Each page targets a specific keyword or keyword cluster
- ✅ Content answers real questions your customers are asking
- ✅ At least 500 words per core service/product page
- ✅ Blog plan targeting long-tail keywords your competitors aren’t covering
- ✅ Fresh content published at least twice per month
Local SEO (For UK Businesses)
- ✅ Google Business Profile set up and verified
- ✅ NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistent across all directories
- ✅ Local keywords in page titles and content (e.g., “web developer in London”)
- ✅ Listed on Yell, Bing Places, Apple Maps, and relevant industry directories
Tracking & Analytics
- ✅ Google Analytics 4 installed
- ✅ Google Search Console verified
- ✅ Conversion tracking set up (form submissions, purchases, calls)
- ✅ Monthly reporting schedule established
This is exactly the process we follow for every site we build. Every Hire The Creatives package includes full SEO setup — no extras, no add-ons. See our packages.
Hire The Creatives · Studio
Need this built — properly?
We design, build and rank fast, modern websites for businesses in every niche — web design, development, e-commerce and SEO under one roof.
See the Studio → Get a quote
Owned by you, not by an algorithm
Get web & SEO tips that actually move the needle
Short, occasional emails for business owners: what's changing in Google, how to win more enquiries, and the fixes worth your time. No spam, no jargon.