Your Complete SEO Checklist for Beginners

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

1. Set up essential SEO foundations on your WordPress website
2. Optimise your content and meta tags for better search visibility
3. Implement basic technical SEO improvements that search engines love

Introduction

Starting with SEO doesn't have to be overwhelming. This chapter breaks down everything you need into a simple, actionable checklist. You'll learn the core SEO tasks that make the biggest difference to your search rankings, all explained in plain English with step-by-step instructions you can follow today.

Lessons

Setting Up Your SEO Foundations

Getting the basics right is crucial before you tackle anything advanced. Here's where to start:

Step 1: Make your site visible to search engines
Go to Settings > Reading in your WordPress dashboard. Make sure 'Discourage search engines from indexing this site' is unchecked. This is the bit most people miss when launching their site.

Step 2: Install an SEO plugin
Choose either Yoast SEO or Rank Math (both are free). These plugins handle the technical stuff and give you clear guidance on improving each page. Install your chosen plugin and run through its setup wizard.

Step 3: Set your preferred domain format
Decide whether your site uses www.yoursite.com or just yoursite.com. Set this in your WordPress General Settings and stick to it everywhere. Search engines treat these as different sites, so consistency matters.

Step 4: Submit your sitemap
Your SEO plugin creates a sitemap automatically. Submit this to Google Search Console so Google knows which pages to crawl. You'll find your sitemap at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml.

Optimising Your Content and Meta Tags

This is where you tell search engines what each page is about. Here's how to do it properly:

Step 1: Write your page title (H1 tag)
Every page needs one clear H1 tag that describes what the page covers. Use your main keyword naturally in this heading.

Step 2: Structure your content with subheadings
Break up your content with H2 and H3 tags. This helps readers scan your content and helps search engines understand your page structure.

Step 3: Craft compelling meta titles and descriptions
Your SEO plugin shows you boxes for these under each post. Your meta title appears as the clickable headline in search results. Keep it under 60 characters and include your main keyword. Your meta description is the snippet underneath – make it enticing and keep it under 160 characters.

Step 4: Use your keywords naturally
Include your main keyword a few times throughout your content, but don't force it. Write for humans first, search engines second.

Technical SEO Essentials

These behind-the-scenes improvements help your site perform better in search results:

Step 1: Speed up your images
Large images slow down your site. Install a plugin like Smush or ShortPixel to compress images automatically. Always add alt text describing what each image shows.

Step 2: Install a caching plugin
Caching stores a copy of your pages to load them faster. W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket both work well. The speed boost helps your SEO and keeps visitors happy.

Step 3: Check your site works on mobile
More people search on phones than computers. Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site works properly on mobile devices. Most modern WordPress themes are mobile-responsive, but it's worth checking.

Step 4: Fix broken links
Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to find and fix any dead links on your site. These create a poor user experience and can hurt your rankings.

Practice

Pick one page on your website and work through this checklist:

1. Check the page has a clear H1 tag with your main keyword
2. Add H2 subheadings to break up the content
3. Write an engaging meta title (under 60 characters)
4. Create a compelling meta description (under 160 characters)
5. Compress any large images and add alt text
6. Test the page on your phone to ensure it looks good

Use your SEO plugin's analysis feature to see how you're doing. Aim for a green light on most suggestions.

FAQs

Does this checklist work for all types of websites?
Yes, these fundamentals apply to any website. The specific steps might vary slightly depending on your platform, but the principles remain the same.

Which SEO plugin should I choose for WordPress?
Both Yoast SEO and Rank Math offer excellent free versions. Try both and see which interface you prefer. You only need one installed at a time.

How often should I review my SEO?
Check your key pages every 3-6 months or when you notice changes in your traffic. SEO is ongoing, not a one-time task.

Will I see results immediately?
SEO takes time. You might see some improvements within a few weeks, but significant changes typically take 3-6 months to show up in search results.

Jargon Buster

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) – Making your website more visible in search results by following best practices that search engines prefer

Meta tags – HTML elements that tell search engines what your page is about. Include meta titles and meta descriptions

H1, H2, H3 tags – HTML heading tags that create a hierarchy in your content structure

Alt text – Descriptive text for images that helps search engines understand what the image shows

Sitemap – A file that lists all your website pages so search engines can find and crawl them

Wrap-up

You now have a solid SEO foundation to build on. Start with getting these basics right across your key pages before moving on to more advanced techniques. Remember, good SEO takes time, but following this checklist consistently will improve your search visibility.

Ready to take your SEO further? Our next chapter covers keyword research and content planning strategies.

Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed SEO training and step-by-step tutorials.