If your website is brand new and has zero authority, you’ve got one main job: build trust and relevance from the ground up.
SEO won’t move overnight, but the right actions early on will build serious momentum later.
Let’s walk through what that looks like — step by step.
Start with strategy before tactics
Don’t jump into title tags and blog posts just yet.
First, figure out your foundation.
Understand your audience
Who exactly are you trying to reach? Not just industry terms — dig into pain points, motivations, what they’re typing into search when they need help. The better you know them, the better your content will perform.
Clarify your messaging and goals
Your site should speak directly to that audience and guide them somewhere. Every page needs a purpose. What should visitors do once they land — fill out a form, call you, buy something? That intent should drive the layout and copy from day one.
Prioritise your key pages
Focus first on your most important pages — the ones tied to your main products or services. These should be:
- Targeted for clear, high-intent keywords
- Well-written and persuasive (CRO)
- Structured and optimised for search (SEO)
They’re your money pages. Don’t skip over them to write a bunch of blogs nobody reads.
Build content to support those pages
Plan your content around those priority pages.
Use keyword research to find the questions and subtopics people are asking.
Then create blog content that answers those questions and naturally links back to your main pages.
This builds topical relevance and makes your site feel more complete in the eyes of search engines.
Get serious about backlinks
Backlinks. Backlinks. Backlinks.
You can have perfect content, but without links from other sites, no one will find it.
Authority builds from what others say about you.
Get listed in local directories.
Create social profiles with consistent info.
Build branded Web 2.0s.
Leverage free or low-cost citation opportunities.
Reach out to partners, suppliers, and communities for your first links.
Don’t expect a flood — aim for relevance and consistency.
One good link from a real site beats ten spammy ones.
Dial in your site’s structure
- Submit to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
- Fix any crawl errors or broken links
- Set up a clear internal linking structure from day one
- Make sure your site loads fast, works on mobile, and has clean navigation
- Add schema markup where it adds value (e.g. reviews, FAQs)
Go after fast wins
Target low-competition, high-intent keywords
Don’t chase broad, high-volume terms right away. Focus on the specific, lower-volume searches that show strong intent. These are often easier to rank for and convert better.
Build topical clusters
Pick a narrow topic and cover it in depth with several pages or posts. Interlink them properly. This shows Google you’re an authority — even if your site is new.
Get visible early
- Share your site in relevant forums, communities, and groups — but offer value, not spam
- Ask for links or mentions from people you know in your industry
- Even unlinked mentions can help build awareness
Final word
SEO for a new website is about stacking small wins. Focus your effort where it counts: research, relevance, content, and connections.
Authority takes time, but every backlink, every piece of content, every technical fix moves you forward.