SEO

SEO Work List for the First Month: App Developer Case Study

An SEO Work List For The Android Mobile Developer (Case Study)

A laptop with a half-done checklist, a coffee mug, a plant and a cat on the desk: the first month of SEO work

During the first month, clients may find SEO operations obscure and hard to understand, until the results are expressed in specific figures — page views in organic search results, click-through rates, new texts, terms of reference for copywriters, and so on. But in SEO, no less important than the actual work of internal optimization or link building is the preparatory stage: collecting and analyzing data, arranging it systematically and processing it into logical work lists and analytical documents. That's what is going on behind the scenes in SEO. Yes, that’s right: while the client is waiting to see rising search rankings, increased CTR, and familiar SEO operations, we’re doing the work that really matters. Below is a real example of an SEO work list that Alconost created for an Android mobile development client during the first month of the project.

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FYI: Why is keyword compilation and creating a semantic core so important?

The semantic core consists of keywords and phrases, and in fact, is the framework of your entire website. This is true whether we’re talking about SEO for mobile apps or “classic” website SEO. Naturally, mobile apps have their own nuances, and these can be significant. But selecting the right semantics is the key.

The semantic core is created by carefully studying search demand in your niche, checking for synonyms, identifying the chief interests and needs of your potential client, filtering out irrelevant queries, and structuring the website and various types of web pages based on all the data collected.

Knowing what your client is looking for and how they go about it will massively increase your chances of success.

In an ideal world, the semantic core is formed at the web development stage. But the reality is that clients usually come to us with existing websites, and that makes things a bit more complicated, though by no means impossible. When it comes to creating a semantic core, the rule is “better late than never!”

An example of query grouping in one of the clusters of the semantic core when studying search demand for a b2b site of an equipment manufacturer

Cryosauna
→ Comparison
    → vs: cryo chamber · ice bath · cryospas
    → difference between cryochamber and cryosauna
    → reviews → therapy
    → best
    → ratings
    → my cryosauna experience
    → research
→ Health (20 queries, not expanded here)

To better illustrate the volume and content of the first month of SEO work, we took an actual report on one of Alconost’s clients — a mobile app and software developer. We analyzed around 25 query groups containing a total of around 10,000 queries. We compiled a table containing a detailed SEO work list, and specified the time needed to perform each task.

Work Time, in minutes
4-Jul Evaluation of the brief, agreement 20
Preliminary overview of queries and competitors 60
6-Jul Agreement, Telegram 20
15-Jul Homepage analysis, query selection 40
Initial query audit 30
16-Jul Initial competitor analysis 160
Structuring of the group "Create an app for the store" 30
Structuring of the group "Existing apps" 40
Structuring of the group "Creation of mobile apps" 60
Structuring of the group "Mobile app of the website" 10
Summary table of queries 30
Description of query groups 80
General conclusions on queries 20
Export of documents 10
Document layout and proofreading 50
Agreement 60
24-Jul Agreement, conference call 50
Refinement of query list, filters 10
25-Jul Query export for "Builder ios" (159 queries), cleansing 15
Query export for "Builder android" (619 queries), cleansing 25
Query export for "Builder no code" (109), cleansing 10
27-Jul Query export for "Builder WP" (41), cleansing 10
Query export for "Builder Woo," "Ecommerce" (30), cleansing 10
Query export for "Builder Iphone" (200), cleansing 15
Query export for "Web Builder" (300), filters 15
Query export for "Builder Other" (5600), filters, cleansing 80
Agreement, Telegram 10
28-Jul Transfer to a separate file - the semantic core 10
Query export for "App from Website" (280), filters, cleansing 15
Query export for "Website to app" (930), filters, cleansing 50
Query export for "App builder platform" (100), cleansing 10
Demand audit for "Convert woocommerce," export of "Woo to app" (40) 20
Demand audit for "Convert to app," export, filters 20
Demand audit for "Shopify to app" (1000), export (38), filters 20
Demand audit for "Site2mobile," export (44), cleansing 20
Query export for "Shopify Builder," export (22) 10
Filtering of queries for "App builder," checking against the list (7 groups) 20
Filters “App Builder (html, java, open source, wysiwyg, web, online, mobile, phone)” 15
Comparison table for query groups 120
Semantic core description, agreement 40
2-Aug Checking of additional queries for synonyms 80
3-Aug Agreement 15
Export of "Mobile Application Builder," cleansing 60
7-Aug Consulting, semantic core, conference call 60
8-Aug Consulting, semantic core, Telegram 30
11-Aug Query grouping, description of general landing structure 160
Terms of reference for general web page 290
Terms of reference for the homepage 60
Total: 2095

What you get at the close of the first month of SEO work

As you see, during the first month Alconost's SEO specialists spent around 35 hours working with the semantic core and establishing certain terms of reference. Is that a lot, or not? Aside from sampling and analyzing keywords, the SEO work included agreement with the client, consulting, compilation of various documents, and initial competitor analysis. Once this comprehensive initial stage of the work is complete, the client ends up with:

  1. A list of terms of reference for the main pages;
  2. A precise structure for all possible web pages with keywords selected for them, even allowing for the possibility of future changes in search demand;
  3. A clear concept of what content is in demand and what copywriters need to work on;
  4. An understanding of strategic prospects for developing their niche;
  5. A comparison table for query groups based on quantitative parameters, with conclusions;
  6. A clear view of the prospects for all query groups checked based on website traffic generated and potential conversion;
  7. An understanding of what competitors are doing, areas of overlap with them, and ways to stand out.

We hope this brief case study with an actual work list will help you understand how SEO professionals really spend their time working on your project. Naturally, the list is not exhaustive: a lot depends on the niche, competition within that niche, and your own objectives.

The experts at Onlinuum are always ready to help clients with all things SEO, analysis, and consulting, whether you're a mobile developer or in another field altogether. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact us

Originally published on the Alconost Digital blog. Onlinuum is run by the former Alconost Digital team.

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