Free SEO Checklist
Work through the essentials of SEO for 2026, from setup to AI search. Tick items off as you go; your progress is saved in this browser.
Runs in your browser · nothing is uploaded
Setup0/5
Keyword research0/4
On-page0/6
Content0/6
Technical0/6
Authority & links0/4
AI search0/5
How to use the free SEO checklist
- 01
Start with the basics section.
- 02
Tick off items as you complete them.
- 03
Come back any time: progress is saved in your browser.
How to use this checklist
SEO is a handful of fundamentals done consistently, not a hundred tricks. The checklist is ordered the way most sites should tackle it: get set up and measured, choose the right keywords, make each page clear, publish genuinely useful content regularly, keep the site technically healthy, then build authority.
The newest section, AI search, covers being recommended by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI answers, which increasingly sit between your customers and the search results.
Tips for using the SEO checklist
Do setup first
Without Search Console and a sitemap you can't measure or fix anything.
Audit your key pages
Run your top pages through the AI SEO audit.
Pick winnable keywords
Use the keyword difficulty checker before you plan content.
Publish consistently
Regular publishing beats bursts. That's the part Rankfly automates.
Skip the manual work: get an article published to your site every day.
Rankfly finds the keywords your site can actually win, writes a full SEO article for each one, adds images, and publishes it to WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Wix and more. Enter your website to see your free 30-day content plan.
3-day free trial · $66/month for 30 articles
SEO Checklist FAQ
Is my progress saved?
Yes, in this browser only. Clearing your browser data resets it.
What should I do first?
Search Console and a sitemap. You can't improve what Google can't find or you can't measure.
Can Rankfly do some of this for me?
Rankfly handles keyword research, content and publishing automatically: the parts of this list that take the most time every month.
What are the most important SEO tasks?
Make pages indexable, target keywords you can win, publish helpful content consistently and earn relevant links.
How long does it take to see SEO results?
Usually 3–6 months for new content to rank, longer for competitive keywords.
Can I do SEO myself?
Yes. This checklist and these free tools cover the fundamentals.
Related free SEO tools
All 87 free toolsIdeal Blog Post Length Calculator
Enter a keyword to measure how long the top 10 Google results are and get a suggested word count for your article.
UTM Builder
Add UTM parameters to any link so Google Analytics shows exactly which campaign, newsletter or post sent each visitor.
Content Brief Generator
Enter a keyword to get a content brief a writer can follow: intent, reader, title and meta description, outline, questions, related terms and length.
Content Idea Generator
Describe your topic or business to get 15 specific content ideas, from beginner questions and how-tos to comparisons and buying guides.
SEO ROI Calculator
Estimate what SEO could return: from target keyword volume and rankings to visits, leads, customers and revenue, against what you spend.
SEO Cost Calculator
Estimate your monthly SEO budget: content, tools, link building and your own time, and compare an agency, a freelancer and doing it in-house.
All free planning & calculators tools
Let Rankfly do your SEO for you.
Enter your website for a free 30-day content plan: the keywords your site can win and the articles Rankfly would write and publish. About three minutes.
3-day free trial · $66/month after · Cancel anytime