SEO for a New Website: The First 90 Days

SEO for a new website follows a sequence: plan the pages and keywords before launch, get the site indexed in the first week, then build content, listings and links over the first 90 days. Doing these in order matters more than doing everything at once.

Before Launch

Six steps before launch save months of fixing later. Google’s SEO Starter Guide covers the basics behind them; startups that want help can use our SEO services for startups.

1. List the searches you want to win, and give each one its own page.
2. Choose short, readable URLs, and keep them after launch.
3. Write a unique title and description for every page.
4. Add schema markup for your business and main page types.
5. Check the site loads fast on mobile.
6. Remove any setting that blocks search engines, often left on during the build.

Launch Week

In the first week, make the site known to search engines.

1. Verify the domain in Google Search Console.
2. Submit the XML sitemap.
3. Request indexing for the homepage and main service pages with URL Inspection.
4. Set up Bing Webmaster Tools and import from Search Console.
5. Claim the Google Business Profile, if you serve an area.

Days 8 to 30

In the first month, check that Google is picking the site up.

• Check the indexing report on days 2, 4 and 7, then weekly.
• Fix any page Google reports as not indexed.
• Look for the first impressions and searches in the Performance report.
• Start consistent directory listings.

Days 31 to 90

In months two and three, build on what Google shows.

• Publish content that answers your buyers’ questions.
• Improve pages that get impressions but few clicks.
• Add internal links from new pages to your service pages.
• Ask every early customer for a review.
• Review the first 90 days in Search Console and plan the next quarter.

Mistakes New Websites Make

These five mistakes are the most common, and each has a simple fix.

Questions