Google SEO Compliance Checklist

No sneaky redirects

All redirects send users to expected destinations. No redirect chains exceeding 5 hops. Permanent content moves use 301 or 308 status codes. Temporary redirects (302) only for genuinely temporary moves.

No thin affiliation

If any page lists or recommends third-party tools, services, or products, it includes original evaluation criteria, editorial perspective, and genuine analysis — not just copied vendor descriptions.

No search-engine-first red flags

Page does not exhibit: content across unrelated topics, mainly summarizing without adding value, writing trending topics without existing expertise, or artificially dating pages to appear fresh.

Original value contribution

Content provides original information, analysis, or research beyond what is already available. Not a repackaging of the top 10 Google results. Original frameworks, proprietary data, or unique methodology create value.

Content matches stated expertise

All content falls within your organization's claimed area of expertise. A B2B SaaS SEO agency publishing medical advice fails this check. Stay in your lane.

Satisfying user experience on completion

After reading, the user has learned something useful or can take a clear next action. The page delivers on the promise made by its title and meta description. If a reader would return to search unsatisfied, the page fails.

URL structure: descriptive, hyphenated, lowercase

All URLs use hyphens (not underscores), lowercase letters, and descriptive words (not IDs or parameters). No URL fragments used for content changes. Example: /seo-for-b2b-saas, not /page?id=123.

URL parameter minimization

No unnecessary query parameters that don't change page content. No tracking parameters (?utm_source, ?ref) in canonical URLs or internal links. Each URL should resolve to exactly one version of the content.

Descriptive anchor text

Internal links use descriptive text explaining the destination — not 'click here' or 'read more' without context. The reader should know where the link leads from the text alone. Image links need descriptive alt text.

Sitemap completeness and validity

Your XML sitemap includes every indexable page. No missing pages, no non-indexable pages included. Referenced in robots.txt. Under 50MB and 50,000 URLs per sitemap. Blog posts and dynamic routes dynamically generated.

JavaScript rendering compatibility

Core page content exists in the initial HTML response — not injected entirely via client-side JavaScript. Googlebot's Web Rendering Service handles JS, but SSG/SSR ensures content is available immediately. Interactive elements can be client-rendered.

Passage-rankable content structure

Individual H2 sections can answer queries independently. Each section opens with a clear, self-contained answer that could satisfy a search query on its own. Google's passage ranking system identifies and ranks individual passages within a page.

Freshness signals for time-sensitive content

Blog posts and data-driven pages include accurate date signals. datePublished and dateModified in Article schema reflect reality. No artificially inflated dates. Year references match the current year — not '2024 trends' published in 2026.

Original content prominence

Original frameworks, proprietary data, or unique analysis appear in the first half of the page — not buried below generic overview material. Google's original content system rewards pages where the unique contribution is the centerpiece.

Review and evaluation quality

Listicle and comparison pages include insightful analysis, evidence of actual evaluation, clear criteria, and both benefits AND drawbacks. Google's reviews system specifically rewards evaluation content with editorial rigor. Auto-PASS for non-evaluation pages.

Internal link structure supports PageRank flow

Important pages (hub pages, high-conversion pages) receive proportionally more internal links. Link architecture follows a logical hierarchy: homepage links to hubs, hubs link to spokes, spokes link back. No orphan pages.

Meta description snippet optimization

Meta description is unique per page, 155 characters or fewer, reads naturally, and describes the page's value proposition. Gives searchers enough information to decide whether to click. Not a keyword list.

Featured snippet eligibility

For question or definition queries: content includes a direct, concise answer (40-60 words) in a distinct format — paragraph, numbered list, or HTML table — that Google could extract. Answer appears in the first 300 words.

WebSite structured data for site name

Homepage includes WebSite schema with name (required) and url (required). Site name is consistent across schema, og:site_name, and on-page references. This controls how Google displays your site name in search results.

Title and meta accurately represent content

Title and meta description precisely describe what the page actually covers. Google rewrites inaccurate titles. If your title promises something the page doesn't deliver, Google will either rewrite it or rank the page lower.

No intrusive interstitials

No popups, modals, or overlays blocking page content on load — especially on mobile. Inline CTAs and sticky bars are fine. Full-screen interstitials that prevent content access trigger Google's page experience penalty. Exception: legally required notices (cookie consent, age verification).

Proper HTTP status codes

404 pages return actual 404 status codes (not 200 with error text — a 'soft 404'). Permanent redirects use 301 or 308. Error pages return appropriate codes. Verify in Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool.

Viewport meta tag present

Document head includes a viewport meta tag: meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1'. This signals mobile-friendly design to Google. Avoid user-scalable=no unless accessibility requirements demand it.