On-Page
1
Every page has one unique, keyword-focused title tag (under 60 characters)
2
Every page has a compelling meta description (under 160 characters)
3
Each page uses exactly one H1 tag that matches search intent
4
Headings (H2/H3) follow a logical structure, not just visual styling
5
Target keyword appears naturally in the first 100 words
6
Internal links connect related pages using descriptive anchor text
7
All images have descriptive alt text
8
URLs are short, readable and include the target keyword
Technical
9
Site loads over HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate
10
Site is mobile-friendly (passes Google's mobile-friendly test)
11
Core Web Vitals (loading, interactivity, stability) are in the "good" range
12
An XML sitemap exists and is submitted to Google Search Console
13
robots.txt does not accidentally block important pages
14
No broken internal links or 404 errors on key pages
15
Canonical tags are set correctly to avoid duplicate content issues
Content & Authority
16
Content is genuinely useful and answers the searcher's question
17
Pages are updated periodically to stay accurate and relevant
18
You're earning backlinks from relevant, reputable websites
19
Google Business Profile is claimed and fully optimized (for local businesses)
20
You're tracking rankings and organic traffic monthly, not guessing
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