What To Do First When Embarking on First SEO Project?

FIRST DAY TASK:

NOTE: Perform all following task within the first 5 to 7 days (1st week only). 8th day onwards shall focusing on backlink creation (paid or manual).

* For productive work and organization purpose, recommended to insert all Keyword Research Analysis or Long Tail Keywords in Google Doc (Spreadsheet). Make sure keyword list is finalized so no need to edit permalinks again in future (to avoid wasted built backlinks on edited permalinks few months down the road).

1. For Recruitment Agency Project, I've requested for 2 tools below:

a) Ahrefs 7 Day Trial - paid

b) Ranker X subscription  - paid

c) Requested for WP-Admin login (to create new blog post, install GTM, Analytics, MonsterInsights, LuckyOrange if have more license, adjust Permalink settings, new blog post for URL optimization based on keyword, WebsiteSpeed Optimization etc)

2. Prepare Google Doc to save all login information for above (a) and (b) and (c).

* VERY IMPORTANT: CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER IF YOUR COMPANY IS USING GOOGLE APPS EMAIL SETTINGS. CAN SAVE VALUABLE TIME IF I KNOW PH's EMAIL DROPPED TO SPAM.

3. Collect competition info and perform spying on traffic keywords using Alexa and Ahrefs.com. Consider sign up for USD1 (30 Day trial) Alexa to view all searched keywords and compare the data with Ahrefs' Keyword and Site Explorer.

* Watch latest Ahrefs introduction video, Ahrefs Blog and join Ahrefs Insider Facebook Group

More video tutorials

Competitor Research
Keyword Research
Link BuildingMore on YouTube

SEO guides

Beginners guide to SEOGuide to Keyword ResearchLink Building Strategies
More on Ahrefs Blog

For AHREFS data management, suggested to save "Organic Keywords", "Keyword Difficulty" etc data from each competitors inside a specific folder in SEAGATE external drive. See my external drive on how I manage Ren Ai data inside folder "MARCH 2020 Ren Ai Project" folder. 

NOTE: This is very important when running competition analysis, backlinks scouting so that we can spend time for other activities such as writing articles for main website and buffer sites.

4. Search target keyword and look for question-and-answer based website e.g. Quora to post reply to question which contains No-Follow backlink back to our website.


5. Google for new article source for backlink building (Tier 1 and Tier 2 inside Ranker X/Senuke). See my Chrome bookmark under WLP Related section.


6. Login to WP Admin and install essential plugins including:

a) MonsterInsights Pro (require Google Search Console access and install HTML code into public_html folder. Need to add new ebsite url inside Google Analytics Dashboard)

b) Website Speed Optimization (see previous post on how to optimize website)

c) Classic Editor

d) RankMath or Yoast SEO plugin (can import settings into RankMath)

7. Setup Google My Business Listing since it's a new domain name. In this case, use Subpages URL for each new GMB meaning "Payroll Outsourcing Singapore" uses domain.com/payroll-outsourcing-singapore instead of using root domain.

* Request new mobile number / office number (since this is Primz Bizhub)


8) Check if there's any need to insert canonical tag on the home page (if duplicate content is a concern). Read up Moz blog for explanation on canonical and domain authority/page authroity

9) Consider using SEOJet to determine how many % of anchor text is effective to rank the new website. For example, how many naked URL is set  as backlinks, % of keyword mixed with anchor text, and % exact match anchor text. Very useful.

* Read more:  https://www.thehoth.com/blog/anchor-text-ratios/

* Useful read up: https://www.thehoth.com/blog/link-building-myths/

10) Create free account at SEMRUSH (track 10 keywords) or WHATSMYSERP(track 25 keywords). My advice is use SEMRUSH since can compare rank changes per keyword from Day ONE. WHATSMYSERP cannot do rank changes comparison (unless upgrade to paid version).