[Client Name]

SEO Client Onboarding Checklist

SEO Client Onboarding Checklist

Comprehensive workflow for new client setup and optimization

Days 1-3

Discovery & Setup

0%

Initial client setup and discovery

Days 4-10

Research & Analysis

0%

Keyword research and competitor analysis

Days 11-20

Strategy & Planning

0%

Strategy development and mapping

Days 21-30

Initial Implementation

0%

First optimization wave

Discovery & Setup Phase (Days 1-3)

1Client Intake & Access Setup

  • Collect client contact information and project details
  • Obtain website access credentials (FTP, CMS, hosting)
  • Set up Google Analytics and Search Console access
  • Create client folder structure and documentation system

2Initial Site Audit & Assessment

  • Run comprehensive technical SEO audit
  • Check current keyword rankings and organic traffic
  • Analyze existing content inventory
  • Identify immediate technical issues and opportunities

3Client Goals & Expectations

  • Conduct client discovery call to understand business goals
  • Define target audience and buyer personas
  • Set realistic expectations and timeline
  • Establish KPIs and success metrics

Research & Analysis Phase (Days 4-10)

1Comprehensive Keyword Research

  • Research primary and secondary keywords
  • Analyze search volume and competition data
  • Identify long-tail keyword opportunities
  • Create keyword priority matrix (difficulty vs. opportunity)

2Competitive Analysis

  • Identify top 5-10 organic competitors
  • Analyze competitor keyword strategies
  • Evaluate competitor content quality and gaps
  • Assess competitor backlink profiles

3Technical Analysis Deep Dive

  • Analyze site architecture and URL structure
  • Check page speed and Core Web Vitals
  • Review mobile-friendliness and responsive design
  • Audit existing schema markup and structured data

Strategy & Planning Phase (Days 11-20)

1Keyword Mapping & Content Strategy

  • Create comprehensive keyword mapping document
  • Map keywords to existing pages and identify content gaps
  • Develop content optimization priorities
  • Plan new content creation strategy

2Technical SEO Strategy

  • Prioritize technical issues by impact and difficulty
  • Create site architecture improvements plan
  • Design internal linking strategy
  • Plan schema markup implementation

3Campaign Planning & Timeline

  • Create 90-day optimization roadmap
  • Set monthly milestones and deliverables
  • Plan resource allocation and task prioritization
  • Establish reporting schedule and KPI tracking

Initial Implementation Phase (Days 21-30)

1On-Page Optimization Launch

  • Optimize high-priority page titles and meta descriptions
  • Implement header tag optimization (H1, H2, H3)
  • Begin content optimization for target keywords
  • Implement initial internal linking improvements

2Technical Implementations

  • Fix critical technical SEO issues
  • Optimize images and implement alt tags
  • Implement schema markup on priority pages
  • Set up enhanced tracking and monitoring

3Monitoring & Quality Assurance

  • Verify all implementations are working correctly
  • Test mobile responsiveness and user experience
  • Submit updated sitemap to search engines
  • Document all changes and create baseline metrics

30-Day Onboarding Deliverables

Initial Site Audit Report

Comprehensive technical and SEO audit identifying opportunities, issues, and baseline metrics.

Due: Day 5

Keyword Research & Analysis

Detailed keyword strategy with priority matrix, search volumes, and competitive analysis.

Due: Day 10

Competitive Analysis Report

In-depth competitor research with gap analysis and strategic recommendations.

Due: Day 12

SEO Strategy & Roadmap

90-day optimization plan with keyword mapping, content strategy, and implementation timeline.

Due: Day 18

Initial Optimization Report

Documentation of first-wave optimizations with before/after comparisons and next steps.

Due: Day 30

Monthly Analytics Setup

Configured tracking systems, custom dashboards, and baseline performance report.

Due: Day 25