Own a domain name that you want to develop into a full website? Is it just sitting there, or is it parked? Here's my checklist for developing a domain name into a site.

1. SEO 101:
SEO Checklist for
Developing a Domain
So, you have a keyword rich domain name that
you want to develop in a full website that will,
ideally, rank well in the search engines. What is the
best way to develop that domain name into a
website that Google and Bing will like?.
August, 2013

2. Overview
What The Process is for Developing a Domain
• Set up web hosting
• Set up a basic web page
• Research Competition
• Keyword Research
• Social Media Accounts
• Web Design, CMS
• Content
• Linking
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

3. Web hosting
Set Up Web Hosting
• Example: RedWidgets.com domain name is currently a parked
domain at a parking company.
• The first order of business is to set up web hosting for the domain.
Decide if you are developing one site or several websites.
• The type of hosting, etc. is not critical at this point, as the domain
can be moved to another server or the hosting can be upgraded.
• I recommend a host like HostDime.com, Host Gator, something
other than a domain parking company; some 'domain
development' services will host many domains on the same servers
with the same templates, which is not something you want to do.
• You need your own web hosting, I preferto start off with a VPS so I
can host multiple domains/sites on the same server.
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

4. Web Page
Set up a basic web page
• Immediately, when the hosting is set up, put you some sort of
landing page.
• It could be a basic web page even made using "notepad" that
has a sentence or two on it.
• Make sure it has a unique title tag, meta description tag, heading,
and at least one or two sentences on it.
• The web design doesn't matter at this point, we'll deal with that
later.
• The most important factor here is to get SOMETHING other than
the previous parked domain lander on that domain.
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

5. Research Competition
Research Your Competition
• Start with one main keyword phrase, such as "red widgets", which
is probably your a main keyword.
• Find out who is currently ranking in the top 10 for that keyword
phrase, and start thinking about what it will take to get there.
• Make a list of the top ranking sites (top 10 sites, for example) and
use the "site" operator to find out how large those sites are. For
example, search for this at Google:
site:yourcompetitor.com
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

6. Keyword Research
Keyword Research
• Before you start building content on your website, you'll need to
figure out what type of content you'll need on your site (we already
have figured out how much content you'll need).
• You can easily find out related keywords as well as what keywords
your competition is ranking for currently so you can build similar
content on your website
• How to find content ideas
http://www.semrush.com/blog/publications/how-to-find-content-
ideas-using-semrush
• Come up with a keyword list.
• Think about targeting one keyword per page, with the main
keyword for the site focused on the home page.
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

7. Social Media Accounts
Social Media Accounts
• It's important to set up or "claim" social media accounts for your
site and link those accounts back to your site.
• Twitter, Facebook, and creating a Google+ page are critical.
• You can certainly go on over to Knowem.com and find more
places to set up accounts.
• Social is a big part of SEO nowadays, and the search engines are
looking for "social signals" that indicate that real people like your
site.
• So, if you can help show those signals, it will help your site.
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

8. Web Design
Web Design, CMS
• Deciding which CMS (content management system), web design, and soforth is
not critical from an SEO perspective--but WordPress and Drupal are good
WordPress:
• Custom theme - The site should be appealing visually and not use the basic
generic "themes" that are packaged with WordPress "out of the box". I recommend
spending a little bit to get a custom theme for the site. I really like the "Genesis"
framework and the "StudioPress" premium themes.
• Custom logo - You will need a logo for the site. 99 Designs, and even Fiverr are
options (get several Fiverr logos done, choose the best one).
• WordPress Plugins - There are several that you should use, including Akismet or
CommentLuv for spame, Yoast SEO Plugin, Tweet Old Post (if you want to use that
sort of option), and WordFence (good for WordPress security).
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

9. Content
Content
• Content on the site is key.
• Text Brokers, iWriter, elance, and Guru.com are all options. Make sure you are as
specific as you can when it comes to the article/content you're looking for.
• Always include photos/images within articles and posts. Stock photos are a good
option if you cannot take the photos yourself.
• Static content can be added to the site all at once, blog posts on a regular
schedule, add new blog posts to your social profiles/socialize them when you post
new content.
• Never use free content. You'll always run into duplicate content issues with the
search engines, and vistors typically don't really like content that's been posted on
other sites.
• Before posting content, you may want to spend time optimizing it. Certainly all
pages need a unique title tag, meta description tag, and headings, but take it one
step further and optimize it using ScribeSEO (scribecontent.com) before you post it
on your site. There is a WordPress plugin and a Microsoft Word Plugin for Scribe SEO.
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

10. Linking
Linking
• Getting links from other website is key to helping your site rank well in the search
results
• press release (announcing launch of your site)
• local citations
• image sharing (upload product images to image sharing sites, link back to your
site)
• video sharing
• research competitor's links
• find link opportunities, such as dead links, event listings, unlinked mentions of your
site/brand
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

11. Finally
Finally
• By this time, your site should be indexed by the search engines with the new
content.
• Because you've set up your social accounts and have begun to socialize your
articles and content on your site, you should be seeing your content indexed and
potentially some new traffic to the site.
• Adding new content and socializing it will bring the search engine back often--and
get your pages indexed.
• Working on getting new links to the site each month will keep the site in the search
engine results--and hopefully you'll be enjoying the traffic from your newly
developed domain.
• Read More:
SEO Checklist for Developing a Domain
http://morganlinton.com/seo-checklist-for-developing-a-domain/
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

12. Questions and Answers
Q & A
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

13. Thank You
Bill Hartzer
Director of Search Engine Optimization
Standing Dog
www.StandingDog.com
Twitter: @StandingDog
Facebook: Facebook.com/standingdog
Personal Blog: www.BillHartzer.com
Twitter: @Bhartzer
Facebook: Facebook.com/bhartzer
SEO 101: Learning the Basics of Search Engine Optimization