Start Your First SEO Project

Transform your SEO knowledge into practice with a real-world project that gets results

You've learned the basics of SEO. Now it's time to apply your skills through a real-world project. This section shows how to start SEO for beginners by guiding you through a hands-on process that helps people actually find your site.

Whether you prefer using a drag-and-drop website builder or want to learn basic coding, there's a path for you.

Step-by-Step: Your First SEO Project

1
Choose Your Website Platform
WordPress
One of the easiest platforms for beginners. No coding required, thousands of templates, and wide selection of SEO plugins.
GitHub Pages + Cursor
Perfect for free, customizable setup. Great if you're open to learning HTML basics and want full control.

Choose the method that fits your comfort level and interest in learning. Both work — the key is getting started.

2
Plan Your First Page

Pick a topic that is useful, relevant, and searchable. This could be a one-page guide, a blog post, or a helpful tutorial. Think about what people might want to learn from your page, and aim to provide value. Start small and clear.

3
Do Keyword Research

Use free tools like Google Search, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic to find long-tail keywords related to your topic. These keywords help your page reach people who are looking for exactly what you're offering.

Example
Instead of targeting "plants," try "how to take care of a snake plant" - this is more specific and easier to rank for.
4
Build and Structure Your Page

This is where your SEO efforts really begin to take shape:

  • Use your main keyword in the page title, headings, and meta description
  • Add alt text to images so they can be indexed by search engines
  • Create a clear folder structure and make sure each page is easy to reach
  • Link related pages together to help search engines (and visitors) navigate your content
  • Write clean, readable content with proper HTML structure (if coding)

If you're using a tool like Cursor, you'll also manually add:

  • Title and meta description tags
  • Open Graph tags for better display on social platforms
  • Canonical tags if you're avoiding duplicate content
  • Ensure each page is saved with proper filename and structure
5
Submit and Track Your Project

Once your pages are built and live, connect your project to key tracking tools:

Google Search Console
Submit your site and sitemap here. It helps Google index your pages and shows you what keywords your content is ranking for.
Google Analytics
Track how users interact with your site. See traffic, bounce rate, average time on page, and more.

Tracking tools are essential for improving your SEO strategy. They help you understand what's working and show you where to focus next. For a deeper dive into SEO terminology and concepts, check out our comprehensive terminology guide.

6
Keep Learning and Updating

You don't need to be perfect on day one. SEO is all about learning over time. As your content grows, go back and optimize it. Improve your tags, expand your pages, and fix anything that isn't working. Use this guide whenever you need to revisit the fundamentals.

Keep Moving Forward

You do not need to be an expert to start. Every SEO professional was once a beginner. Keep things simple, stay consistent, and learn as you go. Revisit earlier guides like Keyword Basics or Writing Better Titles whenever you need a refresher. The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Building something real is the best way to grow.

You've Got the Skills — What's Next?

You're ready to complete your first project, but this is just the beginning. See how this guide came together and get inspired to start your own.

Go to Project Overview →