New-Site SEO Launch Checklist: Indexing, Sitemaps, robots & Internal Links

The first 30 days after launch are when search engines form their understanding of your site. Work through this checklist to shorten time-to-index.

1. Verify in search consoles

Verify a domain property in Google Search Console and submit sitemap.xml; for Chinese audiences, also submit to Baidu's webmaster platform.

2. Check robots.txt

Make sure no important directories are blocked; search-result pages, tag pages, and admin paths should be disallowed, while articles and section pages are allowed.

3. Titles and descriptions

Every page has a unique title and description; the homepage includes core keywords and the brand name.

4. Internal link structure

The homepage links to all top sections, sections link to articles, and articles cross-reference related content, so any page is reachable within three clicks.

5. Page speed

Compress images, reduce third-party scripts, enable caching and a CDN; keep mobile first-screen load under 2.5 seconds.

6. Structured data

Add WebSite, Organization, and BlogPosting structured data to help search engines understand the content.

7. Steady updates

Publish at least 2–3 original posts per week early on, going deep on one theme — more effective than scattered posting for building topical authority.