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When executing an SEO campaign for a small business, certain activities in a specific order of operations will yield the fastest and highest return on investment. In this blog:
- Checklist of SEO activities necessary to the success of any small business SEO campaign
- Importance of checklist items in the success of the campaign
- Timeline of actions in the scope of the campaign
Checklist of SEO Activities Necessary to the Success of Any Small Business SEO Campaign
The table below highlights the recommended steps to executing a proper SEO campaign for a small business to maximize the chances of success for the campaign.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Website Design Audit |
The design of the website should be audited to ensure user-friendliness and availability of useful information. |
| SSL Certification | All websites should be secure to improve search engine trust. |
| Mobile Optimization |
The website should visually appeal to users on a mobile device with careful attention to relevant information fitting above the fold. |
| Website Architecture |
Menus and navigation should be structured to be easily navigated for visitors to satisfy their queries. |
| URL Structure |
A user should be able to identify the content located on a page based on the URL structure. |
| Error Handling | All 404 errors and broken links should be fixed. |
| Website Speed Optimization |
If a website is too slow, traffic will drop off before they view the website. Optimize the loading speed of the website with methods such as image compression. |
| Meta Tag & Description Optimization |
Selecting proper keywords for the base set of website pages allow Google to properly index and rank the website. |
| Content Restructuring |
The web pages on the site should be easily readable and flow in a skimmable format. |
| Creation of Keyword Map |
A Keyword Map is a plan of action for an SEO campaign, complete with targeted keywords, |
| Customized Location Pages |
Each page centered around a location or area of service should include relevant information only relevant to that location. |
| Built Out Service and Sub-Service Pages |
Individual pages should be created for each service and sub-service the business specializes in. |
| Consistent Blog Publication |
Blogs targeting revenue-driving keywords should be published no less than 4 times per month. |
Important of Checklist Items in the Success of the Campaign
Each item is given an importance ranking, either important, highly important, or critical. Each item on the list will be important in the success of the campaign, and all items should be completed. Moreover, this table represents which items move the needle the most for a small business.
| Item | Importance |
|---|---|
| Mobile Optimization | Critical |
| Meta Tag & Description Optimization | Critical |
| Customized Location Pages | Critical |
| Built Out Service and Sub-Service Pages | Critical |
| Consistent Blog Publication | Critical |
| Creation of Keyword Map | Critical |
| SSL Certification | Highly Important |
| Error Handling | Highly Important |
| Website Speed Optimization | Highly Important |
| Content Restructuring | Highly Important |
| Website Design Audit | Important |
| Website Architecture | Important |
| URL Structure | Important |
Timeline of Actions in the Scope of the Campaign
While this checklist is extensive, all tasks do not need to be completed immediately. Below, you’ll find our recommended timeline for completing each item of the checklist.
| Task | Timeline |
|---|---|
| SSL Certification | Month 1 |
| Error Handling | Month 1 |
| Mobile Optimization | Month 1 |
| Creation of Keyword Map | Month 1 |
| Website Architecture | Month 2 |
| Website Design Audit | Month 2 |
| URL Structure | Month 2 |
| Website Speed Optimization | Month 2 |
| Meta Tag & Description Optimization | Month 2 |
| Content Restructuring | Month 2 |
| Customized Location Pages | Months 3-4 |
| Built Out Service and Sub-Service Pages | Months 3-4 |
| Consistent Blog Publication | Months 5 |
If you would like this checklist in a PDF format, please reach out on our Contact Us page.