This SaaS SEO checklist brings together everything you need to grow. Backed by proven tactics, it’s designed to help your software rank higher, attract the right users, and scale organic growth efficiently.
Updated on
June 19, 2025
| Maria Harutyunyan, Head of SEO
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56
SaaS SEO Checkpoints
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SaaS Platform Setup & Configuration
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Content Strategy & Optimization
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Technical SEO & Site Performance
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SaaS Keyword & Market Research
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Link Building & Authority
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User Experience & Conversion Optimization
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Ongoing SEO Maintenance & Monitoring
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Use a scalable and SEO-friendly CMS or platform:
Pick a platform that handles integrations, frequent updates, and clean SEO-friendly code without affecting your website speed.
Implement HTTPS site-wide with secure certificates:
Security is critical for SaaS trust and SEO; HTTPS protects user data and boosts rankings.
Set up clear URL hierarchy reflecting software features and categories:
Reflect your product’s modularity and functionality in URLs for better crawlability and user understanding.
Integrate Google Search Console and GA4 early in the project:
Early integration allows you to monitor indexing, traffic, and technical issues from the start.
Configure structured data for software applications (e.g., SoftwareApplication schema):
Structured data helps your software show enhanced listings, increasing visibility and trust.
Configure canonical tags to limit duplicate content across subscriptions:
SaaS sites often have similar pages for different plans; canonical tags avoid ranking penalties for near-duplicate content.
Provide separate pages for tiers and user personas:
Customize pages to different buyer personas and plans, improving relevance and conversion potential.
Add simple-to-edit meta title and description templates:
Automate meta tags to scale efficiently while allowing manual tweaks for key pages.
Build an extensive knowledge base and help center with SEO in mind:
A knowledge base helps users and search engines find valuable answers, driving organic support traffic.
Create in-depth blog content targeting industry pain points and solutions:
Blog content should solve real problems your audience faces, attracting qualified leads over time.
Optimize landing pages for feature-specific keywords and user intent:
Feature pages need precise keywords that match what prospects search for to increase conversions.
Use case studies and customer stories as unique, keyword-rich content:
Case studies build trust and add unique, SEO-friendly content that showcases real benefits.
Develop tutorial and how-to content addressing common user questions:
Tutorials improve user experience and rank for informational queries relevant to your product.
Keep product update and release notes SEO-friendly with clear URLs and metadata:
Keep update notes discoverable and optimized to capture search traffic interested in new features.
Regularly audit content to remove outdated or redundant pages:
Removing stale content keeps your site relevant and avoids confusing both users and search engines.
Leverage competitor research to find keyword gaps and content opportunities:
Competitor keyword gaps reveal untapped topics where you can quickly gain organic visibility.
Ensure fast page load times with CDN and optimized assets:
Fast load times reduce churn and improve rankings, especially crucial for high-touch SaaS buyers.
Implement a logical internal linking structure supporting conversion paths:
Internal links should guide users naturally toward trials, demos, or sign-ups while helping crawlers find key pages.
Use crawl budget wisely by blocking thin or duplicate SaaS pages (e.g., login, user dashboards):
Exclude pages like account areas and dynamically generated URLs to conserve crawl budget for SEO-important pages.
Create XML sitemaps segmented by content type (blog, docs, product pages):
Segmented sitemaps help search engines better understand your site structure and prioritize crawling.
Use hreflang tags for global SaaS audiences with localized versions:
Global SaaS providers must serve the correct language or region version to maximize international SEO effectiveness.
Set up and monitor pagination and faceted navigation properly:
Proper handling of pagination and filters avoids duplicate content issues common in SaaS pricing or feature listings.
Enable mobile responsiveness with special attention to SaaS product demos and forms:
Mobile users must access demos and signup forms easily; responsive design ensures a seamless mobile experience.
Audit and fix broken links and redirect chains regularly:
Broken links frustrate users and waste link equity; regular audits keep your site healthy.
Focus on keywords aligned with buyer journey stages (awareness, evaluation, purchase):
Aligning keywords to buyer intent helps craft content that converts at each funnel stage.
Prioritize long-tail keywords with clear commercial intent:
Long-tail keywords often have less competition and higher conversion potential for SaaS products.
