If you’re trying to figure out how to start SEO for your website, let me save you about 14 open tabs. You don’t need another “10 SEO hacks” blog. You need a plan.

Because most creative entrepreneurs don’t struggle with effort, they struggle with structure. Maybe you’re here because…

• You just launched your beautiful website.
• Posted it on Instagram with so much excitement.
• Told all of your friends to take a peek (and also to brag!!)

And then a few months later pass by and…nothing.

Not because the work isn’t good or because Google is evil, but because there was never an SEO optimization plan guiding the build in the first place.

So let’s fix that.

The 6 Step No Bullshit SEO Launch Checklist

This is your simple, no-bullshit SEO master plan for building a website that doesn’t just look good—but actually works.

Step 1: Plan Your Website Before You (Or Your Designer) Design It

(Which btw, we have some solid Showit Website Designer recs that we’d be happy to send your way! Head to this blog where we share our favorite, trusted creatives in this space. 

Before you even think about keywords, ask:

• What pages does my website actually need?
• What is each page’s job?
• What search would someone type to land here?
• What action should they take next?

If you’re wondering how to plan out a website in a way that supports SEO, here’s the rule: Every page should serve one clear purpose.

Not three.

Not five.

One.

• Your homepage? Broad positioning + internal links.
• Your services page? Clear offer + clear location.
• Your about page? Authority + trust.
• Your blogs? Depth + search visibility.

SEO starts with clear positioning & plain Jane structure.

• Not plugins.
• Not backend tools.

Step 2: Choose One Primary Keyword Per Page

Your SEO master plan should look like this:

One page = One primary keyword.

Examples:

• “Brand Photographer in Indianapolis”
• “Northern Michigan Wedding Photographer”
• “Trauma Therapist in Scottsdale”
• “Website Copywriter for Creatives”

That primary keyword becomes:

• Your H1
• Your meta description foundation (Learn how to write an optimized Meta Description)
• Your URL slug
• The theme of your headers
• The anchor for internal linking

This is one of the most important SEO recommendations for a website. When every page has a clear focus, Google knows what to do with it.

Step 3: Structure the Page Correctly

If you’ve ever Googled how to structure a website for SEO, you’ve probably seen overwhelming advice. Let’s simplify it.

Here’s your baseline:

• ✔ H1 = Primary Keyword
  • Only one per page.
• ✔ H2s + H3s = Supporting topics
  • These include secondary keywords naturally woven into the copy.
• ✔ 400–800+ Words of Context
  • Not filler. Context that says the damn thing.
  • If your page is:
    • 10 images
    • 3 sentences
    • A CTA button
  • Google has nothing to read, and your potential client has nothing to understand.
• ✔ Internal Links
  • Link to:
    • Related blogs
    • Relevant services
    • Helpful resources
  • This builds topical authority.

• ✔ Optimized Image Alt Text
  • Describe what the image is. Include keywords when relevant—but don’t stuff them.

These aren’t trendy “SEO tips blog” hacks. They’re fundamentals.

Step 4: Don’t Blame Your Website Platform

Let’s address this directly & anyone who says otherwise is just trying to convert you to their platform of choice.

• SEO for Wix websites is not doomed.
• SEO for Showit is not doomed. (Our personal fav!)
• SEO for Squarespace is not doomed.
• SEO for Pixieset is not doomed. 

Your platform is rarely the real problem.

What matters more:

• Page structure
• Keyword clarity
• Proper heading hierarchy
• Clean URLs
• Mobile optimization
• Site speed

You don’t need to rebuild your entire site to improve SEO.

You need to improve your structure.

That’s it (literally). 

Step 5: Use Blogging to Strengthen Your Foundation

If you want the best SEO advice I can give you, it’s this: Stop treating blogging like journaling or some boring marketing chore.

Blogging is architecture.

Each blog post should:

• Target one long-tail keyword
• Support a core service page
• Internally link strategically
• Answer a specific search question

For example, the service page: “Brand Photography in Chicago”

Supporting blogs:

• “What to Wear for Brand Photos in Chicago”
• “Best Chicago Locations for Branding Sessions”
• “How to Prepare for a Brand Photoshoot in Chicago”
• “5 Top Locations For Your Chicago Brand Photoshoot”

That’s how your SEO optimization plan compounds.

Blogging builds depth, Depth builds authority. And authority builds visibility.

Step 6: Improve, Don’t Abandon

An SEO optimization plan isn’t something you create once and forget.

Every quarter, review:

• Which pages are ranking?
• Which are stuck on page two…or the abyss?
• Which blogs are close to breaking through?
• Which pages feel thin?
• Which pages have a quick bounce rate vs. pages that don’t
• Which pages have high impressions but low clicks?

SEO improvement tips that actually matter

• Update older blog posts with stronger headers
• Add internal links to underperforming page 
• Improve weak meta descriptions
• Expand thin service pages
• Refresh outdated statistics or examples

Small improvements compound over time. SEO is long-term leverage. Not instant gratification.

What Most Business Owners Get Wrong

They design first (or hire a designer) and think about SEO later.

They rely on Instagram traffic and panic when inquiries slow down.

(If this you, no shame!! You don’t know what you don’t know!)

An SEO optimization plan flips that on hits head.

It says:

• Structure first
• Clarity first
• Intent first
• Design second

When structure leads, design becomes easier because you’re not trying to make vibes rank—you’re building something with direction.

If You’re Like Cool…But Where Do I Start?

Start here:

1. List every page on your website.
2. Assign one primary keyword to each.
3. Identify 3–5 supporting keywords. (Head to this blog to see how to find keywords)
4. Rewrite your H1 to reflect your primary keyword.
5. Expand thin pages to add context.
6. Create 3 blogs that support your most important service.

That alone will move the needle.

Your website doesn’t need to be louder. It needs to be clearer. An SEO optimization plan isn’t about gaming Google, it’s about giving your business infrastructure to grow and become visible.

Because when your website is structured properly:

• You’re less dependent on social media.
• You attract more aligned inquiries.
• Your marketing feels calmer.
• Your growth compounds.

And that’s the kind of strategy that lasts.

Not up for DIY’ing? No problem! We’d love to help you update your SEO with our SEO Revive services.