Mastering SEO Basics: A Simple Checklist for Success

Why Mastering SEO Basics is Crucial for Your Success

If you're looking for a basic seo checklist, you're probably already aware that getting your website to rank high on search engines like Google is essential. Understanding the basics of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can make or break your online presence. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:

1. Set Up Google Analytics: Track your website performance.
2. Register with Google Search Console: Monitor and troubleshoot your site's presence.
3. Install an SEO Plugin: Useful for managing SEO settings effortlessly.
4. Create and Submit a Sitemap: Helps search engines understand your site structure.
5. Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly.
6. Conduct Keyword Research: Find and use keywords relevant to your audience.

These steps are the foundation of a successful SEO strategy. They help search engines find, index, and rank your website. Over time, this can significantly increase your organic traffic and conversions.

I'm Chase Chappell. With experience in digital marketing and SEO, I’ve helped numerous Shopify brands master the basic seo checklist. Through my work at Chappell Digital Marketing and Sirge, I focus on simplifying complex SEO strategies to drive measurable results for brand owners like you.

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SEO Basics Checklist

To see SEO success, you need to have the basics covered. Here are some fundamental steps to get started.

Set Up Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools

Google Search Console (GSC) is a must-have tool for any website owner. It helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site's performance in Google search results. With GSC, you can:

• See which keywords users are searching for to find your site.
• Identify crawl errors.
• Submit sitemaps.

Setting up GSC is straightforward. Follow this guide to get started.

Bing Webmaster Tools serves a similar purpose but for Bing. It's beneficial to have both tools set up to cover all your bases. You can set it up here.

Set Up Google Analytics

Google Analytics is another essential tool. It’s free and provides insights into how users interact with your website. Here’s what you can do with it:

• Track traffic sources.
• Monitor user behavior.
• Measure bounce rates and page views.

Pro tip: Connect your GSC to Google Analytics to see helpful SEO information inside your Google Analytics account.

Follow this Google Analytics setup guide to get started.

Install and Configure an SEO Plugin

If you're using WordPress, an SEO plugin can make your life much easier. Popular options include:

• Yoast SEO
• All in One SEO Pack
• Rank Math

These plugins help with technical SEO tasks like creating XML sitemaps and optimizing meta tags.

Note: If you’re using a different CMS, check if a dedicated SEO plugin is needed.

Create and Submit a Sitemap

A sitemap is a file that helps search engines find, crawl, and index all of your website’s content. It highlights which pages are important and provides valuable information about them.

If you’re using WordPress, the sitemap is usually created automatically by your SEO plugin. If not, you can use a sitemap generator tool.

Submit your sitemap to both Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

Create a Robots.txt File

Robots.txt is a file that tells search engines which pages and files they should or shouldn’t crawl. This helps ensure that search engines focus on the most important parts of your site.

Learn how to set it up here.

Check Search Console for Manual Actions

Manual actions occur when a human reviewer at Google has determined that pages on your site are not compliant with Google’s webmaster quality guidelines. These can significantly affect your site’s ranking.

To check for manual actions:

1. Go to Google Search Console.
2. Steer to the Security & Manual Actions section.
3. Resolve any issues listed.

Make Sure Google Can Index Your Website

Your site must be indexable for it to appear in search results. To check this:

1. Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console.
2. Ensure there are no "noindex" tags on important pages.

You can also use Ahrefs Webmaster Tools for a comprehensive site audit.

By following these steps, you lay a solid foundation for your SEO efforts. Next, let’s dive into Keyword Research to find the best terms to target for your site.

Keyword Research Checklist

Identify Your Competitors

Knowing what keywords your competitors rank for can give you a head start. Use tools like the Keyword Gap Tool to compare your site with up to four competitors. This helps you find "missing" keywords they rank for but you don't, and "weak" keywords where they outrank you. These insights are crucial for planning your keyword strategy.

Find Your Main ‘Money’ Keywords

Your main "money" keywords are the high-volume, high-competition terms that drive leads and sales. These are often referred to as head terms or pillar page keywords. To find these, use the Domain Overview tool. Enter your domain to see top organic keywords that bring the most traffic. Focus on keywords with commercial and transactional intent for better conversions.

Find Long-Tail Keyword Variations

Long-tail keywords are specific phrases with lower search volumes but higher conversion rates. They're usually easier to rank for. Start by entering your main keyword into the Keyword Magic Tool. Use the "Questions" filter to find long-tail keywords phrased as questions. This can help you create content that answers specific queries, boosting your chances of ranking.

Create a Keyword Map

After identifying your target keywords, the next step is to map them to specific pages on your site. Use the Keyword Overview tool to find related keywords and export them to a spreadsheet. Group keywords that answer the same question together. This helps you visualize your site's structure and optimize each page for a specific set of keywords.

Analyze the Intent of Pages That Rank

Understanding search intent is crucial for matching your content to what users are looking for. There are four types of search intent: navigational, informational, transactional, and commercial. Use the Keyword Overview tool to quickly find a keyword's intent. Ensure your content matches this intent to improve your chances of ranking higher.

