Essential SEO Audit Checklist: Prepare Your Website for Launch

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Pre-launch SEO Audit Checklist
   1. Tracking Setup
   2. Technical Audit
   3. On-Page Audit
   4. Off-Page Audit
3. Post-launch SEO Audit Checklist
   1. Tracking Verification
   2. Technical Verification
   3. On-Page Verification
   4. Off-Page Verification
4. Conclusion
5. Resources

🚀 Pre and Post Launch SEO Audit Checklist

Are you planning to launch a new website or migrate an existing one? Ensuring that your website is set up for success from an SEO standpoint is crucial. A thorough pre and post-launch SEO audit can help you identify any potential issues and make necessary optimizations. In this article, we will go through a comprehensive checklist to guide you through the process. So, let's dive in and get your website ready for launch!

📋 Pre-launch SEO Audit Checklist

Before your website goes live, there are several key areas you need to review and optimize. Let's break them down:

1. Tracking Setup

To start off, make sure your tracking is set up properly. This includes:

• Tracking KPIs: Ensure that your key performance indicators (KPIs) are tracked accurately. Whether it's form fills, e-commerce transactions, or other metrics, you need to collect reliable data.
• Organic Traffic and Analytics Review: Benchmark your current organic traffic and page performance. This will help you evaluate the success of your migration post-launch.
• Tracking Code: Collaborate with your analytics team to ensure that the tracking code will be firing correctly at the time of migration.

2. Technical Audit

The technical aspect of your website plays a vital role in its SEO performance. Consider the following tasks:

• Frontend and XML Scans: Scan your website thoroughly to identify any dummy pages or unnecessary content that may have been created during the migration process.
• URL Structure and Architecture: Check if your URL structure and website architecture are logical and user-friendly.
• Title Tags and H1 Headings: Incorporate target keywords in your title tags and H1 headings to optimize your on-page SEO.
• URL Mapping: Document the old and new URLs to facilitate the 301 redirect mapping process.
• Structured Data: Implement structured data where applicable to enhance the visibility and relevance of your website.
• JavaScript and Page Speed: Keep an eye on client-side rendered content and optimize page speed by optimizing images and reducing unnecessary JavaScript.

3. On-Page Audit

Ensure that your on-page elements are optimized for SEO. Here are some essential tasks:

• Keyword Research: Conduct keyword research to identify relevant target keywords and optimize your new content accordingly.
• Content Review: Benchmark your current rankings and evaluate your competitors' performance. Identify areas of improvement and create a content plan to address them.
• Internal Linking: Develop a strategic internal linking strategy to enhance user experience and improve your website's SEO performance.
• Image Optimization: Optimize your images by reducing file size without compromising quality. This will enhance page load speed and improve user experience.

4. Off-Page Audit

Don't forget to review your off-page SEO elements. Consider the following tasks:

• Domain Audits: If you are combining or migrating multiple domains, benchmark their performance and ensure seamless redirection.
• Local SEO: Verify and update your local SEO profiles, ensuring that all information is accurate and up-to-date.
• Backlink Analysis: Analyze your backlink profile and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Competitor Audits: Keep an eye on your competitors' SEO strategies and identify areas where you can gain a competitive advantage.

🚀 Post-launch SEO Audit Checklist

Once your website is live, it's time to verify that everything is functioning as expected. Let's review the checklist:

1. Tracking Verification

Double-check your tracking setup to ensure that accurate data is being collected. Verify the following:

• Tracking Activation: Confirm that your analytics code is active and properly implemented.
• KPIs and Reporting: Check if your form fills, e-commerce transactions, or other KPIs are being tracked accurately. Set up regular reporting to monitor the success of your migration.

2. Technical Verification

Review the technical aspects of your website to ensure everything is in order. Consider the following:

• Crawl and Indexing: Submit your XML sitemap to Google Search Console and verify that there are no crawl errors or indexing issues.
• Redirects: Verify that the 301 redirects from the old site to the new site are functioning correctly.
• SSL and URL Canonicalization: Ensure that your SSL certificate is valid and that your website URLs redirect consistently (either with or without www).
• Robots.txt: Double-check your robots.txt file to ensure that it allows crawling and indexing of your website.
• Change of Address: Initiate the change of address process in Google Search Console if you are changing your domain.

3. On-Page Verification

Review and optimize your on-page elements for maximum SEO impact. Consider these tasks:

• Content Review: Continuously assess your content's performance and make improvements as necessary. Identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
• Page Titles and Meta Descriptions: Ensure that your page titles and meta descriptions are optimized for target keywords and are compelling for users.
• Internal Links: Keep an eye on your internal linking structure and optimize it for improved user experience and SEO performance.

4. Off-Page Verification

Don't neglect your off-page SEO efforts. Verify and analyze the following:

• Local SEO Profiles: Confirm that your local SEO profiles are up-to-date and accurate.
• Competitor Analysis: Regularly audit your competitors' SEO strategies and identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Backlink Profile: Monitor your backlink profile, seek new opportunities, and ensure that all backlinks are high-quality and relevant.

📝 Conclusion

Launching a website or migrating an existing one can be a complex process. However, by following a thorough pre and post-launch SEO audit checklist, you can ensure that your website is optimized for search engines and set up for success. Remember to continuously monitor and make improvements to maintain your website's SEO performance. By investing time and effort into SEO, you can drive organic traffic, increase visibility, and achieve your online goals.

📚 Resources

• Google Search Console
• Google Analytics
• Screaming Frog
• Moz
• SEMrush