SEO Checklist
Follow this SEO checklist to benefit from the same processes and techniques
we use at Backlinko to skyrocket our traffic and provide content our readers
love.
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Position Tracking, and more.
SEO Basics ✓
Set up Google Search Console
Install Bing Webmaster Tools
Set up Google Analytics
Install Yoast SEO (WordPress and Shopify)
Identify your project’s KPIs
Set up rank tracking
Get a free Semrush account (or start a 14-day free trial)
Keyword Research ✓
Identify your target market
Discover long tail keywords with Google Suggest
Find keywords with the Backlinko keyword tool
Tap into online communities
Identify low competition keywords with Semrush’s Keyword Magic
Tool
Find question keywords
Conduct a topical authority analysis with this sheet
On-Page SEO ✓
Include your keyword in your URL
Use short URLs
Front-load your keyword in your title tag
Embed title tag modifiers
Use your keyword within the first 150 words
Use your target keyword in H1, H2 or H3 tags
Optimize your images
Use synonyms and LSI keywords
Use external links
Use internal links
Content Checklist ✓
Chunk your content to maximize readability
Focus on content formats that are working right now
Think about information gain
Use multimedia
Technical SEO ✓
Identify crawling and indexing errors
Find out how Google views your pages in GSC
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
Fix broken links
Secure your site with HTTPS
Check your site’s loading speed (Core Web Vitals)
Use schema markup
Link Building ✓
Contribute expert quotes to media outlets
Create linkable assets for journalists (digital PR)
Reverse engineer your competitors’ backlinks
Become a podcast guest
Mention influencers in your blog posts
Advanced SEO Tips ✓
Optimize your site for user experience signals
Delete “dead weight” pages
Update and relaunch outdated content
I hope you found this SEO checklist helpful! You can see our complete library
of 20+ other marketing templates here. Including other SEO templates.
Leigh McKenzie
Head of Growth, Backlinko.com