Identify Questions People Ask

Knowing the questions your audience has can help you create content that answers them. Use the Keyword Magic Tool and apply the "Questions" filter to find related questions for any keyword. This can provide great inspiration for blog posts, FAQs, and other content types. You can also filter by SERP features like "People also ask" to see what questions are popular.

Understand Your Ranking Difficulty

Assessing keyword difficulty helps you prioritize tasks and set realistic expectations. Use the "Keyword Difficulty" score in the Keyword Overview tool for a quick estimate. This score considers factors like competition and search volume, giving you an idea of how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword.

By following this keyword research checklist, you can build a strong foundation for your SEO strategy. Next, let's dive into the Technical SEO Checklist to ensure your site is optimized for search engines.

Technical SEO Checklist

Make Sure You’re Using HTTPS

HTTPS has been a ranking signal since 2014. It's crucial for both security and SEO. To check if your site uses HTTPS, look for a padlock icon next to your URL in the browser. If you don't see it, your site might be at risk and not SEO-friendly.

For a detailed analysis, use a Site Audit tool. It will show you issues related to security certificates and server protocols. Fixing these is essential for your site's SEO health.

Check for Duplicate Versions of Your Site in Google’s Index

Ensure Google indexes only one version of your site. Different versions like https://www.domain.com and http://domain.com should all redirect to a primary version. This prevents crawling, indexing, and security issues.

To check, enter each variant in your browser. If they all redirect to the primary version, you're good. Use 301 redirects to point all other versions to the main one.

Find and Fix Crawl Errors

Crawl errors occur when search engines can't access your site properly. These errors hurt your SEO. Use Google Search Console to identify them. Go to the Pages report under Indexing. Errors will show up under the Not indexed category.

Fixing these errors is crucial. They can include 404 errors and incorrectly canonicalized pages. Address these issues to improve your site's crawlability.

Improve Your Site Speed

Site speed is a critical ranking factor. Slow sites offer poor user experience and can hurt your SEO. Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to analyze your site's performance.

For more details, check the Core Web Vitals in your Site Audit tool. Focus on recommendations like optimizing images and minimizing JavaScript to boost speed.

Fix Broken Internal and Outbound Links

Broken links harm both user experience and SEO. When a link points to a non-existent page, it returns a 404 error. Use a Site Audit tool to find broken links.

Fix these by either updating the link to point to a valid page or setting up a 301 redirect to guide users and search engines.

Make Sure Your Website Is Mobile-Friendly

Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites. Use the Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see how your site performs on mobile devices. Ensure your site uses a responsive theme that adjusts to different screen sizes.

Also, optimize touch elements to make buttons and links easily tappable on smaller screens.

Use an SEO-Friendly URL Structure

Your URL structure should be clean and descriptive. Avoid long, complicated URLs. A good URL is short and includes relevant keywords. For example, https://www.example.com/seo-checklist is better than https://www.example.com/page?id=12345.

Add Structured Data

Structured data helps search engines understand your content better. Implement schema markup to improve how your pages appear in search results. This can lead to rich snippets, which increase click-through rates.

Check Your Site’s Crawl Depth

Crawl depth refers to how many clicks it takes to reach a page from the homepage. Important pages should be within three clicks. A shallow site structure helps search engines find and index your content more efficiently.

Check Temporary 302 Redirects

302 redirects are temporary and should be used sparingly. If a redirect is permanent, use a 301 redirect. This ensures that PageRank is passed correctly. Use a Site Audit tool to find any temporary redirects and update them if necessary.

Find and Fix Redirect Chains and Loops

A redirect chain occurs when a page redirects to another page that also has a redirect. This can confuse search engines and users. Avoid redirect loops, where a page redirects back to itself.

Use the Issues tab in your Site Audit tool to identify and fix these problems. Redirects should go directly from page A to page B.

By following these steps, you can ensure your site is technically sound and optimized for search engines. Next, let's move on to the Content & On-Page SEO Checklist to improve your site's content and user experience.

Content & On-Page SEO Checklist

Feature Relevant Keywords

Keywords are the backbone of SEO. They help search engines understand what your content is about. Use long-tail keywords—specific phrases people search for—to get better results. Integrate these keywords naturally into your content, including page names, headlines, and image captions.

Have a Clean Site Structure

A well-organized site structure makes it easy for users and search engines to steer. Use internal links to connect relevant pages. This helps Google understand your site's content and improves user experience. For example, link your blog posts to related products or services.

Feature Substantial Content

Google loves content that solves problems and answers questions. Aim for substantial content that is at least 200 words long. Make sure each page addresses a specific need or query. This helps in improving your search rankings and keeps visitors engaged.

Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Your title tag is the headline that appears in search results. It should be specific and include your main keyword. The meta description is a brief summary that encourages users to click through to your site. Both should be compelling and accurate.

