SEO for a brand-new website: what to do first

Launch day: the checks that matter most

Many new sites are invisible for a simple reason: a setting from the build stage was never switched off. Before anything else, confirm the following.

• The site is not set to discourage search engines. WordPress has a tick box for this under Reading settings.
• No leftover noindex tags on live pages.
• robots.txt does not block the whole site with 'Disallow: /'.
• The site loads over HTTPS, and the http and www versions redirect to one main address.
• An XML sitemap exists and lists your real pages, not test pages.

Week one: tell Google you exist

• Verify the site in Google Search Console and submit the sitemap.
• Use the URL inspection tool on your home page and key service pages to request indexing.
• Create or claim your Google Business Profile if customers visit you or you visit them, and link it to the site.
• Add the website link to your social profiles and any trade directories you already belong to.
• Connect Google Analytics so you can see visits from day one.

The core pages every new business site needs

A handful of strong pages beats a pile of thin ones. Do not publish empty 'coming soon' pages; add them when you have something to say.

• Home page that says plainly what you do, where, and for whom.
• One page per main service or product group, each with its own title and description.
• About page with real people, history and credentials.
• Contact page with address, phone, hours and a map if you have premises.
• A few helpful articles answering the questions customers ask before buying.

What to expect in the first months

A new domain has no history, no links from other sites and no track record with searchers. Search engines usually start by showing it for very specific phrases, such as your business name and narrow local terms. Broader searches take longer and depend on competition in your trade and area.

In Search Console, the first sign of progress is impressions: your pages appearing in results, even low down. Clicks follow once pages move closer to the top. This is normal and does not mean something is broken.

Mistakes that slow new sites down

• Copying service descriptions from suppliers or other websites.
• Publishing dozens of near-identical location pages at once.
• Changing page addresses repeatedly in the first weeks without redirects.
• Heavy themes, sliders and uncompressed photos that make phones wait.
• Buying links or joining link schemes, which can lead to penalties.

Using AI Marketing Master on a new site

Add your new website and the audit checks the launch basics for you: robots.txt, sitemap, HTTPS, titles, descriptions, headings, broken links and more. It reports problems in plain English, so a leftover noindex or blocked folder is spotted early. Once you connect Search Console, your first impressions and clicks show up in the app, and the monthly report shows what changed. The AI blog writer and website page writer can draft your first service pages and articles, using only facts you have approved, for you to review before publishing.