A DIY SEO Checklist If You Are Just Getting Started

SEO - you know you need it but you don’t know where to put it! This short checklist is designed to help you stop overthinking SEO but start adding in best practices a little bit at a time.

Here’s to taking the guesswork out of a few key ways to help your website get noticed and ranked.

1. Site Title and Description

   • Google is looking at your Site Title first and foremost! Make sure that this is clear and searchable. Naming is important. Consider adding keywords to your homepage naturally. Example: Website Designer for Small Businesses in Nashville. Location helps too! Adding in information about location helps Google rank you for people searching in your area.

2. Page Titles and Descriptions

   • In every description box, you will want to add information about products, services, etc. This can be 1-2 sentences (160 characters or less) telling people why to click. Try adding a call to action at the end. While this won’t show up on your website, it will under your link in Google.

3. URL Slugs

   • These are the words that appear after the ‘important’ stuff in your links. Changing the names to searchable words, or titles of a post help! Example: “/about-me” is better than “/page-id=124.”

4. Renaming Images

   • Simple as changing the name on your image while saving it to your computer to your business name and a keyword! Example: Instead of “IMG_3021,” write “woman working at desk with mood board and laptop.” This can be something you work on editing over time if your website is already established.

5. Fix Broken Links

   • Anywhere you have a 404 Error message, work to either take the link down or edit accordingly. In Squarespace, there is a way to customize your 404 Page so that if someone does get this error message, they can be directed back to helpful links.

6. Linking to Other Internal Links

   • This is helpful if you are referencing articles or other things you have written or are on your site. This helps Google notice that your site is connected within itself and not just random pages individually working on their own.

You don’t have to do SEO alone. It can feel daunting, but I am here to help if you need a website designer’s brain to consult on your website. Schedule an office hours call or inquire for rates! I am here to be in your corner, whether that is for your small business, ministry, event, or as a personal brand. Let’s create marketing magic together!