On-page SEO checklist every new site needs before launch

Launching without a safety net

Building a beautiful website without SEO is like building a stunning billboard and placing it in your basement. Traffic won't magically appear just because you pressed 'Deploy'.

Here is the non-negotiable checklist we use for every ArtX launch.

1. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Every page needs a unique, highly relevant Title Tag (50-60 characters) and Meta Description (150-160 characters).

*Pro-tip:* Treat your Meta Description like ad copy. Its only job is to get the click from the SERP.

2. Semantic Heading Hierarchy (H1-H6)

• Strictly **one H1** per page containing the primary keyword.
• Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections.
• Never use heading tags just to make text larger (use CSS for that).

3. Image Optimization & Alt Text

• Compress all images (WebP or AVIF).
• Descriptive file names (`dark-mode-dashboard.webp` not `IMG_9921.jpg`).
• Meaningful Alt Text for every image that conveys information.

4. Internal Linking Structure

✱ "Orphan pages are dead pages."

Ensure every page is linked to from at least one other page. Use descriptive anchor text, not "click here". This helps Google crawl your site and establishes topical authority.

5. Schema Markup (Structured Data)

We implement JSON-LD schema for Local Business, Articles, FAQs, and Products. This is how you win rich snippets in search results.

6. Canonical Tags

Prevent duplicate content issues by ensuring every page has a self-referencing canonical tag. If you have pagination, ensure canonicals are set up correctly.

7. robots.txt and XML Sitemap

Ensure `robots.txt` is not blocking search engines from important pages, and submit a dynamic XML sitemap to Google Search Console immediately upon launch.