In today's digital race, every website owner and business dreams of hitting the number one spot on Google. That's why we've put together a simple step-by-step guide. This guide breaks down the process, giving website owners and businesses like yours the straightforward steps needed to climb up Google's rankings. Let's make that top position a reality together!
Let's go on this SEO adventure and realise the full potential of your website.

SEO Checklist Overview : 

1. Understanding Client Business for SEO:
2. How To Do Keyword Research and Tips On Finalising Keywords with Client
3. Competition Analysis & On-Page SEO 
4. Local SEO Checklist 
5. Website Architecture for Quick SEO Results 
6. Image Optimization & Schema Markup Implementation 
7. SEO Audit & Technical SEO Analysis 
8. Off-Page SEO Tips & Overview 

1. Understanding Client Business for SEO:

To kickstart your SEO strategy, delve deep into understanding the client's business:

• Thorough Research:

• Conduct in-depth online research and explore industry forums for insights.
• Utilise free tools like Google Trends and Ubersuggest for initial data.

• Engage with Client:

• Initiate open discussions with the client's team to comprehend business goals.
• Make detailed notes of their specific requirements and desired outcomes.

• Define Target Location:

• Identify and define the geographical locations the client wishes to target.
• Leverage tools such as Google My Business and Google Trends for local insights.

• Tools to Consider:

• Free: Google Trends, Ubersuggest, Google
• Paid: SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz

This streamlined approach ensures a clear understanding of the client's objectives, facilitating the development of a targeted and effective SEO strategy.

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2. Keyword Research and Procedure of Finalising Keywords with Client:

For a powerful SEO strategy, initiate with thorough keyword research, ensuring it aligns with the client's objectives. 

• Competitor Analysis:

• Gain insight into the client's business by examining competitor URLs or use tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs.
• Analyse top competitors to unravel keyword strategies, also consider using Google Autosuggest for additional insights.
  

Choosing keywords for SEO demands a delicate balance between understanding user intent and appeasing the Google bot.

Here's a quick approach:

• User Psychology:

• Intent Behind Keyword:
  - Analyse user intent—informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.

• Align your keywords with the user's search purpose.

• Google Bot's Viewpoint:

• Keyword Difficulty:

• Assess competition using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
• Blend high and low difficulty keywords for a robust strategy.

• Search Volume Consideration:

• Prioritise keywords with balanced search volume and relevance.
• Opt for a mix catering to varied user segments.

• Business-Driven Keywords:

• Focus on Commercial & Transactional:

• Emphasise keywords that drive business and indicate user readiness to transact.
• Maintain a balance with informational & Commercial keywords for a comprehensive strategy.

Strike this balance to refine your SEO strategy, ensuring it resonates with users, satisfies search engines, and drives meaningful business results.

• Keyword Gap Analysis:

• Compare competitor and client domains to unearth keyword opportunities.
• Identify high-difficulty and neglected keywords where the client can excel.

• Create Keyword Sheets:

• Organise keywords into sheets, highlighting vital data such as search volume and difficulty.
• Schedule a meeting with the client to discuss and prioritise important keywords.

• Segregate Keywords:

• Categorise keywords based on business aspects, starting from generics to specific subcategories.
• Create a comprehensive sheet, emphasising high-volume and easily rankable keywords.

• Simplify for Understanding:

• Present the keyword sheets in a user-friendly format.
• Use visual cues such as highlighting to spotlight critical keywords.
  See example below (We did this for one of our client in yoga niche)
  
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• Meeting with Client:

• Conduct a meeting with the client to explain the keyword strategy.
• Emphasise the importance of focusing on high-value keywords for maximum impact.

• Tools to Consider:

• Free: Google Keyword Planner, Google Autosuggest.
• Paid: SEMrush, Ahrefs for competitor analysis and in-depth keyword research.

Local SEO Checklist:

• Local SEO Excellence:

• Geo-specific Keywords:

• Infuse location-specific keywords to enhance visibility in local searches.

• NAP Consistency:

• Ensure uniformity in NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) across all online platforms.

• Local Reviews:

• Encourage positive reviews from local customers to build trust.

• Community Engagement:

• Actively engage with the local community online, reinforcing your presence within the neighbourhood.

Seamlessly blend local SEO strategies into your overall approach, ensuring a robust digital presence not only on a global scale but also within your immediate community.

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Website Architecture Analysis for SEO:

Ensuring an optimised website architecture is fundamental for SEO success.

• EEAT Compliance:

• Align the website with Google's E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines.
• Clearly convey the expertise of the business, establish authority, and build trust with both users and search engines.

• Content-Rich Pages:

• Distribute a substantial amount of relevant content across pages.
• Focus on quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses user needs and aligns with targeted keywords.

