Free resource
Small Business SEO Checklist (2026)
Everything a small business needs to rank on Google — in one printable checklist. Work through each section and tick off items as you go.
Technical basics
- Website loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
- SSL certificate installed (URL starts with https://)
- Site passes Google mobile-friendly test
- No broken links returning 404 errors
- XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
- Google Search Console set up and verified
On-page SEO (do this for every page)
- Title tag is unique and under 60 characters
- Meta description is unique and under 160 characters
- H1 heading matches the main keyword for that page
- Images have descriptive alt text (not "image1.jpg")
- URL slug is short and includes the main keyword
- Internal links to 2–3 related pages on your site
Content
- Each page answers one clear question
- Blog posts are at least 500 words
- FAQ section answers related questions readers might have
- Content is reviewed and updated at least once a year
- No duplicate content across pages
Local SEO (if you serve local customers)
- Google Business Profile set up and fully verified
- Business name, address, and phone consistent across web
- At least 10 Google reviews (respond to all of them)
- Listed in key directories: Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places
- Local keyword in page title (e.g. "Plumber in Austin")
Ongoing habits
- Publish new content at least once a month
- Check Google Search Console weekly for top queries
- Fix 404 errors within 48 hours of spotting them
- Monitor Core Web Vitals in Search Console
- Build at least 1–2 backlinks per month (guest posts, directories)
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