36 checks in 6 groups

Free interactive SEO checklist

Review and tick off each item. The weighted score shows how solid your site's SEO foundations are and which task comes first.

This checklist groups the most important SEO tasks into six sections so you can review your site step by step. Next to each item we explain why it matters and where to check it. The items are based on Google's official guidelines, so outdated tricks such as keyword density targets or the keywords meta tag have no place here.

We suggest starting with the high-priority items and the "Indexing and crawling" group: until Google can see and index your pages, nothing else shows any effect. Most checks use free Google tools such as Search Console and PageSpeed Insights, and many of them don't need a developer.

Weighted score: 0 / 100 · 0 of 36 items

Several important foundations are still open; start with the red (high-priority) items. (17 high-priority items left)

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Indexing and crawling

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Add and verify your site in Search ConsoleHigh priority
Why: Search Console is the only place where Google tells you directly how it sees your site, which pages are indexed and what errors it has found.
How: In Search Console, create a Domain property and verify ownership with a DNS record in your domain panel; if you don't have DNS access, choose the URL prefix type instead.
Create an XML sitemap and submit it in Search ConsoleHigh priority
Why: A sitemap helps Google find your important and new pages faster, especially on large or newly launched sites.
How: In WordPress, plugins such as Yoast or Rank Math build the sitemap automatically; enter its address in Search Console → Sitemaps and check that the status is "Success".
Make sure robots.txt doesn't block important pagesHigh priority
Why: One wrong line in robots.txt can stop crawling of the whole site or a large part of it. The file controls crawling; it is not the right way to keep a page out of the index.
How: Open your domain with /robots.txt in a browser and look for Disallow rules on important paths; the robots.txt report under Settings in Search Console also shows errors in the file.
Important pages must not have a noindex tagHigh priority
Why: A page with noindex is removed from Google's results; the tag is sometimes left behind after a site moves from its staging version.
How: Check the page with the URL Inspection tool in Search Console or search the page source for noindex; in WordPress, the "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" option under Settings → Reading must be off.
Review the Pages report for reasons pages aren't indexedHigh priority
Why: This report shows which pages aren't indexed and why — for example, they were duplicates, returned a server error or couldn't be found.
How: In Search Console → Indexing → Pages, open "Why pages aren't indexed" and start with the reasons that include your important pages.
Only one version of the site should be reachableHigh priority
Why: If the site opens separately on http and https, or with and without www, Google sees several duplicate versions and the authority of your pages gets split.
How: Try the four address variants in a browser; all of them must reach a single https version through a 301 redirect. This is usually set up in your hosting or web server settings.
Set a correct canonical for duplicate or similar pagesMedium priority
Why: Pages such as filtered versions or URLs with parameters create duplicate content; a canonical tells Google which version is the main one, although Google treats it as a hint.
How: Search the page source for rel=canonical and make sure it points to the right address; in URL Inspection, also check the canonical Google has selected.

Content and keywords

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Give each page one main topic and search intentHigh priority
Why: Google ranks the page that answers what the searcher wants; a page that tries to say everything at once fully answers no question.
How: Search your target phrase on Google and see whether the top results are articles, service pages or product pages; match your own page type to that intent.
Don't make two pages compete for the same phraseMedium priority
Why: When several pages are written for one phrase, Google doesn't know which one to show and usually none of them ranks well.
How: In Search Console → Performance, filter by a query and open the Pages tab; if several pages get impressions for it, merge them or separate their topics.
Write helpful, original content for peopleHigh priority
Why: Google has said clearly that it prefers content written for people, based on real experience and knowledge, not text produced only for search engines.
How: Test every page with one question: after reading, has the reader got a complete answer? Google's guide to creating helpful, reliable, people-first content on Search Central explains the criteria.
Use your main phrases naturally in the title, headings and textMedium priority
Why: Google needs to understand what the page is about, but repeating a keyword for no reason goes against its spam policies, and there is no set percentage for repetition.
How: Put the main phrase in the page title, the main heading and the first paragraph, and use synonyms and related questions in the rest of the text.
Update or merge old, thin or duplicate contentMedium priority
Why: Outdated pages or pages with a few lines give users a poor experience and can weaken the overall picture of your site.
How: In Search Console → Performance, find pages whose impressions have dropped; correct any inaccurate information, and merge short pages on the same topic into one complete page with a redirect.
Read the queries you appear for in the Performance reportMedium priority
Why: This report shows the words people actually use to reach your site and where you have room to improve.
How: In Search Console → Performance, open the Queries tab and look for queries with many impressions and few clicks; improve the title and description of the matching page.

