SEO Roadmap UK
12-month learning plan from complete beginner to confident SEO practitioner. Free and structured.
Read guideThis comprehensive SEO checklist is organised by category and covers every major aspect of optimisation for 2026. Work through it systematically for new websites, use it as an audit reference for existing sites, or return to specific sections when working on a particular area of SEO.
💡 How to Use This Checklist
Click any checklist item to mark it as complete. Your progress is saved in your browser. Work through sections in order for new sites, or jump to specific sections when auditing existing sites. Return to any item that needs attention by un-checking it.
1. Initial Setup & Foundation#
- Set up and verify Google Search Console for your domain
- Set up Google Analytics 4 and link it to Google Search Console
- Set up Bing Webmaster Tools for additional search visibility data
- Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console
- Configure robots.txt to allow crawling of important pages
- Ensure HTTPS is implemented site-wide with valid SSL certificate
- Set your preferred domain (www vs non-www) in GSC and via 301 redirects
- Install an SEO plugin (Yoast, Rank Maths for WordPress) or configure meta tags manually
- Create a 404 error page that's helpful and links back to key content
- Set up Google Alerts for your brand name to monitor mentions
2. Keyword Research#
- Define your core topic areas and target audience personas
- Generate a seed keyword list from brainstorming, competitor sites, and industry knowledge
- Expand keywords using tools (Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, Ahrefs)
- Analyse search volume and keyword difficulty for all priority keywords
- Classify every keyword by search intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional)
- Identify long-tail keyword opportunities with lower competition
- Study People Also Ask and related searches for content ideas
- Perform competitor keyword gap analysis to find opportunities
- Create a keyword map assigning one primary keyword per page
- Identify topic cluster opportunities for building topical authority
- Check for keyword cannibalization issues on existing sites
3. On-Page SEO Optimisation#
- Write unique, keyword-optimised title tags (50–60 chars) for every page
- Write compelling meta descriptions (150–160 chars) for every page
- Use one H1 per page containing the primary keyword
- Structure content with logical H2 and H3 headings containing secondary keywords
- Include primary keyword naturally in the first 100 words of body content
- Create SEO-friendly URLs (lowercase, hyphens, keyword-rich, concise)
- Add descriptive alt text to all images containing relevant keywords
- Compress all images and convert to WebP format where possible
- Implement lazy loading for images below the fold
- Add 3–5 relevant internal links per page with descriptive anchor text
- Link to 1–2 high-authority external sources per article
- Ensure content fully satisfies the search intent for target keyword
- Add breadcrumb navigation to all inner pages
- Implement appropriate schema markup (Article, FAQPage, HowTo, etc.)
- Validate all schema markup using Google Rich Results Test
- Ensure content demonstrates E-E-A-T signals (author bio, credentials, sources)
4. Technical SEO#
- Check Core Web Vitals in GSC (LCP under 2.5s, INP under 200ms, CLS under 0.1)
- Run PageSpeed Insights on key pages and implement recommended fixes
- Ensure website is fully mobile-responsive (test with Google Mobile-Friendly Test)
- Run a full site crawl with Screaming Frog or Sitebulb
- Fix all broken internal links (4xx errors)
- Fix broken external links or update to working alternatives
- Resolve duplicate content issues with canonical tags
- Remove or fix redirect chains and loops
- Ensure all redirect chains are single-hop 301 redirects
- Check that pages aren't accidentally blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags
- Resolve all Coverage errors in Google Search Console
- Enable browser caching and implement a CDN for static assets
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files
- Enable GZIP or Brotli compression on your server
- Implement hreflang tags if you have multilingual or international content
- Check for and fix any orphan pages (no internal links pointing to them)
5. Content SEO & Strategy#
- Develop a topic cluster map organising content into pillar and cluster pages
- Create a content calendar with publishing schedule based on keyword priorities
- Write a thorough content brief before creating each major piece of content
- Analyse top-10 ranking pages for each target keyword before writing
- Include semantic keywords and LSI terms throughout content naturally
- Add publication dates and author information to all content pieces
- Regularly audit and refresh underperforming content (declining GSC positions)
- Create at least one "linkable asset" per quarter (research, tool, comprehensive guide)
- Add FAQ sections to relevant pages to target People Also Ask opportunities
- Repurpose top-performing content across different formats (video, infographic, podcast)
6. Link Building#
- Audit your current backlink profile using Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Disavow any clearly toxic or spammy backlinks in Google Search Console
- Identify 10+ guest posting opportunities in your niche
- Sign up for HARO/Connectively and respond to relevant journalist queries weekly
- Find broken link building opportunities in your niche
- Create a list of resource pages in your niche for outreach
- Set up Google Alerts for brand mentions to identify unlinked citations
- Develop a link-worthy content piece (original research, data, or tool)
- Track your domain rating and referring domain count monthly
- Monitor competitor link acquisitions for new outreach opportunities
7. Local SEO (For Local Businesses)#
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
- Complete every section of your GBP (categories, hours, description, services)
- Add 10+ high-quality photos to your GBP
- Post to your GBP at least once per week
- Ensure NAP consistency across all online platforms and directories
- Build citations in core directories (Yelp, Facebook, Yell, Apple Maps, etc.)
- Build citations in industry-specific directories
- Implement a review generation strategy for Google reviews
- Respond to all Google reviews within 48 hours
- Add LocalBusiness schema markup to your website
- Create dedicated location pages for each area you serve
- Embed a Google Map on your contact page
8. Analytics & Measurement#
- Set up conversion goals and events in Google Analytics 4
- Connect GA4 to Google Search Console for query-level attribution
- Set up a rank tracking project for all primary target keywords
- Create a monthly SEO reporting template or Looker Studio dashboard
- Review GSC performance data weekly for ranking drops or traffic anomalies
- Monitor Core Web Vitals monthly and act on any deterioration
- Track organic traffic by landing page to identify best and worst performers
- Monitor new and lost backlinks weekly in Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Compare year-over-year organic traffic data quarterly
- Conduct a comprehensive SEO audit at least once per year
9. Ongoing Maintenance#
- Keep all CMS, plugins, and themes updated to latest versions
- Check GSC weekly for any new manual actions or security issues
- Monitor Google algorithm update announcements and assess impact
- Refresh top-performing content annually to maintain rankings
- Update internal links when publishing new relevant content
- Remove or redirect 404 pages discovered in regular crawls
- Re-check Core Web Vitals after any major site changes or updates
- Review and update your XML sitemap when adding or removing pages
- Perform quarterly competitor analysis to identify new keyword gaps
- Stay current with SEO best practices through reputable SEO publications
📌 Checklist Complete?
Working through this entire checklist methodically will give your website an incredibly strong SEO foundation. Remember that SEO is ongoing — search engine algorithms evolve, competitor landscapes shift, and your own site grows. Return to this checklist quarterly to ensure you're maintaining best practices across all areas.