When a client is ready to discuss a new website project with us, they are excited and prepared to share their vision and ideas with us. They have have high expectations of the end result of the website. But they usually do not have well defined or clear goals for traffic, ROI or conversion. We will ask them early in discussions, before we get into any details about the website project about how important "being found in search" is to them. Most of the time the client will say "very important". Most websites are built to increase the client's presence on the web, build brand and help/grow the business. So it is vital to follow SEO best practices for a building the new website, not coming back later as an afterthought and "bolting on" good SEO.
Many website developers will not open the discussion with SEO in fear of scaring the client that hard work must be done in research and preparing to build the website, the selection of plugins and extensions, configuration, meetings, writing etc. This costs money. And many website developers are not good at SEO and they push that task off to another service provider. But not doing even basic, baseline, best practice SEO is a disservice to the client and will undoubtedly be a failure down the road. And most clients are excited to get to see the end results of their beautiful, functional, shiny new website! But we feel compelled to educate first and make SEO part of the website DNA.
Just Google SEO services and see the wide range of offerings from the zillions of SEO companies. It can drive you crazy. How much or how little should you do? That can only be answered through discussions, budgeting, goal setting and planning, and a reality check of the client's commitment level. (more later) But, in a new website project there are important "must have" basic core underpinnings.
There are a list of things that "must be done" before and while building the new website. This is the baseline/bare bones list. These include:
Here are some next steps for on-page SEO:
Social media is now a vital part of any off-page SEO strategy. Search engine rankings are now biased by social sharing and other activities. Google has also made search very personal and local. A Social Media Strategy is critical thinking. Where must you be? What else can you do with these massive community tools that are basically free? But what about time? Won't this take time that I don't have? Yes and no. It does take time, but you must make the time and re-prioritize or you just won't maximize your results. Its a new world.
Here are some of the Social Places you must consider when building a Social Media Strategy:
Other off-page steps to consider. These are all about authority and link building:
So you can see that to reach the goal of best possible search results for your new website, much is to be considered first. At the very least, step one must be done as baseline SEO. We require it in every website project that we do. But to really succeed in search, you must consider steps two and three. Don't cut out SEO best practices for your new website because of cost. It is important to do this work first, then allocate dollars to the actual website last. You can always add more content and function to your website later. Give yourself a chance to be found in search and maximize your ROI and business goals by investing in good SEO.
