Most people treat SEO as a “phase two” job. Launch now, fix later. That is how you end up with a good-looking site that barely shows up in search for months.
If you are launching on WordPress, the good news is that most of the important SEO work is simple, as long as you do it before you push the site live. Use this checklist as a final pass before launch. If an item is not done, fix it now.
Core Settings that Silently Break SEO
Start with the boring settings. These are the ones that cause the biggest damage when missed.
- Make Sure your Site is Indexable
- Go to Settings › Reading
- The box “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” must be unchecked
This setting is often left on from development. If it stays that way, you are basically telling Google to ignore you.
- Decide on your Permalink Structure
- Go to Settings › Permalinks
- Use a simple structure like Post name so URLs look like /sample-post/
Avoid long, dated, or parameter-heavy URLs. Clean URLs are better for users and easier to manage for the long term.
- Install one SEO Plugin and Commit to it
Use a single main SEO plugin. Yoast, Rank Math, SEOPress, whatever you prefer. Not two, not three.
Inside the plugin.
- Set your site title and tagline properly
- Add your organisation or person details
- Connect your main social profiles
Technical SEO – Make the Site Easy to Crawl
Now you make sure search engines can reach and understand your site without friction.
- SSL and HTTPS in place
Your site should load on https only. Check.
- http redirects to https
- No “mixed content” warnings from the browser
Security and trust both start here.
Your SEO plugin can generate this for you.
- Confirm the sitemap URL, often /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml
- Ensure only the right content types are included, usually pages and posts, not test content
Later, you will submit this to Google Search Console and Bing once the site is live.
- Robots.txt that is Clean, not Over-Engineered
Robots.txt should allow normal crawling of your content.
- Block WP Admin, but leave Admin Ajax open
- Do not block CSS or JS folders
Keep it light unless you have a special case. Over-blocking here often leads to indexing headaches.
- Fix Domain and Redirect Logic
Pick your main domain version.
- With www or without, but not both
- Set 301 redirects so only one version works
If you are replacing an old site, map the old URLs to the new ones and add redirects before launch. That protects your existing rankings and backlinks.
On-page SEO – Optimise the pages that matter most
No need to optimize every small blog post before launch. Focus on your core pages first.
- List your Key Pages
Usually includes.
- Home
- Main service or product pages
- About
- Contact
- Any high-value landing pages
These pages must be tight on messaging, structure, and SEO basics.
- Assign One Primary Topic per Page
For each key page, write down the main keyword or phrase it should be found for. Not a random phrase grabbed from a tool, but the real search intent the page serves.
Example.
- “WordPress SEO agency in kansas” for a service page
- “How to launch a WordPress site” for a guide
Avoid using the same main keyword on multiple important pages. That splits relevance.
- Optimise Title Tag and Meta Description
In your SEO plugin, set.
- A title tag that includes your main phrase near the front
- A clear, benefit-focused meta description
Think like this.
- Title. “WordPress SEO Launch Checklist | Brand Name”
- Description. “Before you launch your WordPress site, run through this SEO checklist to fix technical issues, clean up URLs, and set up tracking.”
- Fix Headings and Content Layout
Each page should have.
- One H1 that states the main topic
- H2s for big sections, H3s for subpoints
- Content broken into short sections, not walls of text
Work your main phrase and related terms into headings where it makes sense, but do not force it into every line.
- Build Internal Links with a Purpose
From the content you already have.
- Link blog posts to the relevant service pages
- Link between related guides
- Use descriptive anchor text. “WordPress SEO services” instead of “click here”.
Internal links help both users and search engines find your most important content.
User Experience and Mobile Readiness
SEO is not only about crawlers. If humans bounce, your rankings will suffer.
- Test Mobile for Real, not just in a Theme Demo
Open your site on different phones.
- Can you read the text easily
- Do menus actually work well
- Are buttons spaced properly so people can tap without frustration
- Check Speed and Basic Performance
Run a few pages through a speed test tool. Focus on.
- Image sizes, compress big ones
- Caching, via a caching plugin or server-based solution
- Removing unused heavy plugins or scripts
Faster is always better, but do not spend days chasing a perfect score. Aim for consistent, good performance.
- Clear Paths to Conversion
On core pages, ask.
- Is it obvious what the visitor should do next
- Is there a clear call to action
- Do contact forms, quote forms, and checkout flows work without errors
If visitors are confused, your SEO work is wasted.
Tracking and Launch Checks
Before you announce anything, make sure you can measure what happens.
- Set up analytics
Add your tracking solution: Google Analytics or another platform.
- Confirm page views are firing
- Configure basic conversions: leads, purchases, sign-ups
- Verify and Connect Search Tools
Once live.
- Add your site to Google Search Console
- Verify domain
- Submit the sitemap you prepared earlier
- Run a Quick Site Crawl
Use a crawler to scan for.
- Broken internal links
- Missing titles or metas
- Duplicate pages that need canonicals
Fix what you can before you start pushing traffic.
Final Thought!
A WordPress site that ignores SEO basics is just an expensive online brochure. A site launched with a clear checklist becomes an asset that can start compounding organic traffic from day one.
Revolute X Digital works with brands to plan, build, and launch WordPress sites with SEO baked in from the start. From technical setup and on-page optimization to launch audits and post-launch performance tracking, we help you launch with confidence instead of guesswork. If you want your next site to be ready for search, not just ready to show, we can architect that outcome with you. Contact us today!
Jason
We are an Affordable Digital Marketing Agency in Shawnee with budget-friendly solutions to amplify your brand. Elevate your business without compromising quality or cost.