SEO at the site development stage: what to consider in advance

SEO is a foundation that needs to be laid before the site is launched. If optimization is postponed “for later”, you will have to redo the structure, URLs, content and technical settings, which increases costs and delays promotion. The right approach at the start allows you to get organic traffic faster and avoid critical mistakes.

Why it's important to think about SEO before launching

Many companies create a website and then start thinking about SEO after it's launched. This leads to:

• chaotic structure that does not respond to search queries;
• duplicate content and indexing issues;
• the need to redesign the design and navigation;
• waste of time and budget.

Integrating SEO at the development stage allows you to immediately lay the correct site architecture, avoid unnecessary costs, and get into search faster.

Semantic core and site structure

1. Keyword collection: Even before creating a design, you need to determine which queries will be targeted.
2. Menu logic: The structure must correspond to the semantics - each category under specific groups of keys.
3. URLs: short, clear, with keywords.
4. Internal connections: Think about linking between pages so that search engines can see the logic of the site.
5. Heading hierarchy: H1 for the main topic of the page, H2–H3 for subtopics.

Technical aspects

• Download speed: image optimization, code minification, CDN usage.
• Mobile adaptability: Google indexes sites based on the mobile version, so it has to be perfect.
• SSL certificate: user security and trust.
• File robots.txt and sitemap.xml: set up before launch.
• Canonical tags: to avoid duplication of pages.
• Open Graph and Twitter Cards: for correct display on social networks.
• Clean code: without unnecessary scripts, with the correct heading structure.

Content and metadata

• Title and Description: write unique meta tags for each page.
• Alt for images: helps SEO and accessibility.
• Unique texts: without duplication, user-oriented.
• Structured data (Schema.org): to improve display in the output.
• Content plan: determine which pages will be created immediately and which will be added later.

Integration with analytics

• Connect Google Analytics and Search Console before launch.
• Set up goal and conversion tracking.
• Use data for further optimization.
• Install speed and error monitoring systems.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Lack of an SEO specialist at the development stage.
• Using template URLs ("page?id=123").
• Duplicate content on different pages.
• Ignoring the mobile version.
• Lack of an internal linking plan.
• Incorrect use of headings (multiple H1s on a page).
• No redirects from old URLs after redesign.

Practical SEO development checklist

1. Assemble the semantic core.
2. Design the site structure based on keywords.
3. Think about URLs.
4. Optimize download speed.
5. Ensure adaptability.
6. Configure SSL, robots.txt, sitemap.xml..
7. Write meta and alt tags for images.
8. Use Schema.org..
9. Connect analytics.
10. Conduct an SEO audit before launch.

Additional business tips

• Plan content now: blog, news, articles — this will help you increase traffic faster.
• Provide the ability to scale: The site should be easy to expand with new pages and categories.
• Consider local SEO: If your business operates in a specific region, add pages with geographic keys.
• Integrate marketing tools: CRM, email marketing, push notifications.

SEO during development is a strategic step that helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensure rapid traffic growth after launch. A website built with SEO in mind immediately gains a competitive advantage and works more efficiently for your business.