SEO 101: This checklist will help determine if you rank
You can ignore SEO best-practice lists until a competitor outranks you on every money term. Or you can run through this checklist now, fix the gaps, and keep the traffic (and credit) for yourself. Scroll, tick, implement.
1. Content Quality & Depth ✔️
Audit core pages: Are service/product pages, destination guides, and category hubs the definitive resource on the topic?
Eliminate thin pages: Nuke or consolidate promos and 200-word placeholders.
Close content gaps: Map competitor topics you don’t cover; build better versions.
Refresh schedule: Update evergreen and seasonal posts on a fixed cadence to keep rankings fresh.
2. Meta Data & Heading Structure ✔️
Meta titles: Unique, keyword-aligned, ≤ 60 characters. No duplicates.
Meta descriptions: Compelling summaries that earn clicks, each one unique.
Header hierarchy: One H1, logical H2/H3 flow. Helps users and bots digest quickly.
Keyword placement: Target phrases appear naturally in titles, headers, first 100 words, and image alt text.
3. E-E-A-T Signals ✔️
Author bios: Real names, real expertise, linked author pages.
Corporate trust cues: Visible contact info, privacy/terms pages, industry certifications.
Awards & press: Prominently displayed badges; link to coverage.
User reviews: Integrate Trustpilot or Google ratings on key pages.
Schema markup: Use Product, Review, and Organization schema to unlock rich results.
4. Internal & External Link Profile ✔️
Internal linking: Important pages receive contextual links from high-authority pages.
Anchor text: Descriptive, keyword-relevant phrases; avoid “click here.”
Outbound links: Cite authoritative sources where they add value; open in new tab.
Backlink monitoring: Track quality, relevance, and growth in a dedicated dashboard.
Link-building plan: Publish share-worthy content and execute digital PR to close competitor link gaps.
Conclusion: Ship It, Then Circle Back
SEO isn’t magic; it’s maintenance. Run this checklist quarterly, document what you fix, and watch incremental gains stack. The brands that treat SEO as a living system—not a launch-and-leave project—own the results pages. Check the boxes, claim the traffic, repeat.