by The Computing Australia Group | SEO Basics for New
Websites
You’ve launched a beautiful website. Now what? Ranking and revenue don’t show up just because your code validates and your design slaps. Search engines reward relevance, trust, and experience-which you build through a steady cadence of technical foundations, content, and links.
This guide turns your draft into a modern, step-by-step playbook for day 0 to day 90. You’ll set the right tracking, fix crawl/index issues, publish rank-worthy content, earn clean links, and move from invisible to visible-fast.
The 80/20 of ranking a brand-new site
Search engines evaluate three big buckets:
1. Content & intent match – Do your pages answer the queries better than alternatives?
2. Website legitimacy – Do trustworthy sites mention and link to you? Do you show real-world signals (address, team, reviews, policies)?
3. User experience – Is your site fast, stable, accessible, easy to navigate, and usable on mobile?
If you align your first 90 days around those, you’ll outpace most new sites.
Day 0–7: Set foundations you won’t want to redo later
1) Pick (and lock) your canonical brand & domain choices
- Primary domain: use your brand (e.g., yourbrand.com) over keyword-stuffed options.
- Force a single canonical: choose https + non-www or https + www and 301 redirect all others.
- Reserve common typos if budget allows; redirect them to the canonical.
2) Configure analytics & search tools (before traffic arrives)
- Google Analytics 4: set up property, connect your site, configure key events (lead form submits, checkout, demo request), and turn on enhanced measurement.
- Google Search Console (GSC): verify domain property, submit your XML sitemap, set preferred country if you target one, and monitor Pages → Indexing.
- Bing Webmaster Tools: submit sitemaps and set geo-targeting; the features mirror GSC and help with early discovery.
- Optional but useful: server logs or a lightweight RUM tool to monitor Core Web Vitals.
3) Technical hygiene checklist (ship once, benefit forever)
- Robots.txt: allow crawling; block only genuinely private areas. Don’t block CSS/JS needed for rendering.
- XML sitemap: include only 200-status, canonical URLs (no parameters or duplicates). Auto-update on publish.
- HTTPS: valid certificate, HSTS enabled if appropriate.
- Canonical tags: self-referencing on canonical pages; cross-canonicals for variants.
- Clean URL structure: short, descriptive, hyphenated (/services/managed-it/, not /p=123).
- Mobile-first: responsive CSS; avoid intrusive interstitials.
- Performance: compress images, lazy-load below-the-fold media, defer non-critical JS, use HTTP/2 or HTTP/3, and cache static assets.
- Accessibility: semantic headings, alt text for meaningful images, focus states, sufficient contrast.
- Security & trust: visible privacy policy, terms, returns/refund (for ecommerce), contact page with physical address (if you have one).
Day 1–14: Establish your information architecture & content plan
4) Decide your site’s “hub & spoke” structure
- Hubs (pillars): comprehensive pages for your main products/services/problem spaces.
- Spokes (supporting pages): detailed posts targeting subtopics, FAQs, comparisons, how-tos, and use cases.
- Navigation: put hubs in the main nav; spokes live within category structures; interlink both ways.
Example for a web development firm:
- Hub: Website Development Services
- Spokes: WordPress vs Headless CMS, Web Accessibility Basics, Site Speed Optimisation, How to Write a Website Brief, Maintenance Plans Explained.
5) Keyword research without the fluff
- Start with intent buckets: transactional (“buy”, “hire”, “services”), investigational (“best”, “pricing”, “comparison”), informational (“how to”, “what is”).
- Build a seed list (10–20 topics) from customer questions, competitor menus, and internal sales chats.
- Expand with a keyword tool (volume + difficulty + SERP features).
- Map one primary keyword per URL; keep variations as secondary semantically related entities inside the copy.
- Prioritise: money pages first (service/product) → add 2–3 supporting articles each.
Quick scoring model: Priority = (Business Value 1-5 + Intent Match 1-5 + Difficulty Inverse) × Internal Expertise. Tackle high priority first.
Day 1–30: Publish revenue-aligned content quickly (and correctly)
6) Craft high-quality pages that can win links and rankings
For each page/post:
- Title tag: 50–60 chars, with the primary intent near the front.
- Meta description: 140–160 chars; write for click-through, not keyword stuffing.
- H1: human-readable, close to the title but not identical; state the benefit.