Identify and target competitor brand and product keywords carefully:
Careful competitor targeting can capture interested users but requires strategic bidding and content differentiation.
Use intent-based segmentation for content planning (informational vs transactional):
Segmenting keywords by intent guides your content format and messaging for maximum impact.
Monitor keyword ranking volatility in the competitive SaaS niche:
Tracking rankings in SaaS’s fast-moving market lets you react quickly to algorithm or competitor changes.
Explore customer feedback and support queries to uncover new keyword ideas:
Listening to customers reveals real language and issues you can target with authentic content.
Localize keywords for regions with specific market needs or regulations:
Local markets may have unique terminology or compliance needs influencing keyword choice.
Continuously update keyword strategy based on product evolution and market trends:
SaaS products evolve; so must your keywords, to stay relevant and ahead in search results.
Earn backlinks from industry blogs, review sites, and SaaS directories:
High-quality backlinks from relevant sites boost domain authority and organic rankings.
Leverage partnerships and integrations for co-marketing backlink opportunities:
Partner backlinks not only drive referral traffic but signal trust and relevance to search engines.
Create shareable content like industry reports, infographics, and original research:
Unique, data-driven content attracts natural links and positions your brand as a thought leader.
Encourage customer reviews on G2, Capterra, and similar platforms:
Positive reviews on major SaaS platforms improve visibility and trust among prospects and Google alike.
Build internal link equity by linking relevant blog posts to product pages:
Internal linking distributes authority and guides visitors through your conversion funnel.
Monitor backlink profiles regularly to disavow spammy or low-quality links:
Removing harmful backlinks protects your site’s SEO health and ranking stability.
Use PR campaigns to gain coverage from tech and business media:
PR coverage expands your brand reach and brings authoritative backlinks that strengthen your profile.
Engage in guest posting on SaaS and tech authority websites:
Guest posts increase brand awareness and drive niche-relevant referral traffic while gaining SEO value.
Design clear, compelling CTAs that reflect SaaS user goals:
Effective CTAs guide users clearly to sign up or request demos, directly boosting your SaaS growth, make them visible and relevant.
Use heatmaps and session recordings to identify UX friction points:
Use heatmaps to spot where visitors hesitate or drop off, then simplify those areas to keep users engaged.
Optimize sign-up flows to minimize drop-offs on mobile and desktop:
Reduce signup friction by minimizing form fields and enabling autofill to cut abandonment rates.
Ensure all key pages load quickly and display error-free forms:
Fix site speed and errors on key pages to keep users trusting and converting.
Test and refine onboarding content and tutorials for better retention:
Improve onboarding by delivering early value and reducing steps to lower churn.
Incorporate social proof prominently (reviews, testimonials, case studies):
Show social proof prominently to build trust and reduce hesitation.
Use A/B testing regularly on landing pages and pricing pages:
Run A/B tests on headlines and buttons to find what converts best.
Track conversion metrics tied to organic traffic segments:
Track conversions by SEO source to focus on high-value keywords and content.
Set up regular SEO audits covering technical, content, and backlink health:
Run regular SEO audits to catch issues before rankings or UX suffer.
Monitor organic traffic and keyword rankings monthly with attention to churn signals:
Watch key metrics for early signs of traffic or engagement drops and act fast.
Track competitor SEO activities and content launches:
Monitor competitors’ SEO moves to stay competitive and adjust strategy.
Review site speed and Core Web Vitals after major updates or releases:
Check site speed and Core Web Vitals after updates to maintain performance.
Maintain a clean and updated disavow file for toxic backlinks:
Keep a disavow file clean of toxic backlinks to avoid penalties.
Update outdated blog content and knowledge base articles quarterly:
Refresh old content regularly to keep it relevant and ranking.
Use alert tools to catch indexing or crawl issues quickly:
Set alerts for crawl or indexing errors to fix problems quickly.
Keep SEO and CMS platforms updated to latest versions:
Update your CMS and SEO tools to access new features and stay secure.
A well-structured approach is the cornerstone of successful SEO. That's why we’ve developed a series of in-depth checklists designed to streamline your SEO strategy. From building high-quality backlinks and optimizing your WordPress site to tackling on-page SEO and technical optimizations, our checklists offer precise, actionable steps to help you confidently navigate every aspect of SEO.
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