Must-To-Do Comprehensive SEO Checklist for 2021

If you were looking for SEO Checklist, then you have landed on the perfect blog post.

Performing random SEO strategies is futile. We have compiled the best SEO practices that you need to drive SEO success in 2021, covering the best practices and tasks that you should be aware of without any delays.

This guide covers SEO must-dos when viewing your off-page signals, keep this as a reference point for ensuring that your site is adhering to best-practice and experience the drastic difference in your Google rankings.

Here is the main topic we will cover in this guide:

• Tips to Use This SEO Checklist
• SEO Basics Checklist
• Your Go-To Keyword Research Checklist
• Technical SEO Checklist
• On-Page SEO and Content Checklist
• Off-Page SEO Checklist

Tips to Use This SEO Checklist

We have bifurcated this checklist down into sections that cover the pivotal focus areas of SEO; the basics, keyword research, technical SEO, on-page SEO, and content and off-page factors.

If your website covers all these points, then it is great. If not, then fret not. Just make sure that you cover most of these points to experience the difference in your ranking.

 SEO Basic Checklist

If you did the rookie mistake of considering the basics are nugatory, then it is time to reverse the action.

The enlisted points are very much housekeeping tasks but form the basics of implementing a cohesive SEO strategy.

1. Set Up Bing Webmaster Tools and Google Search Console

Google Search Console is an avital tool that offers you useful insights into your site’s performance as well as a wealth of data that you can use to boost your site’s organic visibility and traffic.

These essential tools allow you to see what search terms and keywords users are using to find your site on the SERPs, upload sitemaps, diagnose crawl errors, and much more.

2. Create a Google Analytics account

You can’t make good decisions unless you have the right data.

Google Analytics is a free marketing analytics tool that lets you see information about how many people visit your site, who they are, and how they interact with it.

3. Install the Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is a free SEO plugin for WordPress and a few other content management systems (CMS). It can be used to make sitemaps, optimize meta tags, and much more.

In nutshell, it makes technical stuff less complicated.

If you’re not in the practice of using WordPress or any other CMS’ supported by Yoast, then without further ado switch to Google and scour for the best SEO plugin for your CMS.

4. Devise a sitemap

Sitemaps show the direction to search engines where to find the content on your website so they can smoothly crawl and index your pages.

You can usually find yours at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.

Are you perplexed about how to create one?

You can use Yoast if you use WordPress. If not, then search for a generator for your CMS.

5. Create a robots.txt file

It is a simple text file that dictates search engines where they can and can’t go on your website.

It is a prudent choice to include a robots.txt file, but if you need to stop search engines from crawling pages or sections of your website. For instance, e-commerce stores can choose to use this and avert their cart pages from being indexed and crawled.

To check the existing roots.txt file, you need to check via yourdomain.com/robots.txt. If you come across a plain text file, then you are on the right track. If you come across anything apart from desired, then scour for robots.txt generator on Google and create one.

Your Go-to Keyword Research Checklist

Keyword research is the game-changer in the SEO domain.

How can one optimize your content for SERPs when they are oblivion of the trending keywords?

1. Look for a Primary Keyword to Target

Each website page should have one primary keyword. You can look for keywords from Google Keyword Planner or other free or paid tools.

2. Assess ‘Search Intent’

Search intent is the paramount reason behind the searcher’s query. If your page doesn’t align with this, then you might see slipping the top-ranking position.

To comprehend this aspect, you need to examine the top-ranking pages for the 3C’s:

• Content-type: What kind of content is ranking high; guest posts, blogs, landing pages, or product category pages?
• Content format: What majority of content format is ranking; tutorials, comparisons, reviews, or some other content format?
• Content angle: Is there any USP used by the top-ranking pages? (e.g., for beginners, in 2021, etc.)

3. Research what people want to know

Let’s presume somebody is looking for “SEO keywords.” People are looking for a definition of the word, as you can see from their search purpose, but what other questions do they have? What additional details do you include in your content?

Then it’s just a matter of scanning the results for keywords that might indicate subtopics.

Determine your Chances of Ranking in SERPs

Due to changes in the Google algorithm, you need to try various permutations and combinations of keywords but bear in mind to always use some ever-green keywords. Also, make sure to target keywords within your wheelhouse.

