The Ultimate Checklist to Build, Manage, and Grow Your New Business’s Online Presence
Table of Contents
Business Formation. Name, Address, and Phone (NAP).
Choose a great, SEO-friendly business name
You want to be found in Google, Bing, Apple Maps and other search engines, right? Then choosing the right SEO-friendly business name is critical.
An effective business name helps search engines understand your business’s focus and match it to relevant searches, especially in highly competitive areas. Including industry and location keywords in your business name strengthens the connection between your business and the services or locations that users are searching for, increasing the chances of showing up in the local map pack.
When choosing an SEO-friendly name, avoid overly generic terms. Instead, use specific keywords that directly reflect your core services and, where applicable, your location. This approach makes it easier for search engines to identify your business as a relevant result, which can help your Google Business Profile (GBP) rank better in local searches. Using clear and focused business names also helps avoid competition with broader, high-competition terms that can be hard to rank against.
Here are some examples of SEO-friendly and SEO-unfriendly business names:
Examples of SEO-friendly business names
Here are a few examples of SEO-unfriendly business names.
Chicago GreenLeaf Landscaping Services
Why It Works: This name combines the location (“Chicago”) with “Landscaping Services,” making it clear to search engines that it’s a landscaping business in Chicago.
Austin EcoClean Carpet Care
Why It Works: “EcoClean” suggests an eco-friendly focus, while “Carpet Care” is a broad industry term, covering a variety of services and targeting carpet cleaning searches in Austin.
QuickFix Plumbing Solutions NYC
Why It Works: Including “QuickFix” attracts searches for emergency services, while “Plumbing Solutions NYC” clarifies both the service type and the location.
Los Angeles ZenMind Counseling Center
Why It Works: This name uses “Counseling Center” to target mental health services and “Los Angeles” for location, increasing visibility for local users.
San Diego Family Law Advisors
Why It Works: “Family Law Advisors” is specific to a legal niche, and “San Diego” ensures relevance for searches related to family law in that area.
Examples of SEO-unfriendly business names
Here are a few examples of SEO-unfriendly business names.
Green Solutions
Why It Fails: It’s too broad and lacks clarity about the specific service (e.g., landscaping, cleaning). This generality makes it hard for Google to match with specific searches.
Austin Pros
Why It Fails: “Pros” does not clarify the industry, whether it’s a professional service, contractor, or consulting firm, making it difficult to stand out in search results.
Plumbing Solutions
Why It Fails: Though relevant to plumbing, this name lacks a location or unique attribute, making it generic and highly competitive in general searches for plumbing.
Zen Counseling
Why It Fails: Lacks location or a distinguishing factor (e.g., therapy type or specialization), limiting its ability to rank for local, targeted searches.
The Family Advisors
Why It Fails: While “Advisors” implies guidance, it doesn’t specify the area of expertise, making it unclear if this is a law, financial, or counseling service, which reduces relevance in search results.
Branding.
Purchase Your Branded Domain(s) - Your website Urls
Register a domain that’s either your exact business name or a close variation. Ideally, stick with a .com or other widely recognized top-level domain (TLD). This can be done through Domain Registar’s like GoDaddy, NameCheap, or hundreds of others, and typically costs less than $50 per year (unless of course you choose a premium domain).
Secure Social Media Business Pages & Handles
Once you’ve selected the social media platforms you want your business to be on, the first thing to do is claim consistent handles acress each one to make your brand easily recognizeable and searchable. Why now? So someone else doesn’t grab it before you do! In a later step, we’ll be setting up your social media business pages.
Create a company Branded Guide
Logo and Favicon
Company logos are a cornerstone of a brand’s identity and first impression. They should feature a memorable icon, brand-appropriate colors, and a versatile design, including stand-alone icons and wordmarks.
Professional logo design typically ranges from $300 to $1,500, while DIY options can start as low as $50. While paying more doesn’t always guarantee a better design, in our experience, the likelihood for success is substantially better and well worth the investment. After all, your logo is what represents your company to the world and is essential for building a memorable brand, fostering trust, and creating a solid foundation for long-term success.
Color Palette and Typography
When choosing brand colors and fonts, a new business should consider the emotions and associations they want to evoke. Colors can impact how a brand is perceived; for instance, blue often conveys trust and professionalism, while yellow suggests energy and warmth. It’s essential to select colors that align with the brand’s personality and appeal to the target audience.
