Ultimate SEO Audit Checklist for Pre and Post Website Launch

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Pre-Launch SEO Audit Checklist
   1. Verify Tracking Setup
   2. Conduct Technical Scans
   3. Review On-Page Elements
   4. Perform Off-Page Audits
3. Post-Launch SEO Audit Checklist
   1. Verify Tracking and Reporting
   2. Conduct Technical Review
   3. Perform On-Page Analysis
   4. Monitor Off-Page SEO
4. Conclusion

📋 Pre-Launch SEO Audit Checklist

Before launching a website or making any changes, it is crucial to conduct a thorough SEO audit. This checklist will guide you through the necessary steps to ensure that all aspects of SEO are properly addressed. By following these guidelines, you can minimize the risk of negatively impacting your site's performance and rankings.

1. Verify Tracking Setup

The first step is to ensure that your tracking codes are properly set up. This includes checking if your key performance indicators (KPIs) are tracked accurately and if you're collecting data from form fills, e-commerce transactions, and organic traffic. Review your analytics platforms, such as Google Analytics, to ensure that you are tracking the necessary metrics.

2. Conduct Technical Scans

Perform comprehensive technical scans on both the front end and XML of your website. Check for the presence of dummy pages or extra content that might have been added during the migration process. Review canonical tags, URLs, title tags, and H1 tags to ensure that they are optimized for SEO. Document the old and new URLs for future reference and create a 301 redirect mapping to avoid broken links.

3. Review On-Page Elements

Check the on-page elements of your website, including keyword research, content creation, and competition analysis. Ensure that you are incorporating target keywords in title tags, headers (H1, H2, etc.), and content. Review internal linking and optimize images for better page speed. Address any content gaps or areas for improvement based on your analysis.

4. Perform Off-Page Audits

If you are combining or migrating different domains, conduct a domain audit to benchmark keyword rankings. Implement one-to-one redirects for pages that are being combined or removed. Verify your local SEO profiles and update any content or URL changes as necessary.

📋 Post-Launch SEO Audit Checklist

Congratulations on launching your website! Now it's important to conduct a post-launch SEO audit to ensure that everything is functioning as intended. The following checklist will help you review key aspects of your website's SEO performance.

1. Verify Tracking and Reporting

Double-check that your tracking codes are still active and correctly implemented on the website. Monitor the tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs), form fills, e-commerce transactions, and organic traffic. Ensure that you are collecting enough data to generate accurate reports and measure the success of your migration.

2. Conduct Technical Review

Perform a crawl of your website's XML sitemap and check for any crawl errors. Verify the proper functioning of redirects from the old site to the new site. Confirm the status of your SSL certificate and ensure that redirects are set up correctly, whether you are using "www" or non-"www." Review your robots.txt file to ensure that no important pages are mistakenly blocked.

3. Perform On-Page Analysis

Continuously monitor on-page elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, and internal links. Make any necessary adjustments to improve the user experience and optimize for search engines. Take note of any content gaps or areas for improvement that may have arisen after the migration.

4. Monitor Off-Page SEO

Regularly review your local SEO profiles to ensure accuracy and consistency. Analyze your competitors' strategies and backlink profiles to identify potential areas for improvement. Keep an eye on your website's visibility in search engine results and address any issues that may arise.

In conclusion, conducting pre and post-launch SEO audits is crucial to the success of your website or any changes you make. By following these checklists, you can effectively manage the technical, on-page, and off-page aspects of your site's SEO. Remember to monitor and continuously improve your website's performance to achieve long-term success.

Highlights:

• Pre-launch checklist for a comprehensive SEO audit
• Verify tracking setup and conduct technical scans
• Review on-page elements and perform off-page audits
• Post-launch checklist to ensure everything is functioning as intended
• Monitor tracking and reporting, conduct a technical review
• Perform on-page analysis and monitor off-page SEO

FAQ:

Q: Why is it important to conduct SEO audits before and after launching a website? A: SEO audits help identify any issues or areas for improvement that may impact a website's performance and rankings. By conducting audits before and after launching a website, you can ensure a smooth transition, minimize risks, and optimize your site for search engines.

Q: What are some key elements to consider during an SEO audit? A: Key elements to consider during an SEO audit include tracking setup, technical scans, on-page optimization, and off-page audits. These elements help optimize website performance, improve visibility in search engines, and enhance the user experience.

Q: How often should SEO audits be conducted? A: SEO audits should be conducted regularly, especially after launching a website or implementing significant changes. It is recommended to conduct audits quarterly or whenever there are major updates to the website. Regular audits help identify potential issues and ensure that optimization efforts are effective.

Q: What tools can be used to conduct an SEO audit? A: There are various tools available for conducting SEO audits, such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, Moz, and SEMrush. These tools provide valuable insights into website performance, keyword rankings, technical issues, and more.

Q: What should I do if I notice a drop in traffic after a website migration? A: If you notice a drop in traffic after a website migration, first refer to the pre-launch audit checklist to ensure that all necessary tasks were completed. Check for any missed or overlooked steps that may be causing the decline. Investigate any technical issues, such as broken redirects or incorrect tracking setup. Addressing these issues promptly can help restore traffic levels.