Add Alt Tags to Images

Alt tags are text descriptions of images. They help search engines interpret your images and improve your SEO. Alt tags also make your site more accessible to people using screen readers. Keep them short and descriptive, like "chocolate cake with vanilla frosting."

Optimize for Mobile

More people use smartphones to browse the web, so your site must be mobile-friendly. Use a responsive design that adjusts to any screen size. Ensure all content is visible without scrolling sideways, and buttons are easy to tap.

Enable Fast Load Times

Slow websites can hurt your SEO and user experience. Aim for pages to load in under 2 seconds. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to find and fix issues. Compress images and minimize JavaScript to speed things up.

Install Google Search Console and Analytics

Set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track your site's performance. These tools help you understand how visitors interact with your site and identify areas for improvement.

Make Sure Your Website and URL Are Secure

Security is crucial for both SEO and user trust. Use HTTPS to secure your site. Install an SSL certificate to ensure data is encrypted. Google favors secure sites, so this can also boost your rankings.

By following this checklist, you can improve your site's content and user experience, making it more attractive to both search engines and visitors. Next, let's move on to the Keyword Research Checklist to identify the best keywords for your site.

Frequently Asked Questions about Basic SEO Checklist

What are SEO basics?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves improving your website to increase its visibility on search engines like Google. When people search for products, services, or information related to your business, SEO helps your website appear in the search results. The goal is to attract organic traffic—visitors who find your site through unpaid search results.

Key SEO basics include:

• Keyword Research: Find out what terms people are searching for related to your business.
• Content Creation: Develop high-quality content that provides value and answers questions.
• On-Page SEO: Optimize individual pages with keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags.
• Link Building: Get backlinks from reputable websites to signal trustworthiness.
• Technical SEO: Ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and free of technical issues.

What are the 5 important concepts of SEO?

Understanding these five concepts can help you improve your website’s SEO:

1. Keywords: These are the terms people type into search engines. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords.
2. On-Page Optimization: This involves optimizing each page’s content, title tags, and meta descriptions.
3. Off-Page Optimization: Focus on building backlinks from other reputable websites.
4. Content: High-quality, relevant content keeps visitors engaged and helps you rank higher.
5. User Experience: A well-designed, fast, and mobile-friendly site improves user satisfaction and SEO.

What are the basic rules of SEO?

Following these basic rules can help you get started with SEO:

• Google Indexing: Make sure Google can crawl and index your site. Use Google Search Console to check this.
• Descriptive URLs: Use short, keyword-rich URLs. For example, use "yourwebsite.com/seo-tips" instead of "yourwebsite.com/page12345."
• Reduce Duplicate Content: Avoid having multiple pages with the same content. Use canonical tags if necessary.
• Relevant Resources: Link to authoritative sources to support your content. This helps build trust with both users and search engines.

By understanding these fundamentals, you can lay a strong foundation for your SEO efforts. Next, let's dive into the Keyword Research Checklist to identify the best keywords for your site.

Conclusion

Mastering the basics of SEO is crucial for any website's success, especially for Shopify stores. By following our basic SEO checklist, you can significantly improve your site's visibility on search engines, attract more organic traffic, and ultimately grow your business.

Summary

SEO Basics: Start with essential tools like Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Google Analytics. These tools help you monitor your site's performance, track traffic, and identify areas for improvement.

Keyword Research: Identify your competitors, find your main 'money' keywords, and explore long-tail keyword variations. Creating a keyword map and understanding search intent are also vital steps.

Technical SEO: Ensure your site uses HTTPS, fix crawl errors, improve site speed, and make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Structured data and a clean URL structure are also important aspects of technical SEO.

Content & On-Page SEO: Feature relevant keywords naturally, maintain a clean site structure, and create substantial content. Optimize title tags, meta descriptions, and alt tags. Ensure your site is optimized for mobile and loads quickly.

Importance of SEO Basics

Understanding and implementing SEO basics is essential for any online business. SEO helps your site rank higher in search engine results, bringing in more organic traffic. This traffic is more likely to convert because these visitors are actively searching for what you offer.

Sirge's AI-Powered Growth Solutions

At Sirge, we specialize in providing AI-powered growth solutions custom to help your Shopify store thrive. Our tools analyze data from your store and offer actionable insights to improve your SEO, marketing, and overall performance.

• AI-Powered Insights: Uncover hidden opportunities and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
• Ecommerce Management: Streamline your operations from inventory management to customer support.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get custom advice that aligns with your specific business goals.
• Marketing Strategies: Craft targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with your audience and boost sales.

By leveraging Sirge's tools and strategies, you can set your Shopify store up for long-term success. Ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Explore our toolbox for more information on how Sirge can help you achieve explosive growth.

With a solid foundation and the right tools, your Shopify store can reach new heights. Keep refining your strategies, stay updated with the latest trends, and always prioritize the user experience. By doing so, you'll ensure sustained growth and success for your ecommerce business.