Most London startups waste months on SEO that doesn’t matter. They obsess over perfect content while their technical foundation is broken. Or they build technically perfect sites with no keyword strategy.
Here’s what actually matters in your first 90 days.
Days 1-30: Foundation
Don’t create content yet. Build the foundation first.
Week 1: Technical Setup
Get hosting that’s actually fast. UK-based server or good CDN. Not the cheapest option. Site speed affects rankings from day one.
Set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
Install SSL certificate. HTTPS is required, not optional.
Create XML sitemap. Submit to Search Console.
Set up proper URL structure. Clean, readable URLs with keywords. Not random strings of numbers.
Week 2: Keyword Research
Find keywords you can actually rank for. Not “startup London” with 10,000 competitors. Long-tail keywords with lower competition.
Use Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush. Look for keywords with 100–1000 monthly searches. Check who’s ranking. Can you compete?
Focus on commercial intent keywords. People searching to buy or hire, not just research.
Document 20–30 target keywords. These guide everything you build.
Week 3: Site Architecture
Plan your site structure before building pages. Homepage, about, services, contact minimum. Add blog section for content.
Create service pages for each thing you do. Not one “services” page listing everything. Separate page per service optimized for specific keywords.
Make site easy to navigate. Every page should be three clicks from homepage.
Week 4: On-Page SEO Basics
Write proper title tags. Under 60 characters. Include target keyword. Make it compelling to click.
Create unique meta descriptions. Under 160 characters. Include keyword and call-to-action.
Use H1 tags correctly. One per page. Include main keyword.
Optimize images. Descriptive filenames. Alt text with keywords. Compress file sizes.
Internal linking. Link between your pages using descriptive anchor text.
Days 31-60: Content and Local
Foundation is set. Now build visibility.
Week 5: Core Content Creation
Write five essential pages minimum: homepage, about page with London focus, service pages, contact page, and a basic blog.
Focus on quality over quantity. One great page beats five mediocre ones.
Include keywords naturally. Write for humans first.
Week 6: Google Business Profile
If you have a physical location or serve local customers, set this up immediately.
Complete every section. Accurate name, category, hours, London address, and real photos.
This can generate leads before your website ranks.
Week 7: Build Initial Citations
List your business in key directories like Clutch, Facebook, Yell, and Thomson Local.
Keep NAP consistent everywhere: Name, Address, Phone.
Start with free listings.
Week 8: Start Link Building
Don’t buy links. Build relationships.
Partner with London businesses.
Join local associations and directories.
Guest post on relevant blogs.
Look for PR opportunities.
Days 61-90: Momentum
You’re visible. Now build momentum.
Week 9–10: Content Production
Publish two blog posts per week. Answer customer questions. Target long-tail keywords.
Each post should target one keyword and include it naturally.
Internally link to service pages.
Week 11: Technical Optimization
Recheck site speed. Optimize slow pages.
Fix crawl errors and broken links.
Ensure mobile experience is flawless.
Add schema markup.
Week 12: Review and Adjust
Analyze Search Console data.
Target keywords ranking positions 11–20.
Improve titles with impressions but low clicks.
What to Prioritize by Business Type
Local service businesses:
Google Business Profile first, citations second, service pages third.
B2B SaaS startups:
Keyword research first, content second, links third.
E-commerce:
Product pages first, category structure second.
Professional services:
Service pages first, authority content second.
Budget Allocation (First 90 Days)
£3,000 budget:
£1,500 technical setup, £1,000 content, £500 links and citations.
£1,000 budget:
£600 guided DIY, £400 essential content.
No budget:
DIY everything. Slower but possible.
Common Startup SEO Mistakes
Publishing content before fixing technical issues.
Targeting impossible keywords.
Delaying launch for perfection.
Ignoring local SEO.
No keyword strategy.
Expecting instant results.
What Results to Expect
Month 1: Indexing and early impressions.
Month 2: First rankings and traffic.
Month 3: Page 1–3 visibility.
Month 6: Consistent traffic and ROI.
Free Tools for Startup SEO
Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Business Profile, Ubersuggest, PageSpeed Insights, Screaming Frog, Canva.
When to Hire SEO Help
DIY if budget is limited.
Hire experts in competitive London markets.
Hybrid works best for startups.
What AlgoSemantic Does for Startups
90-day SEO foundation packages with technical setup, keyword strategy, core optimization, and reporting.
Pricing: £2,500–£4,000.
Launching a London Startup?
Email: contact@algosemantic.com
Call: +44 7412 808430
AlgoSemantic. The algorithm behind your success.
