SEO for New Websites: A 90-Day Action Plan

Starting a new website? SEO feels overwhelming when you're starting from zero. No traffic, no backlinks, no domain authority. But with the right 90-day plan, you can build a solid foundation for organic growth.

The Reality Check

Let's be honest about expectations:

• Month 1: Very little organic traffic. Google is still learning about your site.
• Month 2-3: Some impressions start appearing. A few clicks trickle in.
• Month 4-6: Real traffic begins if you've done the work.

SEO is a long game. But the actions you take now determine results 6 months from now.

Days 1-30: Technical Foundation

Week 1: Get Indexed

1. Set up Google Search Console — Essential for tracking
2. Submit your sitemap — Help Google find all pages
3. Check robots.txt — Make sure you're not blocking crawlers
4. Verify indexing — Site:yourdomain.com in Google

Week 2: Technical Basics

1. Page speed — Use PageSpeed Insights, aim for 90+
2. Mobile-friendly — Test with Google's mobile-friendly test
3. HTTPS — Non-negotiable in 2025
4. Clean URLs — /about-us not /page?id=123

Week 3-4: Core Pages

Focus on creating and optimizing your essential pages:

• Homepage: Clear value proposition, target main keyword
• About page: Build trust and E-E-A-T signals
• Service/Product pages: Target commercial keywords
• Contact page: Local SEO signals if applicable

Days 31-60: Content Foundation

Week 5-6: Keyword Research

Since you're new, you won't have GSC data yet. Use free tools:

• Google Autocomplete: Type your topic, see suggestions
• People Also Ask: Questions people search for
• Answer the Public: Free question research
• Competitor analysis: What are similar sites ranking for?

Week 7-8: Initial Content

1. Create 5-10 foundational posts — Cover your core topics
2. Focus on long-tail keywords — Less competition for new sites
3. Make content comprehensive — Be the best answer
4. Add internal links — Connect related pages

Days 61-90: Build Authority

Week 9-10: Link Building Basics

New sites need backlinks, but start simple:

• Business directories: Google Business Profile, Yelp, industry directories
• Social profiles: Complete LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
• Guest posting: Write for relevant blogs in your industry
• HARO: Respond to journalist queries for backlinks

Week 11-12: Monitor and Adjust

1. Check GSC weekly — You should have some data now
2. Track impressions — Growing impressions = good sign
3. Note first rankings — Which queries are you appearing for?
4. Fix any errors — Check Coverage report in GSC

First 90 Days Checklist

Technical:

• ☐ GSC set up and verified
• ☐ Sitemap submitted
• ☐ All pages indexed
• ☐ Page speed optimized
• ☐ Mobile-friendly
• ☐ HTTPS enabled

Content:

• ☐ Homepage optimized
• ☐ Core pages created
• ☐ 5-10 blog posts published
• ☐ Internal linking in place
• ☐ Meta titles/descriptions set

Authority:

• ☐ Business directories submitted
• ☐ Social profiles complete
• ☐ First guest post or mention
• ☐ Google Business Profile (if local)

Common New Site Mistakes

• Targeting competitive keywords: Start with long-tail
• Expecting fast results: SEO takes months
• Ignoring technical SEO: Foundation matters
• Publishing thin content: Quality over quantity
• No internal linking: Connect your pages

What Success Looks Like at Day 90

• All pages indexed in Google
• Growing impressions week over week
• First organic clicks appearing
• Rankings for some long-tail keywords
• Clean GSC with no major errors

After 90 days, you'll have GSC data to work with. That's when PageSEO becomes powerful — analyzing your real search data and telling you exactly what to optimize each day.