On-page SEO basics every founder should implement pre-launch.
Introduction: Don’t Launch in the Dark
You’ve worked hard to design a beautiful landing page for your startup. The visuals are sharp, the copy is clear, and the product looks great. But here’s the truth: none of that matters if no one ever finds it.
Before you hit publish, your landing page needs one more crucial ingredient—SEO visibility.
Search Engine Optimization isn’t just for big brands or late-stage startups. It’s the most cost-effective growth lever early founders can pull. If your landing page can’t be found on Google, you’re paying for every visitor. When it’s optimized, search becomes your most affordable traffic source.
At Geeks for Growth, we help startups in their seed and early stages build SEO foundations that generate visibility long before paid ads kick in. This guide walks you through on-page SEO basics and the pre-launch SEO checklist every founder should complete before going live.
1. Choose Your Core Keyword (and Actually Use It)
Your first SEO task isn’t technical—it’s strategic.
Every startup landing page should target one primary keyword and a few secondary phrases related to it. For example, if you’re launching a project management app, your primary keyword might be “startup project management software” and secondary keywords could include “team collaboration tool for startups” or “SaaS project tracker.”
Action Steps:
- Identify one main keyword that describes your product or value.
- Use it in your title tag, meta description, H1, and first 100 words.
- Include natural variations throughout your body copy (not stuffing).
Example:
Instead of saying “We help teams work better,” write “Our startup project management software helps small teams organize tasks, track deadlines, and scale efficiently.”
Pro Tip:
You can use tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner to find keywords with medium competition and high relevance.
2. Write a Title Tag and Meta Description That Sell
Your title tag and meta description are the first things users see on Google’s results page. Think of them as your elevator pitch to earn a click.
Action Steps:
- Keep the title tag under 60 characters.
- Make it actionable and benefit-driven:
“Simple Project Management Software for Startups | Free 14-Day Trial” - Keep the meta description under 155 characters and include your main keyword naturally.
Example Meta Description:
Launch smarter. Our startup project management software helps you stay organized, collaborate easily, and grow faster. Try it free for 14 days.
This not only improves click-through rates but signals relevance to search engines.
3. Optimize Your Headings and Page Structure
Your landing page should follow a clear hierarchy that’s easy for users (and Google) to scan.
Checklist:
- One H1 tag with your core keyword.
- H2s for key benefits, features, or sections.
- H3s for detailed explanations or FAQs.
Example:
- H1: “Startup Project Management Software That Simplifies Growth”
- H2: “Built for Lean Teams”
- H2: “Why Startups Choose Our Tool”
- H3: “Collaborate, Plan, and Execute Faster”
When your structure mirrors your story, visitors stay longer—and search engines reward that behavior.
4. Use Alt Text and File Names for Images
Founders often upload beautiful hero images or screenshots with filenames like IMG_1234.png. That’s a missed SEO opportunity.
Action Steps:
- Rename image files descriptively before uploading (e.g., startup-dashboard-projects.png).
- Add alt text using relevant keywords that describe what’s shown.
Example: “Dashboard of startup project management software displaying task lists.”
This helps Google index your images and boosts your accessibility score, improving overall ranking potential.
5. Build Internal Links to Support SEO Context
Your landing page should link to at least two other relevant pages, like your blog, pricing, or features page.
Internal links create context and help Google understand the relationship between your content.
Example:
“Learn how to write CTA copy that converts in our guide on Startup Copywriting Techniques.”
And make sure other pages link back to your landing page. Internal linking strengthens the visibility of your main pages in search results.
6. Improve Page Speed and Mobile Optimization
No matter how good your copy is, slow pages kill conversions and rankings.
Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test your landing page before launch.
Action Steps:
- Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh.
- Avoid heavy animations or scripts on the first load.
- Use responsive design—over 70% of startup visitors browse from mobile.
Google now indexes mobile-first, so your design and SEO performance depend on how fast and functional your mobile version is.
7. Add Schema and Basic Analytics Setup
Schema markup helps Google understand your page content. It’s optional but valuable.
Action Steps:
- Add Organization schema (business name, logo, website).
- Add Product or Service schema if relevant.
- Set up Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console to track traffic and clicks after launch.
This ensures your SEO performance is measurable and your progress visible.
8. Create a Pre-Launch SEO Checklist
Before you launch, review this checklist:
- Keyword selected and added to headings
- Meta title and description written
- Images optimized with alt text
- Internal links added
- Page speed tested
- Mobile version reviewed
- Google Analytics connected
- Schema markup applied
Bonus Tip:
Create a Google Sheet with these steps for each page. It keeps your pre-launch workflow organized and repeatable.
This article expands on the visibility and conversion principles shared in our Startup Design Playbook: Lean Branding, UI/UX, and GTM Creative on a Seed-Stage Budget. Inside the playbook, you’ll learn how design, UX, and messaging work together to boost your brand’s visibility and drive growth—without blowing your budget.
Conclusion: Visibility is the Real Launch
Your startup’s success isn’t defined by your launch date—it’s defined by how easily people can find you afterward.
The truth is, SEO for startups isn’t about gaming algorithms. It’s about setting up the fundamentals so that every hour and dollar you invest in marketing compounds over time.
When you take a few extra days to optimize your landing page before launch, you’re planting the seeds for months of organic traffic and investor-ready visibility.
At Geeks for Growth, we help startups like yours turn great ideas into visible, high-performing brands. Whether you’re building your first MVP or refining your next round launch, we’ll help you structure your website, content, and SEO systems for growth that lasts.
Book a Free 15-Minute Startup SEO Audit
Because the best launches don’t just look good—they get found.
