10 SEO best practices to implement on every new website project
These are the SEO best practices I implement in every new website project. They form the foundation of a well-optimized site that performs not just for search engines, but also for real people. From technical setup to on-page content structure, each element is designed to increase visibility, improve user experience, and drive qualified traffic over time.
1. Meta Titles & Descriptions
These are the snippets of text that appear in search engine results. A clear, keyword-rich meta title and a compelling description help search engines understand the page and encourage users to click through to your site.
I write unique, keyword-relevant meta titles and descriptions for each page to improve visibility in search results and boost click-through rates.
2. Alt Text for Images
Alt text is a brief description of an image that helps search engines understand what the image is about. It also improves accessibility for users who rely on screen readers and can provide an additional SEO boost when it includes relevant keywords.
Therefore, I ensure every image is optimized with descriptive alt text and file names to improve accessibility and image search rankings.
3. Clean URL Structures
The URL is the web address (example: www.yourwebsite.com). Clean and descriptive URLs help search engines and users understand what a page is about. A good URL structure is short, includes relevant keywords, and avoids unnecessary parameters or numbers.
I create short, keyword-rich URLs that reflect the content and are easy for users and search engines to understand.
4. Header Tag Hierarchy
Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are used to structure content on a webpage. They help organize information hierarchically, making it easier for both users and search engines to understand the page’s content. The H1 tag typically represents the main topic, while H2 and H3 tags break down supporting sections and sub-sections. Proper use of header tags improves readability and SEO.
5. Intuitive Navigation & Architecture
I design site navigation and information architecture to prioritize the most important content. I reduce orphan pages (pages that are not linked to from any other page on your site, because users and search engines may have a hard time finding them). The layout is structured and designed to guide users seamlessly.
6. Google Search Console Integration
Google Search Console is a tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor and maintain their site’s presence in Google search results.
I ensure that every site is connected to Google Search Console for indexing, sitemap submission, and ongoing performance monitoring.
7. Advanced Publishing Settings
I configure advanced settings like canonical tags, and robot meta tags to avoid duplicate content issues and improve international SEO. I also ensure that the staging site is properly blocked from being indexed by Google to prevent any confusion or SEO dilution.
8. Google Analytics Setup
I connect and configure GA4 to track user behavior, uncover content performance insights, and guide iterative improvements (included with advanced SEO package depending).
9. SEO-Structured Blog Content
Creating blog content with SEO in mind means organizing it to be easily understood by both users and search engines. This involves using clear headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to break up content logically, incorporating relevant keywords naturally, and formatting text for readability with short paragraphs, bullet points, and images. Structured content helps search engines better interpret the topic and relevance of each page, which can improve rankings. Additionally, internal linking within blog posts to related articles or pages strengthens site architecture and keeps visitors engaged longer, further boosting SEO performance.
10. Open Graph Images
I include properly formatted Open Graph images for all key pages and blog posts. While Google doesn’t use Open Graph images for ranking, strong visuals can significantly increase click-through rates when links are shared on social media—something Google does take into account as a performance signal.