This article walks you through the full onboarding process for SEO — from setup and access collection to baseline delivery and roadmap creation.
If you'd like to skip around, choose the topic that best fits what you're looking for:
Overview
SEO onboarding is designed to create a smooth, structured launch process that keeps your agency informed and your client positioned for measurable success.
During onboarding, our team sets up technical access, runs a complete baseline audit, and delivers your first quarterly roadmap — all aligned to our calendar-quarter schedule.
Step 1: Prepare for Launch
Before submitting your SEO IO, make sure you have:
The signed client agreement (quarterly commitment recommended)
Confirmation of package tier (Essentials, Grow, or Elevate)
The client’s start date and which quarter they’re entering
Billing setup complete (including $199 launch fee)
All initial intake information (business name, website URL, service area, competitors, audience, and goals)
Tip: If your client is starting after Day 45 of the quarter, remind them that they’ll receive a baseline + roadmap for a one-time $695 fee and be fully onboarded next quarter.
Step 2: Provide Access
Access is essential for us to perform SEO effectively.
Please ensure all required logins are shared within 3 business days of onboarding.
We require access to:
Platform | Purpose |
|---|---|
Google Business Profile (GBP) | Optimization, posting, and local visibility |
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) | Performance data and traffic analysis |
Google Search Console (GSC) | Site health, indexing, and visibility tracking |
CMS (Admin Access) | On-site optimization and publishing |
Note: You can find detailed instructions for each platform in our SEO Access Requirements article. If we don’t receive access within the first 5 business days, onboarding may be delayed.
Step 3: Launch Timeline
Once onboarding begins, the campaign follows a structured month-by-month flow. Please see Step 5 to assess where your agency comes in.
Month 1 — Launch & Setup
Item | What Happens | Due Date / Timing | Who Does It |
|---|---|---|---|
Baseline Doc & Roadmap | Initial SEO audit + quarterly roadmap creation | Within first 15 days of campaign launch | Conduit |
Quarterly Report (previous quarter) | Only applies if work continues into the quarter | 15 days after previous quarter ends | Conduit |
GBP Posts (in Publer) | Drafts provided for review & edit access | Within first 15 days of campaign launch | Conduit + Agency |
GBP Post Deadline | All GBP edits must be finalized before auto-scheduling | By 1st of the month | Agency |
Long-Form & Supporting Content Drafts | First draft shared for review | Delivered in the middle of month 2 | Conduit |
Month 2 — Execution & Optimization
Item | What Happens | Due Date / Timing | Who Does It |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Recap (Month 1) | Summary of performance + updates | By the 4th business day of Month 2 | Conduit |
Content Review Window | Review all shared content (supporting, standalone, refreshers) | By last business day of Month 2 | Agency |
Technical Work & Citations | Begins for on-site + directory setup | During Month 2 | Conduit |
Month 3 — Wrap-Up & Next Quarter Prep
Item | What Happens | Due Date / Timing | Who Does It |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Recap (Month 2) | Performance summary + insights | By the 4th business day of Month 3 | Conduit |
All Content Finalized & Published | Final review and publishing | By the last business day of Month 3 | Conduit |
High-Authority Backlink Secured | Minimum 1 DA50+ backlink delivered | By the end of Month 3 | Conduit |
Next Quarter Roadmap | Strategy and deliverables for next quarter | 15 days before the new quarter starts | Conduit |
Directory Updates | Quarterly directory setup and review | Within quarter | Conduit |
Tip: Add internal reminders to review GBP posts and content drafts no later than the final 5 business days of the month or quarter. This keeps all campaigns in sync with Conduit’s auto-scheduling and publishing workflow.
Step 4: Baseline Audit & Roadmap Delivery
Within the first 30 days, you’ll receive a key SEO deliverable, the SEO Baseline Audit and Roadmap.
This is a comprehensive document that evaluates the website’s current SEO performance while outlining the strategic plan for the upcoming quarter. It includes an assessment of site health, keyword rankings, backlink profile, and key opportunities, establishing a clear starting point for optimization.
The roadmap portion defines the priorities for the quarter ahead, including planned content development, technical SEO focus areas, and backlink strategy designed to improve visibility, rankings, and overall search performance. This will be sent to your team via Teamwork.
Step 5: Content Review & Approvals
SEO operates on a review-based model to keep campaigns efficient and on schedule.
*If your account requires approval, this can be set up. Any delays due to approvals will shift timelines accordingly.
Here’s how it works:
All deliverables (content, GBP posts, etc.) are shared for review before publishing.
You’ll have a set review period to provide edits or feedback.
If feedback isn’t received by the cut-off date:
Content will publish as-is, or
Be saved as a draft for your agency to publish later.
For GBP content:
Edits can be made directly in Publer within two weeks of receipt.
We won’t go back-and-forth endlessly — you will have access to edit the GBP post directly and mark approved when ready.
Here’s what that looks like across deliverable types:
Deliverable | Where You Review | Approval / Edit Deadline | If No Feedback Received |
|---|---|---|---|
Long-Form, Supporting, and Refresher Content | Shared via Teamwork or dashboard | Last business day of the month | Publishes as-is or saved as draft for agency to finalize |
GBP Posts | Edit directly in Publer | Last 5 business days before new quarter (or before 1st of month for ongoing posts) | Auto-schedules and publishes |
Baseline & Roadmap | Shared via email + dashboard | Review within 3 business days of receipt | Considered approved; work proceeds |
Technical Updates / Citations | Reflected in monthly recap | No approval needed | Progress continues automatically |
🗓️ Agency Tip: Add internal reminders for GBP and content review deadlines in your own project management system to stay perfectly aligned with Conduit’s publishing cycle.
This model ensures consistent delivery without unnecessary delays.
Quick Reference: Agency Deadlines
Task | Deadline |
|---|---|
Submit all access credentials | Within 3 business days of onboarding |
Review GBP posts | Last 5 business days before new quarter |
Review all content (longform and short) | By the last business day of month 2 of the quarter |
Notify of upgrades / cancellations | At least 15 days before quarter end |
Step 6: Quarterly Reporting & Renewals
Each quarter runs on a repeating performance cycle:
Milestone | Timeline | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
Monthly Narratives | Monthly in Months 2 and 3 of the quarter for Months 1 and 2 | Recap of work completed + progress highlights |
Quarterly Report | Month 1 of next quarter | Performance summary, KPIs, and insights |
Next Roadmap | 15 days before quarter end | Plan for next quarter’s deliverables |
Renewals
Quarterly commitments renew automatically unless canceled 15 days before quarter-end.
Any cancellations, upgrades, or downgrades will take effect the following quarter.
For detailed rules, visit the SEO Billing & Commitment Policy →.
Best Practices
Submit access early: Early access prevents delays in publishing and reporting.
Use the roadmap: Review it with your client early to set expectations.
Communicate renewals: Notify clients at least 3 weeks before quarter-end about continuing or upgrading.
Leverage dashboards: Use the Performance Dashboard to keep clients in the loop between reports.