What basic SEO should include on a new website
A new website should launch ready for Google and AI. Point by point, what basic SEO includes, what each part does and how to check your site has it.
"SEO included" can mean almost anything. So it is worth knowing what basic SEO a new website should come with so that Google understands it from day one. It is not what puts you first tomorrow, but without this foundation everything else is twice as hard.
This is what I consider basic SEO, and what every Nueva Página website includes.
A title and description on every page
This is what appears on Google before anyone visits. Every page has its own, written for what your customers search. How to write them: title and description for Google.
Ordered headings and alt text
One H1 per page saying what it is about, H2s and H3s ordered beneath it, and every image described for people who cannot see it. It helps Google, AI assistants and accessibility. More in H1, H2 and H3 headings and image alt text.
Sitemap and robots.txt
The map of your pages and the rules for search engines, ready and up to date. Explained in sitemap and robots.txt.
Your business details marked up for Google
Name, town, contact details, opening hours and services, written in a format Google and AI read without doubt: structured data. If the page has FAQs, I mark those up too.
Fast and mobile-friendly
Most business searches happen on a phone, and Google looks at the mobile version of your website. A light, well-adapted website starts ahead. More in website speed and responsive websites.
A secure connection (HTTPS)
The padlock in the browser. Google takes it for granted and browsers warn when it is missing. See HTTPS and SSL certificates.
Registration with Google Search Console and Bing
At launch I register the website with Google's and Bing's tools and submit the sitemap. They hear about it the same day, and later you can see which searches bring you visits. More in when a new website shows on Google.
Copy written to be found
The text is organised around the words your customers use when searching, naturally. One page per important service, real frequently asked questions and clear answers. See writing copy for Google and AI.
Basic SEO ready for AI assistants
ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity also read websites to recommend businesses. Content readable without tricks, marked-up details and an llms.txt file summarising the website for them.
Ready to share
When the link is sent on WhatsApp or social media it shows its title, description and image, not an empty box. Explained in link previews.
What adds to basic SEO later, and is in your hands
With the foundation in place, some things build up over time and depend on your business: keeping your Google Business Profile up to date, asking customers for reviews and linking your website from your social media. The website launches ready to make the most of all that.
Why basic SEO is done while building the website
All of the above costs very little if it is done while the website is being built, and a lot more if added later. A title, a heading or marked-up details are written along with the page; by contrast, fixing them on a live website means reviewing all of it. That is why you should ask about basic SEO before hiring, not afterwards.
In addition, Google sums it up in its SEO starter guide: useful content, pages that are easy to crawl and clear information. There are no tricks. If you are comparing quotes, the questions in hiring a web developer will help. A solid foundation goes unnoticed on day one and pays off every day after.
Frequently asked questions
Will basic SEO put me first on Google?
It gets your website ready to compete. Your position also depends on your sector, your area, your reviews and time.
How do I check whether a website has basic SEO?
Search for it on Google and look at the title and description, open yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml and run it through PageSpeed. If something is missing, it shows quickly.
Is basic SEO included in every plan?
Yes. It is in every Nueva Página plan, from the one-page website up. Prices are in the cost calculator.
What does Nueva Página basic SEO include that others may not?
What any well-built website should include, in writing: you have it point by point in this article and in how I work.