- Intro: in 2–3 sentences, mirror the searcher’s problem and promise the solution.
- Structure: logical H2/H3, scannable subheads, short paragraphs, bullets where useful.
- Evidence: numbers, screenshots, quotes, examples, mini-case studies.
- Media: compress images; describe complex steps with annotated images or short clips.
- Internal links: 3–5 contextual links to closely related pages (and 1–2 links back from older posts).
- External links: cite authoritative sources to ground claims.
- FAQ block: 3–6 genuine questions with succinct answers (also enables FAQ schema).
- CTA: clear next step-demo, estimate, consultation, or relevant resource.
7) Refine your snippets for clicks (not just rankings)
- Write two meta description options. Use the one with a stronger hook; test alternates when CTR is low in GSC.
- Add numbers, benefits, or unique mechanisms (“90-day plan”, “template”, “calculator”) to your titles where honest.
Day 15–45: Make crawling, indexing, and internal links your superpowers
8) Ensure Google can find (and wants) your pages
- Submit new URLs via GSC → URL Inspection → Request indexing for priority pages.
- Check Indexing → Pages for “Discovered – currently not indexed” and “Crawled – currently not indexed.” Often caused by thin/duplicate content or insufficient internal links.
- Avoid noindex on pages you need indexed and remove accidental blocks in robots.
9) Build an internal linking system you’ll actually maintain
- Every new page gets 5+ contextual links from older, relevant pages (update those older pages on the same day).
- Use natural anchors that describe the destination (avoid repetitive exact-match).
- Keep key pages ≤ 3 clicks from the homepage.
- Add breadcrumb navigation and ensure it matches your structure.
Internal linking sprint (monthly):
1. Export top pages by traffic or authority.
2. For each, add links to 2–3 newer but relevant posts.
3. Re-crawl; fix orphaned and low-inlink pages.
Day 30–90: Build authority ethically (and early)
10) Get your first external links the right way
- Submit your brand to trusted directories and profiles (e.g., Crunchbase, Clutch, local chamber of commerce, industry associations). Keep NAP (name, address, phone) consistent.
- Partner features: announce launches, integrations, or case studies with partners; ask for a feature or testimonial page linking back.
- Digital PR lite: publish a data-led or process-revealing post and pitch 10–20 relevant industry blogs/journalists with a tight, value-first email.
- Guest contributions: write helpful, non-promotional articles for industry sites where your audience already reads.
- Sponsorships & community: local events, meetups, or charities-ask for a sponsor page link.
Domain name choices (what matters vs what doesn’t)
- Spelling & memorability matter. Short, pronounceable, brandable.
- Keywords in the domain are no longer a cheat code. It’s fine if natural (e.g., smithlegal.com) but don’t force it.
- Pick a TLD your market trusts (.com or strong local TLDs). Avoid obscure TLDs unless on-brand and credible.
Source code essentials (set once, reap for years)
- Meta tags: Title + meta description unique per page; one H1 per page; hierarchical H2/H3.
- Image alt text: describe the image’s purpose (not keyword soup).
- Schema:
- Organization/LocalBusiness: logo, sameAs, address, phone, opening hours.
- BreadcrumbList: matches on-site breadcrumbs.
- Product/Service: where appropriate, with price or offer.
- FAQPage for genuine FAQs.
- Article/BlogPosting for articles.
- Pagination & canonicals: proper rel=“canonical”; avoid duplicate paths.
- Interlinking: use descriptive anchors; avoid “click here”.
Local or service-area websites: fast local visibility
- Claim and complete Google Business Profile (photos, services, categories, products, booking links).
- Collect first 5 reviews from real clients; respond to all reviews.
- Ensure NAP consistency across major directories (local citations).
- Create location pages with unique content (services, testimonials, case studies per area).
Measuring what matters (and fixing what doesn’t)
Your simple KPI stack (first 90 days)
- Indexation (GSC): % of submitted pages indexed; fix errors/exclusions.
- Impressions & CTR (GSC Search results): are you being seen and chosen?
- Queries growth: coverage of relevant terms climbing week on week.
- Landing page engagement (GA4): engaged sessions, conversions, time on page for target content.
- Backlinks & referring domains: track net new links and quality (not just counts).
- Core Web Vitals: pass rates for LCP, CLS, INP.
