The 10-step Google checklist. One step at a time.
Go to Google Search Console. Add your domain. Verify with the HTML tag.
You'll know this is done when: Google Search Console shows your domain as 'Verified' in the property list.
In Google Search Console → Sitemaps, enter sitemap.xml and submit.
You'll know this is done when: Your sitemap.xml appears in Google Search Console's Sitemaps tab with a 'Success' status.
Paste your homepage URL into the search bar in Google Search Console. If it isn't on Google, click Request Indexing.
You'll know this is done when: Google Search Console says 'URL is on Google' for your homepage.
Visit yoursite.com/robots.txt. Make sure it doesn't say Disallow: /.
You'll know this is done when: Your robots.txt is publicly accessible and doesn't contain 'Disallow: /' on its own line.
Go to business.google.com. Claim your listing, add hours and photos, verify.
You'll know this is done when: Your Google Business Profile shows 'You're verified!' and your business shows up when you search your business name + city on Google.
Create a property at analytics.google.com. Paste the tracking code into your site's <head>.
You'll know this is done when: You can see real-time visitors in GA4's Realtime report when you visit your own site.
Google Search Console → Settings → Associations → link your GA4 property.
You'll know this is done when: In GA4 → Acquisition → Traffic Acquisition, you see search query data populated from Google Search Console.
In GA4, mark your most important action (form, call, booking) as a conversion.
You'll know this is done when: Your conversion event appears in GA4's Events list with the 'Mark as key event' toggle on.
Paste your URL into Google's Mobile-Friendly Test. Fix anything it flags.
You'll know this is done when: Google's Mobile-Friendly Test shows 'Page is usable on mobile' with no major issues flagged.
Paste your URL into PageSpeed Insights. Fix the top 3 issues.
You'll know this is done when: PageSpeed Insights shows scores for both mobile and desktop, and you've identified at least 3 issues to fix.