What "must-have" SEO tasks do you include at launch for a small business site?

For local businesses, a Google Business Profile is a must. Once they have the profile, it needs to be filled out completely and get at least 10 reviews.

My launch-week SEO checklist for a small business website (10–20 pages) is intentionally simple and built for fast impact:

1. Make every core page search-intent ready
   I don’t only optimize the homepage and service pages. I add an FAQ section to every important page that answers real questions from the target audience. This is great for long-tail keywords, AI search experiences, and featured snippets.

2. Start the blog immediately at launch
   Not “we’ll do it later.” I like to publish the first 2–3 blog posts right away, focused on high-intent customer questions.
   Important: every blog post should also include its own FAQ section.

3. Google Business Profile is king for local visibility
   Link the website, complete all services, upload real photos, and start collecting reviews from day one.

4. Place a QR code for Google reviews in the local business
   One of the most underrated growth levers.
   Put it in the office, store, reception, or waiting area and actively ask happy customers for reviews.
   A strong Google rating can massively boost local rankings and make it much harder for competitors to keep up.

5. Technical launch essentials

   • Connect Google Search Console

   • Submit the sitemap

   • Check indexing

   • Test Core Web Vitals

   • Review internal links

   • Add LocalBusiness schema + FAQ schema

From my experience,
the combination of FAQs, local reviews, and helpful launch-day blog content often creates faster momentum than chasing SEO perfection in week one.