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September 6, 2024
Stephen Baker
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If you’re reading this post, you’re probably working on optimizing your website’s SEO—or maybe you’re doing it for someone else—and you’re looking for a clear, step-by-step framework to ensure everything is done right. At Flex Marketing, we’ve generated millions in leads for our clients using SEO, and if you want proof, feel free to check out our case studies on this blog or visit our website, Flexmarketing.com.
Many businesses struggle with organic lead generation because they don’t have a clear SEO process. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place! In this post, I’ll share the 10-step process we use with all of our clients to ensure their SEO efforts bring real results. This isn’t just generic advice—this is our standard operating procedure (SOP) that we use for our own clients. Let’s jump right into it!
The first and most crucial step in optimizing your website for search rankings is identifying your keywords. Whatever keyword you’re aiming to rank for, make sure you define it clearly. There are plenty of tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs that can help you research the best keywords to target. This process is essential because your entire strategy revolves around these terms.
For more detailed guidance on keyword research, you can check out our previous blog post on how to find highly searched, low-competition keywords.
Your page layout plays a huge role in the user experience, which is something Google pays close attention to. Google doesn’t just look at your content—it also monitors how long visitors stay on your page and how they interact with other pages on your site. A well-thought-out page layout ensures visitors stay longer, which is a positive signal to Google.
Your page title is one of the most important factors in getting a higher click-through rate (CTR). Think of your page title as an ad headline—it’s the first thing people will see when they encounter your site in search results. A strong, attention-grabbing title can significantly improve your ranking and CTR.
The page description, or meta description, is what people see below your title in search results. While it doesn’t directly affect rankings, it influences whether someone clicks on your link. Be sure to include your keyword in a concise and compelling way, explaining what the page is about in just a few sentences.
Your page URL might seem like a small detail, but it’s still an important part of SEO. Make sure to include your keyword in the URL so Google knows exactly what your page is about. A clean, keyword-rich URL can give you an extra boost in rankings.
Properly structured headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) help Google understand the content of your page. Your main heading (H1) should include your target keyword where it makes sense. However, don’t overdo it—focus on making your headings attention-grabbing and user-friendly. Google also reads the page top to bottom, so ensure your headings flow logically.
When it comes to paragraph text, avoid overloading your content with keywords. Keyword stuffing can harm your rankings, so make sure your text reads naturally and provides value. A good rule of thumb: put yourself in your visitor’s shoes. Does the content make sense? Is it helpful? If yes, you’re on the right track.
Google doesn’t just index text—it also picks up on images. Be sure to add alt text to your images, describing them clearly and including your keyword where appropriate. Additionally, rename your image files using your target keyword before uploading them. This helps with both accessibility and SEO.
Internal linking is crucial for making sure Google finds and indexes your pages quickly. By linking to other pages within your site, you help Google understand the structure of your content. Be sure to link back to your homepage or other important pages when creating new content. This also encourages users to explore more of your site, improving engagement.
Last but not least, make sure you submit your new pages to Google Search Console. This step is often overlooked, but it’s crucial if you want Google to index your new content quickly. If you skip this, Google may not even know your page exists! We’ve worked with clients who published hundreds of blog posts but didn’t upload their sitemap, and none of their content was getting ranked. Don’t let this happen to you.
There you have it—our 10-step SEO checklist that we use for each of our clients. Now, you can implement this framework to streamline your own SEO efforts and ensure your website is fully optimized. If you found value in this post, be sure to check out our other resources and feel free to reach out with any questions! Happy optimizing!