On-page SEO

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Give each page a unique, descriptive titleHigh priority
Why: The page title is usually the blue link text of a Google result and tells users and Google what the page is about.
How: Check the title tag in the page source; keep the title short and precise, put the main topic first and avoid using the same title on several pages.
Make the meta description an accurate, appealing summaryMedium priority
Why: Google may show this text under the result title, and a good description makes a click more likely — although Google sometimes picks other text from the page.
How: Check the meta description tag in your SEO plugin or the page source; write a unique description for each page that says what the user will find there.
Keep a clear main heading and a logical heading structureMedium priority
Why: Headings help users and Google understand how the page is organized; a logical order improves readability and accessibility.
How: Use your browser's Inspect tool to see the H1 to H3 headings; the main heading should state the page topic and the subheadings should introduce the sections in order.
Keep page URLs short, readable and stableLow priority
Why: A readable URL shows users which page they're about to open; changing a URL without a redirect also throws away the page's earlier authority.
How: In WordPress permalink settings choose the "Post name" structure, and if you change a URL, add a 301 redirect from the old one.
Write descriptive alt text for important imagesMedium priority
Why: Google uses alt text to understand an image, and screen readers read it out for blind users.
How: Check the alt attribute of images in the WordPress media library or the page source; briefly describe what the image shows and don't stuff it with keywords.
Connect important pages with internal links and descriptive anchor textHigh priority
Why: Google finds pages mostly through links, and the link text tells it what the destination page is about.
How: Link from related articles to your service and product pages, and instead of "click here" write a phrase that names the destination's topic; the Links report in Search Console shows your internal links.
Add structured data correctly and test itMedium priority
Why: Structured data such as Organization, LocalBusiness, Product or Article helps Google understand page content more precisely and may lead to rich results, but there is no guarantee they will be shown.
How: Enter the page URL in the Rich Results Test and fix the errors; the Enhancements reports in Search Console also show issues across the whole site.

Technical and speed

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Measure Core Web Vitals in PageSpeed Insights and Search ConsoleHigh priority
Why: These three metrics measure loading speed (LCP), responsiveness (INP) and layout stability (CLS) from real users' experience, and they are part of how Google assesses page experience.
How: Enter the page URL in PageSpeed Insights and look at the real-user data section; Google's targets are an LCP of at most 2.5 seconds, an INP of at most 200 milliseconds and a CLS of at most 0.1. The Core Web Vitals report in Search Console also groups the pages with problems.
Compress images and use modern formats such as WebPHigh priority
Why: Heavy images are the most common reason for slow pages, especially on mobile data.
How: Look at the image-related suggestions in PageSpeed Insights; size images to match where they are displayed and add lazy loading (loading=lazy) to images lower down the page.
Remove unused plugins and scriptsMedium priority
Why: Every extra plugin, font or script adds loading time and can delay how the page responds to taps and clicks.
How: Go through your WordPress plugin list and remove the ones you don't use; the "Reduce unused JavaScript" section in PageSpeed Insights shows the heavy scripts.
Use caching and suitable hosting so the server responds quicklyMedium priority
Why: If the server responds slowly, other optimizations have little effect; frequent server errors can also reduce how fast Google crawls your site.
How: Check TTFB and the server response time warning in PageSpeed Insights; turn on page caching and check the Crawl stats report under Settings in Search Console for server errors.
Keep a valid SSL certificate and avoid mixed contentHigh priority
Why: HTTPS protects users' data and Google takes it into account in page experience; browsers show serious warnings for an expired certificate.
How: Click the padlock in the address bar and check the certificate's expiry date; in the Console of your browser's Inspect tool, look for Mixed Content warnings, which mean a file is still loaded over http.
Main content and links must be visible to GoogleMedium priority
Why: If important text or links appear only after a click or are built with complex JavaScript, Google may not see them, or may see them late.
How: In URL Inspection, choose Test live URL and then View tested page, and make sure the main text and links appear in the rendered HTML; links should be a tags with a real href.

