If you are starting your online marketing from scratch or doing a complete reset, this is the checklist to start with. It covers every platform, tool, and strategy you need to establish a strong online presence for your SC business, organized in the order you should set them up.

Section 1: Business Foundation (3 to 4 Hours)

Google Account and Properties

• Google account is created specifically for your business
• Google Business Profile is claimed and verified
• Google Search Console is set up and your website is verified
• Google Analytics 4 is installed on your website

Website Basics

• Website is live with a professional domain (yourcompany.com)
• SSL certificate is active (https://)
• Website loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
• Website is mobile-responsive
• Contact information is in the header and footer
• Phone number is clickable on mobile

Section 2: Local Presence (4 to 6 Hours)

• Google Business Profile is fully optimized (see GBP Checklist)
• Yelp business listing is claimed and complete
• Facebook Business Page is created and complete
• Apple Maps listing is claimed and complete
• Bing Places listing is claimed and complete
• At least 20 additional directory citations are built with consistent NAP

Section 3: Website SEO (3 to 4 Hours)

• Rank Math Pro or Yoast SEO is installed
• Title tags are optimized for every page
• Meta descriptions are written for every page
• H1 headings include primary keyword and city on every page
• Alt text is added to every image
• Sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console
• LocalBusiness schema is implemented on the homepage
• Service schema is implemented on each service page

Section 4: Social Media (2 to 3 Hours)

• Facebook Business Page is complete with cover photo, profile photo, and about section
• Instagram Business Account is created and linked to Facebook
• First 3 posts are published on each platform
• Content calendar is created for the next 30 days
• Posting schedule is set (minimum 3 times per week)

Section 5: Review Generation (1 to 2 Hours)

• Direct Google review link is saved
• Review request process is documented
• Automated review request system is set up (text-based, within 24 hours of job completion)
• Goal is set: minimum 5 new reviews per month

Section 6: Content Strategy (2 to 3 Hours)

• Blog is set up on your website
• First blog post is published
• Content calendar is created for the next 90 days
• FAQ sections are added to the homepage and all service pages
• FAQPage schema is implemented on all FAQ sections

Section 7: AI Search Readiness (1 to 2 Hours)

• LocalBusiness schema includes complete service area (all SC cities served)
• FAQ content covers the questions AI engines are asked about your service category
• Business is tested in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews
• AI search visibility baseline is documented for future comparison

Ongoing Maintenance (30 to 45 Minutes Per Week)

• One GBP post published per week
• All new reviews responded to within 48 hours
• Three social media posts published per week
• One new blog post published per month
• Google Search Console checked for new errors weekly

This checklist represents approximately 20 to 30 hours of setup work. If you would rather have Flyt Creative handle the entire setup for you, contact us for a free consultation. We can complete the full setup in a fraction of the time and ensure everything is done correctly from the start.