SEO Checklist Template Guide

October 8, 2025

How to use the SEO Checklist Template to boost rankings

As someone who has been working in SEO for over five years, I know how overwhelming it can feel to keep track of every single optimization task, from technical setup and backlinks to keyword tracking and content updates.

That’s exactly why I created this SEO Checklist Template for Google Sheets, a simple, organized tool to help you improve your website’s ranking on Google or Bing without needing to hire an external agency.

It doesn't matter if you run a blog, a small business website, or an eCommerce store, this template gives you a clear roadmap for every step of your journey.

Get the SEO Template

Getting started with the Template

Once you get the PDF file with the Template, open it and click the link inside. This will take you to Google Sheets, where you can make a copy to your own Google Drive.

That copy becomes your personal version of the checklist, fully editable and customizable. You can start adding your own tasks, assign team members, set deadlines, and adjust categories to match your website or business needs, it’s quick to set up and ready to use right away.

When you open the file, you’ll find several organized tabs that make the process easy to follow.

The first one is the Setup tab - this is where you define your categories, team members, and task priorities. You can set priorities from low to high, assign responsibilities, and categorize tasks into sections like on-page SEO, content, technical setup, backlinks, and more.

Once the setup is done, everything else in the template connects automatically.

The SEO Checklist: The main dashboard

The heart of this template is the SEO Checklist tab, which contains around 65 actionable tasks to help you systematically optimize your website.

Tasks come with:

A due date and an automatic countdown (days left);
A priority level;
A task description and category;
A link to helpful SEO resources;
A field to assign the task to someone on your team.

Example of the Checklist tab

It’s designed to give you clarity and structure. You’ll know exactly what to work on next, from optimizing your meta tags, improving your internal links to checking mobile performance.

If you’re new to SEO, don’t worry, there are links and references next to certain tasks, so you can learn as you go. You can also use tools like ChatGPT or other AI engines to support your research and answer most common questions.

Example tasks to follow

The Checklist is packed with actionable tasks that guide you step by step to optimize your website for search engines.

For example, one task helps you check Google’s cache for key pages to ensure your content and navigation are fully visible and indexed correctly.

Another task focuses on reviewing your primary keywords and ensuring they appear naturally in H1 tags, URLs, and image alt text.

A third task encourages auditing your internal linking structure, making sure category pages link to relevant subcategories and product pages, which strengthens site architecture and improves user experience.

These practical steps make it easier to tackle SEO systematically without missing critical details.

Backlink assessment

Another feature in this template is the Backlink Assessment tab.

This tab includes a set of 33 tasks focused on your site’s backlink profile, helping you identify, evaluate, and manage inbound links that affect your site’s authority and ranking.

If you’re new to backlinks, think of them as votes of confidence from other websites. Managing them properly can make a big difference in your SEO performance. This section gives you a structured way to analyze your links and ensure your backlink strategy is strong and healthy.

“Backlinks remain one of the strongest signals Google uses to determine the authority and relevance of a website. Quality links from trusted sources can significantly boost your rankings.” - John Mueller, Google Search Advocate

Keyword research & tracking

The Keyword Research and Mapping Tool is perfect for users who don’t have access to paid SEO software like Ahrefs or SEMrush. You can use Google Search Console or Google Ads Keyword Planner to find your keywords and then log the data into this sheet.

Example of the keywords mapping tab

Here, you can:

Track search volume, keyword rankings, and performance trends over 3, 6, or 12 months;
Identify which keywords are performing best;
Note where each keyword is used (title, alt text, tags, etc.);
Record potential backlink partners or link-building opportunities.

All this data automatically generates charts to help you visualize your SEO progress over time.

SEO goals Tracker

To make goal setting easier, in the Template you'll find a Goals Tracker tab.

Set high-level SEO goals, assign a priority level, and then break them down into smaller, actionable steps.

For example, if your goal is to update 20 blog articles, you can plan to do two per day and check them off as you go. You can also assign these tasks to team members and track completion dates. It’s an efficient way to turn big SEO objectives into achievable milestones.

SEO Calendar

Finally, the Calendar tab helps you organize all your SEO activities throughout the year.

You can mark updates, track what’s been published, and monitor when changes were made, this is especially useful if you’re working with a team, everyone can see what’s been done and what’s next.

Example of the Calendar tab

All updates are color-coded by priority (high, medium, low), making it visually easy to understand what needs your attention most.

Why this Template works

This Template was designed to make SEO more approachable, not just for professionals, but also for small business owners and freelancers who want to improve their rankings without overcomplicating things.

Everything is built natively in Google Sheets, no plugins or add-ons required. You can share the file with your team, track progress in real time, and adapt the layout to fit your own needs.

Get the SEO Checklist right now

You can get the SEO Checklist Template through the link in the video description or in the store. It’s an easy, beginner-friendly way to take control of your website’s performance and start ranking higher on Google, one task at a time.

FAQ

Can I use this template in Excel?

This template is designed specifically for Google Sheets, and all features, including formulas, formatting, and checkmarks work best there. It’s not optimized for Excel, so you should use it directly in Google Sheets for the best experience.

Can I share the chart with my team?

Absolutely! Since it’s in Google Sheets, you can easily share it with your team and collaborate in real time. Everyone will see updates instantly, which makes tracking progress simple and transparent.