When rankings lag
- Improve search intent match: add missing sections readers expect (pricing, pros/cons, comparisons, process, FAQs).
- Strengthen internal links from your most visited pages.
- Add first-hand experience (original screenshots, data, quotes, how-we-do-it).
- Earn two or three solid links to the page via partner features or guest posts.
A realistic 90-day execution plan
Weeks 1–2
- GA4, GSC, Bing set up.
- Technical hygiene (sitemaps, robots, HTTPS, canonical, performance).
- Finalise information architecture (hubs/spokes).
- Draft content briefs for 4–6 money pages.
Weeks 3–4
- Publish 2–3 service/product pages + 2 supporting blog posts.
- Submit sitemaps; request indexing for all new URLs.
- Launch foundational citations and partner mentions.
- Add Organization/LocalBusiness schema, breadcrumbs, and FAQ schema where relevant.
Weeks 5–8
- Publish 2–3 more supporting posts (how-tos, comparisons, checklists).
- Internal linking sprint (retro-link older pages to new ones).
- Outreach for 3–5 quality guest contributions/mentions.
- Improve Core Web Vitals (image compression, lazy-load, reduce JS).
Weeks 9–12
- Review GSC: fill gaps for queries you’re showing for but not yet ranking.
- Update titles/meta for low-CTR pages.
- Publish a small data or template asset (e.g., SEO content brief template) to pitch for links.
- Second internal linking sprint; fix orphaned/low-inlink pages.
Snippet optimisation (make your results irresistible)
- Put the primary benefit in the first 45–50 characters of the title.
- Use numbers, year, or frameworks (“7 steps”, “2025 guide”, “checklist”, “template”) when authentic.
- Write meta descriptions like micro-ad copy: “Get a 90-day roadmap to rank a new site—set up tracking, ship content, and earn clean links.”
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Launching 30 thin pages instead of 8 strong ones.
- Letting great pages sit unlinked (orphaned) from your nav and top posts.
- Indexing tag and search archives that create duplication.
- Relying on homepage links only-contextual links carry meaning.
- Buying cheap links; they don’t last and often backfire.
Copy-and-paste checklists
Pre-launch SEO checklist (condensed)
- HTTPS, canonical redirects, robots.txt, XML sitemaps.
- GA4 + GSC + Bing verified.
- Core Web Vitals pass (or a plan to get there).
- Organization/LocalBusiness schema.
- Privacy policy, terms, contact page visible.
Every new page checklist
- Unique title (≤60 chars) & meta (≤160).
- H1 clear; logical H2/H3.
- 3–5 internal links added from older pages + links out to related internal pages.
- 1–3 authoritative external citations.
- FAQ block (if helpful) + schema.
- Compressed media, alt text, accessible design.
- Clear CTA.
Monthly maintenance checklist
- GSC index coverage and CTR review; fix exclusions.
- Internal linking sprint (add links from top pages).
- Update 2–3 posts with fresh data and screenshots.
- Earn 2+ legitimate mentions/links (partners, guest posts, PR).
- Speed check: unneeded scripts, image bloat, third-party embeds.
It can be challenging to figure out how to start SEO for new websites. Following the above steps will help create a healthy foundation for your website. It is necessary to remember that it takes time for search engines to index and rank your site. SEO needs patience, perseverance, technical expertise and continuous monitoring to bring results. If that doesn’t sound like you, there is an alternate solution – our Perth SEO team! Contact us or reach out to us at sales@computingaustralia.group to know how we can help with SEO for your new website.
Jargon Buster
Search intent: Search intent refers to the purpose of an online search query.
Google crawl: Crawling is the process by which Google finds new or updated pages to add to its site index.
FAQ
Do I need keywords in my domain?
No. Choose a memorable brandable name. Authority comes from content and links, not exact-match domains.
How many words do I need per page?
Enough to fully answer the query better than alternatives. Some pages win at 900 words, others at 2200—depth and usefulness beat raw count.
How fast can a new site rank?
You can capture long-tail traffic in weeks. Competitive terms usually take months of consistent content and links.
Are directory links useful?
Reputable, human-reviewed directories (and local citations) help with early discovery and trust. Avoid spammy lists.
Should I focus on technical SEO first or content?
Both matter, but start with a solid technical foundation-site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability-then build high-quality content. Proper structure ensures your content can actually rank.