• Simple Navigation:

• Ensure a simple and intuitive navigation structure for both users and search engine bots.
• Follow a logical hierarchy, allowing users to navigate seamlessly through the website.

• Subfolders for Scale:

• Consider using subfolders, especially for larger websites, similar to models adopted by platforms like Zomato and Swiggy.

• Subfolders aid in organising content efficiently, making it easier for users and search engines to navigate.
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• Note: if you want to learn more about swiggy & zomato SEO read here.
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• Optimise URLs and H-Tags:

• Craft SEO-friendly URLs, incorporating keywords where relevant.
• Optimise H-tags (H1, H2, H3) with targeted keywords, enhancing both user experience and search engine understanding.

• Keyword Integration:

• Incorporate keywords from the research process strategically across the website.
• Align content creation and page structuring with identified high-value keywords.

• Crafting Compelling Page Titles:

• Align titles with user intent and integrate strategic keywords.

• Engaging Meta Descriptions:

• Create concise descriptions offering clear insights, captivating users for higher click-through rates.

• User-Centric Approach:

• Prioritise a user-centric approach to website architecture.
• Consider how users typically navigate and consume content, ensuring an enjoyable experience.

• Mobile-Friendly Design:

• Optimise the website for mobile devices, adhering to Google's mobile-first indexing.
• Ensure a seamless experience for users on various devices, positively impacting SEO.

By incorporating these considerations into website architecture, CEOs and CMOs can create a strong foundation for SEO success, aligning the site with search engine algorithms while prioritising an optimal user experience.

Optimising Images for SEO:

Improve your website's SEO by optimising images:

• Compression:

• Compress images using tools like TinyPNG for faster loading.

• Filename and Keywords:

• Rename files with descriptive, keyword-rich names.
• Include relevant keywords naturally.

• Alt Text:

• Utilise alt text with keywords for accessibility and SEO.

• Responsive Design:

• Ensure images are responsive for various screen sizes.

• Sitemap and Lazy Loading:

• Include images in the XML sitemap for indexing.
• Implement lazy loading to improve page load times.

• Browser Caching:

• Configure browser caching for faster image loading.

• Regular Audits:

• Conduct periodic audits to update or remove outdated images.

These simple steps enhance both user experience and search engine visibility.

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Enhancing SEO with Schema Markup and Indexing:

Boost your website's visibility and structure with these SEO tactics:

• Schema Markup:

• Implement schema markup on crucial business pages.
• Utilise structured data to provide context and additional information to search engines.

• Types of Schema Markup for Various Use Cases:

• Local Business Schema:

• For brick-and-mortar businesses.
• Includes address, phone number, business hours.

• Product Schema:

• Ideal for e-commerce.
• Provides details like product name, price, availability.

• Article Schema:

• For content-based sites.
• Specifies headline, author, publication date.

• FAQ Schema:

• For pages with FAQs.
• Structured format for clear presentation.

• Review Schema:

• For businesses with reviews.
• Displays star ratings and snippets.

• Event Schema:

• For events and schedules.
• Includes date, time, venue.

• Breadcrumb Schema:

• Enhances site navigation.
• Shows page hierarchy in search results.

• Organization Schema:

• Showcases company details.
• Includes name, logo, social profiles.

• Person Schema:

• For personal profiles or authors.
• Provides name, image, biography.

• Page Submission & Indexing: 

• Submit important pages for indexing via Google Search Console.
• Utilise third-party tools like Bing Webmaster Tools for broader indexing coverage.

These practices not only enhance search engine understanding of your content but also ensure that your crucial pages are promptly indexed for improved visibility.

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Collaborative SEO Kick-off Meeting with Developers:

Initiate a collaborative meeting with developers at the onset of the keyword research process to synergise efforts for an optimised website. Prioritise the following activities:

• Initial SEO Audit:

• Begin with a thorough initial SEO audit to assess the website's current status.
• Identify and rectify any existing issues that might impact the website's search performance.

• Enhance Mobile Page Load Speed:

• Focus on improving the page load speed specifically for mobile devices.
• Optimise images, leverage browser caching, and consider a content delivery network (CDN) for faster loading.

• Ensure Mobile-Friendly Pages:

• Make pages inherently mobile-friendly to enhance the user experience on various devices.
• Prioritise responsive design principles to accommodate different screen sizes seamlessly.

• Code Cleanup and Minification:

• Collaborate with developers to remove unnecessary code and redundant JavaScript files.
• Implement CSS code minification to streamline the website's codebase and improve overall performance.

This collaborative effort ensures that technical aspects align with SEO goals, paving the way for a well-optimised website from both a user experience and search engine perspective.