Fonts should be easy to read, versatile across digital and print formats, and consistent with the brand’s tone—whether it’s modern, traditional, playful, or sophisticated. Choosing a complementary combination of colors and fonts ensures a cohesive, memorable brand identity that resonates with customers.
Email setup.
We can’t tell you how many times clients get this wrong. Your business email should not be <anything>@gmail.com, <anything>@yahoo.com, <anything>@hotmail.com, <anything>@aol.com, or any other variation of the same.
Setting up a business email requires protocols that reflect professionalism, clarity, and brand consistency. A good business email address can help establish credibility, while a poorly chosen one can detract from your brand’s professionalism.
Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of email:
Examples of Bad Business Email Addresses
Here are a few examples of some bad email addresses.
Jane@gmail.com
JaneDoe@gmail.com
JDoe@gmail.com
businessname.sales@hotmail.com
businessname.info@hotmail.com
businessname.help@aol.com
service.businessname@aol.com
supportdepartment01@<yourdomain>.com
iamtheboss@<yourdomain>.com
contact_us@<yourdomain>.com
Examples of Good Business Email Addresses
Here are a few examples of good bad email addresses.
Jane@<yourdomain>.com
JaneDoe@<yourdomain>.com
JDoe@<yourdomain>.com
sales@<yourdomain>.com
info@<yourdomain>.com
help@<yourdomain>.com
service@<yourdomain>.com
support@<yourdomain>.com
hello@<yourdomain>.com
contact@<yourdomain>.com
SEO Competitive Analysis & Keyword Research.
SEO competitive analysis & keyword research are foundational steps that set the direction for a new business’s digital marketing strategy. Here’s why they’re essential, especially before building out your digital assets:
Why SEO Competitive Analysis & Keyword Research Matter
Establishing Your Niche:
Setting Realistic Expectations
Targeting the Right Audience
Understanding Market Demand:
Through keyword research, you can gauge demand levels for specific terms. Keywords with high search volumes suggest strong demand, while those with low competition offer opportunities to rank quickly. This information shapes content strategy and even product development decisions.
Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Shaping Content Strategy
Suggested Investment in Competitive Analysis & Keyword Research
For competitive analysis & keyword research, expect to spend $100–$300 monthly on tools if DIY, $500–$1,500 for a freelancer, or $1,500–$5,000+ for an agency’s comprehensive package. This upfront investment ensures a strong, targeted digital marketing foundation.
Build Your Website
Steps to Building a Business Website
Define Your Goals and Audience
Choose a Domain and Hosting
Select a unique domain name (usually $20–$40/year) that represents your brand and opt for reliable hosting (typically $25–$75/month) depending on expected traffic and performance needs.
Plan the Website Structure and Content
Select a CMS or Website Builder
Design and Develop the Site
Create a visually appealing, user-friendly design. For custom designs, you may work with a designer and developer, or use templates for a quicker setup. $500–$3,000+ for DIY or templates, up to $10,000+ for a custom website with a designer and developer. Additional Tools and Plugins: $100–$500/year for SEO, analytics, and performance tools.
Optimize for SEO and Speed
Test and Launch
Cost Breakdown
Domain and Hosting
Create Your Search Engine Profiles
Google Business Profile (Google)
Google Search, Google Maps
YouTube Business Channel (Google)
Cross-promote by linking your YouTube channel from your Google Business Profile and vice versa. This helps users find your content on both platforms.
Bing Places for Business (Microsoft)
Apple Business Connect (Apple)
Facebook Business Page
Yahoo Local
Listings Management Setup
One of the foundations that is often overlooked but so important, is the creation, claiming, and optimization of your business listing across all the major outlets.
Local Data Aggregators (LDAs)
National & Regional Directories
Local Directories
Niche Directories
Create Your Social Media Business Pages
X (Twitter)
YouTube
TikTok
Online Reputation Management Setup
Use tools to monitor mentions and reviews. Respond promptly to customer feedback.
On-site
Every interaction with your customer is an opportunity to collect a positive review. A few very effective ways is (1) Through the POS system, (2) Through a Card, (3) Via a QR code on a business card, etc.
E-mail campaigns
After a purchase, trigger an email that asks for a product review.
Showcasing your Reviews | Testimonials
Display testimonials on your website and social media.
Email Marketing Platform / CRM setup.
AI Automation setup.
Analytics & Tracking setup.
Start Marketing!
Email Marketing
Content Marketing
Focus on Relevancy, Authority, and Usefulness)