How I Built This SEO Project Step by Step

Project Goals and Why I Did It

This site is the result of a self-taught SEO project. I built everything from scratch to learn SEO by doing. Throughout the process, I focused on research, page structure, and applying real tools. The goal of this page is to walk you through each step I took, so if you're a beginner trying to start something similar, you can follow along and understand the thinking behind it. Along the way, I applied key SEO concepts in a real setting, turning what I learned into something practical and complete.

Website Setup

The site is structured into distinct sections, each with a clear purpose:

• Why SEO – Introduces the value of SEO and its role in building online visibility.
• Terminology – Breaks down essential SEO terms into understandable explanations.
• Strategy – Shows how to turn concepts into action by focusing on keywords, structure, crawlability, and more.
• Start a Project – Helps users take their first step by building an SEO-ready project using free tools.
• Project Overview – This page, which walks through the technical and creative steps I followed.
• Blog – Shares posts that target specific SEO topics using keyword strategy and internal links.

Tools Used

• Cursor: I built the entire site using Cursor, a free AI-powered code editor. It helped me write and organize my HTML, embed SEO tags, and improve structure. Cursor also integrates seamlessly with GitHub, allowing me to upload my code and host the site without needing to buy a domain.
• GitHub Pages: I used GitHub Pages to publish my site for free. It connects with Cursor and makes it easy to deploy updates.
• Google Analytics (GA4): I linked my site to Google Analytics to track site performance and user behavior over time.
• Google Search Console: After completing my content and adding SEO elements like title tags and alt text, I submitted my site to Google Search Console to help it get indexed and monitored.

Technical Setup Details

• Added SEO-friendly title tags and meta descriptions to each page.
• Used proper heading structure, with H1 for main titles and H2 for subheads, across all content.
• Optimized image file names and alt text for accessibility and SEO.
• Ensured the site was mobile-friendly and fast-loading.
• Submitted the sitemap to Google Search Console for indexing.
• Set up basic internal links between major sections for navigation and crawlability.

Keyword Strategy Breakdown

I focused on choosing relevant keywords that matched what people are actually searching for. These keywords helped shape the direction of my pages and made it easier for search engines to understand what the content was about.

To find strong keyword ideas, I used:

• Ubersuggest – to check search volume, competition, and keyword suggestions
• Google Autocomplete – start typing a query in the search bar to see real user search suggestions
• AnswerThePublic – to explore question-based keyword ideas and topic clusters based on search behavior

Once selected, the keywords were used naturally across the site, including:

• Page titles and headings
• Meta descriptions
• Body content on main pages
• Blog posts focused on SEO education

Examples of keywords used:

• How to write a strong title tag
• Search intent in SEO
• Beginner SEO tips for small websites

These keywords supported the overall goal of helping people find useful, beginner-friendly SEO guidance and improving how search engines rank the site.

Building Value Through Content

To bring the strategy to life, I created a blog section. These posts serve multiple goals:

• Help educate site visitors.
• Cover specific SEO topics like AI, title tags, and search trends.
• Improve internal linking between site pages.
• Support keyword targeting based on real search data.

Each blog post was built around keyword research, answering real questions people search for while supporting the overall site structure.

Skills Learned Through the Project

This project gave me the chance to build and refine practical SEO skills by applying real tools and techniques throughout the entire process. Instead of just reading about concepts, I gained hands-on experience that helped me understand how SEO works in action.

Some of the core skills I developed include:

• Understanding Google Search Console. I learned how to submit a site for indexing, monitor crawl status, and identify how Google views each page.
• Using Google Analytics (GA4). I set up tracking to evaluate how users interact with the site, measure performance, and interpret key metrics like page views and engagement time.
• Keyword discovery and planning. Using tools like Ubersuggest and Google Autocomplete, I learned how to find relevant keywords and map them to specific content needs.
• Writing SEO-optimized content. I practiced embedding keywords naturally in titles, descriptions, and content without affecting readability.
• Navigating Cursor. I used Cursor to write clean HTML, add metadata, and format sections with visual clarity — all with helpful AI guidance.
• Internal linking strategy. I linked pages logically to improve both user navigation and how search engines understand the site structure.
• Page structure and accessibility. I added alt text, used clear headings, and followed best practices to make pages easy to read and crawl.

This hands-on approach helped me move from basic understanding to real-world execution. I now feel more confident using SEO tools, structuring content for visibility, and managing an entire project from the ground up.

View My Project Code

If you want to explore the code behind this site, CLICK HERE.

Still Want to Learn More?

Explore the blog for more up-to-date SEO tips, trends, and beginner-friendly breakdowns.