Mobile and user experience

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The site must be complete, readable and free of horizontal scrolling on mobileHigh priority
Why: Google looks at the mobile version of a site first for indexing and ranking, so the mobile experience is the experience Google measures.
How: Open the site on a few real phones and also check it in Device Mode of Chrome's Inspect tool; text should be readable without zooming and the page should not scroll left and right.
The mobile version must have the same main content as desktopHigh priority
Why: Because Google uses the mobile version, text, images, headings or structured data that exist only on desktop may not be seen at all.
How: Compare one page on mobile and desktop side by side; headings, main text, images with alt text, structured data and meta tags should be the same on both.
Set the viewport meta tag correctlyMedium priority
Why: Without this tag, mobile browsers show the page like a shrunken desktop page and the text becomes tiny and hard to read.
How: Search the page source for meta name=viewport; the common, correct value is width=device-width, initial-scale=1, and modern themes usually include it.
Pop-ups must not cover the main content on mobileMedium priority
Why: Google considers intrusive windows that immediately cover the whole page on mobile a poor experience, and users usually close the page.
How: Open the page from a Google result on a phone; an advertising or sign-up pop-up should not cover the content. Small banners and required notices such as age verification are fine.
Buttons, menu and contact options must be easy to use on mobileLow priority
Why: If users can't open the menu, tap a button accurately or find your phone number, a visit doesn't turn into a customer.
How: Try the main journeys, such as finding a service, adding to cart or getting in touch, one-handed on a phone; the Accessibility section of the Lighthouse report also flags buttons that are too small or too close together.

Trust and local SEO

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Your "About" and "Contact" pages should have real informationHigh priority
Why: Users and Google both want to know who is behind a site; clear contact details make buyers more confident.
How: Show your business name, address, phone and contact channels on the contact page and in the footer; if you sell online, also make your shipping and returns terms easy to find and meet the legal and trust requirements of your market.
Show the author and the last update date of your contentMedium priority
Why: Google's helpful content guidance recommends making it clear who wrote the content and with what experience; this builds trust, especially on finance and health topics.
How: Under each article, show the author's name, a short bio and the date of the last update, and create a profile page for each author.
Keep your business name, address and phone the same everywhereMedium priority
Why: Conflicting details on your site, maps and social networks confuse customers and make your business information less reliable.
How: Compare your name, address and phone number on your site, maps, social profiles and directories, and bring them all into one consistent format.
Create and verify your Google Business ProfileMedium priority
Why: Local customers search maps for your location and contact details; your Google Business Profile is how your business appears in Google Maps and local results.
How: Claim your business profile on Google with the same name and phone number as your website, add your opening hours and real photos, and link to it from your site's contact page.
Instead of buying links, create real reasons to be linked toHigh priority
Why: Buying and selling links for ranking, mass link exchanges and link networks are prohibited by Google's spam policies and can harm your site.
How: Publish content worth referencing, such as guides, tools or specialist information, and build relationships with partners, industry associations and relevant media; the Links report in Search Console shows your external links.

Frequently asked questions

Which part of the checklist should I start with?

Start with the indexing and crawling group and the high-priority items. Until Google can see and index your pages, improving content and speed won't have a noticeable effect. After that, move on to content, on-page SEO and technical items.

Do I need a developer to work through this checklist?

For most items, no. You can add your site to Search Console, review the reports, write titles and descriptions, add image alt text and create internal links yourself. Items such as redirects, server caching, structured data or rendering problems may need technical help.

If I tick every item, will I rank first on Google?

No. Nobody can guarantee a specific ranking on Google. This checklist removes common obstacles and builds a sound foundation, but rankings also depend on competition, content quality, your site's authority and what the searcher needs.

How often should I go through the checklist again?

A full review every few months, and after any big change such as a redesign, a theme change or a hosting move, makes sense. It's also better to look at your Search Console reports more regularly so you catch new errors early.

How is this checklist different from SEO services?

The checklist shows you what needs to be checked and is suited to self-assessment. With SEO services, a specialist team does these checks plus keyword research, a content plan, technical fixes and regular reporting every month. If you only need an expert's view of your site's current state, an SEO consulting session is another option.

Leave the review to us

If several high-priority items are still open or you're not sure how to fix them, ask the MyTarh team for an SEO audit and implementation.

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