Your Free Comprehensive SEO Checklist

Whether you’re building your first online store or managing multiple business websites, Website World makes SEO simple — but knowing what to do and why matters. This checklist walks you through everything beginners need know and do to optimise their Website World site for improved Google rankings. Download your free SEO checklist by clicking the button below.

arrow_circle_downDownload Free SEO Checklist Here

1. Keyword Research 

With keyword research, the goal is to identify what your ideal customers are typing into Google before they land on your site. Quite often there can be a mismatch between the keywords and phrases you think your customers use to find your products or services, and what phrasing they actually use in a Google search.

• Use Google Keyword Planner or other keyword research tools  to discover keywords related to your products or services. Focus on long-tail keywords like “NZ wedding website templates” or “build an ecommerce site for my business.”
• Check search intent: Ask: Is this keyword about learning, comparing, or buying? Target transactional keywords (e.g., “buy candles online NZ”) for product pages, and informational ones for blog posts.
• Map keywords to your pages: Each page on your Website World site should have one primary keyword focus. Don’t try to rank multiple pages for the same term.

2. On-Page SEO 

The goal of on-page SEO is to optimise each page on your website so that Google understands what it is about, and will show it to search engine users who are wanting information on what your web page provides.

• Set your meta tags and meta descriptions:
  
  • Meta title: keep it under 60 characters and include your main keyword
  • Meta description: summarise the page in under 160 characters with a call-to-action
• Use clear heading tags: Each page should have one H1 (the main headline) and logical subheadings (H2/H3).
  Example:
  • H1: “Affordable Ecommerce Websites in NZ”
  • H2: “Why Choose Website World”
• Add internal links to connect related blog posts, service pages, or FAQs. This helps Google crawl your site and index pages
• Optimise URLs by keeping them short and keyword-focused. Example: website-builder-nz instead of /page7979

3. High-Quality Content Creation

By creating high quality and unique content that’s valuable, relevant, and easily readable, you are demonstrating that your site can be trusted and is knowledgeable

• Write for humans first, Google second - use natural language and answer real customer questions. For example, create blog posts like “How to Set Up an Online Store in NZ”
• Use Website World’s Blog option by regularly publishing content helps your domain authority grow. Aim for at least one new post per month.
• Add visuals to your website with product images, screenshots, or short videos to support your content. Google rewards pages that engage readers longer, and have a lower bounce rate

4. Technical SEO Made Simple

Technical SEO refers to how the backend of the website platform itself works and how this helps SEO. The goal of technical SEO is to make sure your website runs fast, is secure, and easy for Google to index

• SSL is included - all our standard web hosting plans and above include a free SSL Certificate, ensuring your site uses HTTPS
• Speed optimisation - with us, your web page will only have two CSS files, and only two JavaScript files. We automatically combine and minimise your CSS into a single file for fast loading speeds
• Mobile-friendly design - all Website World templates are responsive. Be sure to preview your pages on mobile too
• XML sitemap - Website World automatically generates your own sitemap for you to submit to Google if required

5. Local SEO for NZ Businesses

SEO local is about optimising your online presence so it is shown in search results to people looking for a business like yours in an area which best suits them

• Claim your Google Business Profile - add your business details, photos, and website link. Make sure your Name, Address and Phone matches exactly what’s on your contact page
• Use location-based keywords - add city or region terms naturally in your content — e.g., “web design services in Hamilton” or “Auckland ecommerce builder.”
• Embed a map on your contact page - you can easily add a Google Map widget to your contact page
• Collect customer reviews - encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on your Google Business profile and your website, because reviews boost both credibility and rankings

6. Image SEO

Image SEO helps Google understand what your images are, because Google 'can't read' images

• Rename your images before upload, giving them a descriptive filename like small-blue-car.jpg instead of img1234.jpg
• Add alt text in the image settings, describing what is shown in the picture using keywords where appropriate
• Use the automatic image compression and manually resize large image files prior to uploading to the CMS

7. Backlinks and Brand Mentions

Backlinks and brand mentions help to build your website’s authority through quality links from other sites to yours

• List your site in reputable NZ business directories, such as www.businessnetworking.nz
• Create link-worthy content: Tutorials like “How to Build a Website in One Day with Website World” are great for earning natural backlinks.

8. Track and Measure Success

You should track and measure your website analytics to know what’s working — and what’s not.

• Connect Google Analytics: Track visits, bounce rate, and conversion goals directly from your Website World dashboard.
• Use Google Search Console: Check which keywords are driving traffic, fix errors, and submit your sitemap.
• Monitor results monthly: Create a spreadsheet to track rankings and visitor growth over time.

9. Focus on User Experience

User experience is very important as it keeps visitors engaged, reduces bounce rates, and builds trust

• Simplify your navigation: Keep your top menu clean and easy to follow — avoid clutter or too many dropdowns.
• Readable content: Use Website World’s styling tools for clear fonts, proper spacing, and plenty of white space.
• Calls-to-action: Add buttons like “Shop Now,” “Get a Quote,” or “Start Building” on key pages.
• Limit pop-ups: Use them sparingly — maybe for special offers or newsletter sign-ups only.

10. Maintain and Improve

You should aim to keep your SEO healthy with regular updates and checks

• Update older posts: Every 6–12 months, review your pages for outdated info or broken links.
• Add new pages or blogs: Google loves fresh content. Try adding new guides, FAQs, or product updates.
• Use redirects wisely: If you delete a page, use the redirect tool to point it to a relevant new page.

You already have the SEO foundation built in — secure hosting, mobile-friendly templates, and fast loading. What really sets you apart is how you use those features.
Focus on adding useful content, strategic keywords, and strong local visibility — that’s what Google rewards. Grab a free trial to Website World and try out our in-built SEO features and tools for yourself.