A step-by-step SEO checklist you can implement this week

This checklist organizes 40+ SEO tasks into four priority tiers. The order matters because some tasks improve others. For example, fixing your Google Business Profile (GBP) takes a day but drives qualified leads immediately — so it comes before spending weeks on content creation.

The checklist is built around what actually moves the needle for pest control companies: local search visibility, service-page authority, review momentum, and basic technical health. Each item includes a rough effort estimate (quick, moderate, or ongoing) so you can batch similar work.

Use this as a reference guide, not a one-time project plan. SEO is not a 12-week sprint. Many pest control firms revisit this checklist quarterly to catch gaps and prioritize the next batch of improvements.

Goal: Fix obvious gaps that are costing you leads right now.

• Claim and verify your Google Business Profile — If you haven't done this, stop. GBP is your foundation. Verify your address, phone, and hours. Add photos of your team and service trucks. This task: 1–2 hours.
• Audit your GBP photos and description — Replace stock photos with real images. Write a 250-word description using local keywords ('pest control in [city]', 'termite treatment', etc.). Task: 30–45 minutes.
• Set up review requests and monitoring — Create a simple process to ask customers for Google reviews. Use Google's review link or a tool that automates requests. Task: 1 hour to set up, then 10 minutes weekly to monitor responses.
• Fix glaring on-page issues — If your homepage doesn't mention your service area or key pest types, add them. If your service pages lack local keywords, update the H1 tags and first paragraph. Task: 2–3 hours.
• Check mobile responsiveness — Visit your site on a phone. Click all links. If anything breaks, fix it. Broken mobile experiences kill rankings. Task: 30 minutes.
• Verify your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency — Check that your business name, address, and phone match across your website, GBP, and major directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angie's List). Inconsistencies confuse Google. Task: 1 hour.

Goal: Build authority and fix structural problems that are preventing ranking growth.

• Create or optimize service-specific landing pages — Each pest type and service area should have its own page. Write 800–1200 words targeting keywords like 'termite control in [city]', 'bed bug treatment [city]', etc. Include local modifiers throughout. Task: 4–6 hours per page (or hire a writer).
• Audit technical SEO basics — Check for crawl errors in Google Search Console. Look for duplicate content, broken internal links, and redirect chains. Task: 2–3 hours.
• Improve page speed — Compress images, enable browser caching, minimize CSS/JavaScript. Most pest control sites load slowly. A 1-second improvement can lift rankings slightly and reduce bounce rate. Task: 2–4 hours or hire a developer.
• Build a local citation strategy — List your business in 10–15 relevant directories: industry-specific (Pest Control.com, ServiceMaster), general (BBB, Thumbtack), and location-specific (chamber of commerce sites, local business directories). Task: 3–5 hours.
• Create a review response template — Respond to all reviews (positive and negative) within 48 hours. Consistency and tone matter. Task: 30 minutes to draft, then 5 minutes per review going forward.
• Set up Google Search Console and Analytics 4 — If you haven't already, connect these tools. Monitor keyword impressions, CTR, and traffic sources. Task: 1 hour.

Goal: Differentiate your content and build off-site authority.

• Develop a content calendar — Plan 8–12 blog posts for the next 6 months. Topics: seasonal pests, prevention tips, pest identification guides, service area spotlights. Task: 2–3 hours to plan, 2–4 hours per post to write or commission.
• Build backlinks strategically — Reach out to local directories, chamber of commerce sites, local news outlets, and industry associations. Offer expert commentary on local pest control trends. Task: 1–2 hours per link prospect (expect 20–30% conversion rate).
• Create location-specific content — If you serve multiple cities, create city-specific landing pages and blog posts. This signals relevance to Google for local searches. Task: 4–6 hours per location.
• Set up schema markup — Add LocalBusiness, Service, and BreadcrumbList schema to your site. This helps Google understand your business structure and can improve rich snippet appearance. Task: 2–3 hours or hire a developer.
• Establish a quarterly review audit process — Track review volume, sentiment, and response time. Identify trends (e.g., 'customers mention our fast response time'). Task: 30 minutes per quarter.
• Audit competitor rankings and keywords — Identify which competitors rank for keywords you don't. Reverse-engineer their content strategy. Task: 2–3 hours.

Goal: Build sustainable competitive advantage through depth and consistency.

• Develop topic clusters around service areas — Create 'pillar' pages (e.g., 'Termite Control') with 8–12 supporting blog posts linking back to the pillar. This signals authority to Google. Task: 20–30 hours over 2–3 months.
• Build a video content strategy — Create short videos of pest identification, prevention tips, or service walkthroughs. Post to YouTube and embed on your site. Video boosts engagement and ranking signals. Task: 4–6 hours per video (script, shoot, edit).
• Expand multi-location SEO — If you serve 5+ cities, create city-specific landing pages with unique photos and local testimonials. Task: 3–4 hours per location.
• Launch an expert positioning initiative — Write industry guest posts, contribute to local business publications, speak at chamber of commerce events. Build your personal and brand authority. Task: 5–10 hours per quarter.
• Establish ongoing link building cadence — Commit to building 2–3 new relevant backlinks per month. Focus on local directories, industry associations, and local news mentions. Task: 3–4 hours per month.
• Monitor Core Web Vitals quarterly — Check that Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) stay healthy. Make adjustments as needed. Task: 1 hour per quarter.

Not all tasks are created equal. This matrix helps you focus on high-impact, low-effort items first — then move to high-impact, medium-effort work. Low-impact tasks can wait or skip entirely.

If you're resource-constrained (most pest control firms are), focus on the 'high impact, quick' and 'high impact, moderate' quadrants. These tasks drive 70–80% of the SEO value without requiring specialized expertise or outside hires.

We've created a downloadable version of this checklist as a Google Sheet and PDF. Share it with your team, assign owners, and track progress. The spreadsheet version includes columns for owner, target date, and status — so you can manage the rollout without reinventing tracking.

The download includes:

• All 40+ tasks with effort estimates and expected impact
• A Gantt-style timeline showing phasing (Tier 1, 2, 3, 4)
• Quick reference for task dependencies (which tasks improve others)
• Links to supporting guides for each category

To get the download, enter your email below. We'll send you the checklist plus a summary of the most common implementation mistakes pest control companies make (so you can avoid them).