Search algorithms change every year. In 2026, SEO is not about tricks — it's about user convenience. Checklist below.
Technical Base
- HTTPS — mandatory (TLS 1.3)
- Loading speed — LCP < 2.5s, FCP < 1.8s
- Mobile version — Mobile-first index
- SSL certificate — Let's Encrypt free
- XML sitemap — auto-updates
Semantic Core
- Low-frequency queries — less competition
- LSI words — synonyms, related queries
- User intent — informational vs commercial
- Clustering — groups by meaning
Content
- YDAU — "Your Data, Usage" — show data
- E-E-A-T — Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust
- Depth — 1500+ words for commercial queries
- Structure — H1-H3, lists, tables
- Update — at least quarterly
On-Page Factors
- Title — 50-60 chars, keyword at start
- Description — 150-160 chars, CTA
- H1 — one per page, contains key
- Alt texts — all images
- Internal links — logical structure
Link Building
- Natural links — content others want to link to
- Crowd marketing — forums, Reddit
- Directories — niche, Yandex Catalog
- Press releases — PRnews
- Guest posts — niche blogs
Regional SEO
- Yandex Maps — attach to region
- Regional domains — yandex.ru, google.kz
- Content — local events
- Contacts — local phone
Monitoring
- Yandex Webmaster — indexing, errors
- Google Search Console — clicks, positions
- Metrika — behavior factors
- Ahrefs/SEMrush — competitor analysis
In 2026, 70% of traffic — mobile devices. If site doesn't work on phone — no ranking.
What Does NOT Work
- Bought links — got penalties
- Cloaking — ban forever
- Doorway pages — zero effect
- Text under spoiler — spam indicator
- AI content without edit — pessimization