Technical SEO Checklist

• Fix Crawl Issues:

Google should not have issues in viewing your content.

• Speed of Website Loading:

Your website should load quickly as it will decrease the bounce rate of your website.

• Look into outbound broken links:

  Make sure that your site does not have any broken links as it can affect your Google ranking.

• Make a mobile-friendly website:

People use mobiles more often to search and you need to make them accordingly.

• Shift to HTTPs:

  It is a lightweight ranking factor, but you need to make your users feel secured when using your website. Hence, keep this factor in mind.

Also, make sure to fix duplicate content issues.

On-Page SEO and Content Checklist

Once you are done with keyword search, next you need actual content on your page – on-page SEO.

1. Use Crisp and Descriptive URLs

Short URLs tend to outrank the longer ones. But make it a point to create descriptive URLs as it makes a world of difference.

Pro Tip: You can set your target word as the URL to reap the benefits. It will avert the situation from making it ambiguous.

2. Captivating Title Tags and Descriptions

You might have heard SEO pundits advising people to add target keywords in their title tag and Meta description. And believe us, it is a healthy on-page SEO practice.

According to a study, the top-ranking pages didn’t have the exact keyword in their title tag and Meta descriptions.

Your main aim should not be to jam keywords into these spaces. Instead, focus on creating a compelling title and summary that will boost CTR and drive more traffic to your site.

3. Make sure to use one H1 on your web page

According to experts, you can use many H1 tags on your page, but according to us, the better practice is to use only one. And many avoid using the target keyword in the H1.

But these two factor makes them a good choice for H1

• Link Framing- a keyword in the H1 helps to strengthen to the reader that they’re in the right place. It makes it obvious that your content grabs the topic they most-likely Googled before arriving on your page.
• Scannability- People will connect to your page using the title. With your keyword in H1, will increase your chances of receiving links with your target keywords.

4. Link to relevant internal and external resources

You should not be afraid to connect to other websites. Just make sure you connect to high-quality, relevant content.

Internal hyperlinks are also critical. Make an effort to include them from other similar sites if you publish something new.

5. Optimize your images with descriptive alt text

Remember that alt text aims to provide context to the reader if the image fails to load (or if the visitor is using a screen reader).

As a consequence, you can make sure your alt tags are informative. As a consequence, your target keywords will often appear naturally in your content.

6. Include schema markup for high-quality snippets

Schema markup aids search engines in comprehending your content. However, it can have a huge effect on how your page appears in the SERPs.

Click-through rates and traffic to your website can also benefit from schema markup.

7. Write an engaging introduction.

Three items can be accomplished by a good introduction:

• Relate to the reader
• Establish trust
• Guarantee a solution to the user’s problem.

   8.Readability

You should always use subheadings, photographs, quotes, and everything else to hold the reader’s attention on the website.

9.Use clear sentences and paragraphs

Using short sentences and paragraphs is what this entails. Also:

• • Do not use jargons
  • Avoid unnecessary adverbs
  • Simpler words should be used

10.Create Unique and informative content

Plagiarized content is of no help and can blacklist your website, make sure to create fresh and informative content for your audience.

For highly subjective content, keep E-A-T in mind.

Expertise/Authoritativeness/Trustworthiness (EA-T) is an acronym for Expertise/Authoritativeness/Trustworthiness. That’s what Google’s official search quality evaluator guidelines appear to be searching for.

Off-Page SEO Checklist

Link building is one of the most difficult SEO tasks. These are few link-building tactics that might help.

• Replicate your competitor’s link:

  This is not advised every time as it can have some ill-effects. Therefore, believe it or not, a positive thing. If a website connects to your rival, they’ll likely connect to you as well.

• Tap into your target audience:

  You can also resort to blogger outreach. It can be beneficial for you.

• Look for unlinked mentions:

  People might share your content or mention your brand without linking to you.

Conclusion

SEO is an on-going process and new things get added to the SEO domain. You should incorporate these tricks and hacks to skyrocket your Google ranking.

And if you want to leverage the best SEO services, then get in touch with our experts at GlobalHunt Technologies, the best SEO company providing outstanding results to companies worldwide.