FREE SEO Plan Template

Master SEO plan timelines with our intuitive SEO plan Gantt chart template.

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Gantt chart template

Why use our SEO Plan Template instead of Excel or Google Sheets?

Get started with our SEO Plan Template in seconds while skipping the hassle involved with Excel or Google Sheets.

Build Gantt charts in minutes, not hours.

Build Gantt charts in minutes, not hours.

No project management experience? No problem. Tom's Planner offers a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that's intuitive and easy to learn. Creating Gantt charts is a breeze, saving you time and effort. Compare that to the time-consuming, frustrating, manual formatting-intensive process of building a Gantt chart in Excel or Google Sheets.

Create a Gantt chart in minutes, not hours

Move at the pace of modern business with no learning curve or Googling formulas.

Good luck figuring out how to make a Gantt chart work in Excel or Google Sheets. Excel’s user manual weighs in at a hefty 500+ pages. It takes just five minutes with Tom’s Planner to start planning your first real project plan.

Create a Gantt chart in minutes, not hours

Headache-free collaboration and sharing.

Tom's Planner offers powerful options for sharing and collaborating on Gantt charts, including public links, PDF exports, and team access with customizable permission levels. It’s never been easier to communicate or ensure everyone’s on the same page. Compare that to Excel, where sharing and collaboration mean jumping through hoop after hoop and dealing with confusion and chaos.

How to use Tom’s Planner’s SEO plan template to build and share your SEO plan.

Getting your project off the ground is as easy as 1-2-3.

Step #1

Click the 'start with template’ button to open the SEO Plan Template.

Step #2

Register for a free account and watch a short video on using Tom’s Planner. The account is free forever, with no strings attached.

Step #3

You’re all set to use the Gantt chart template. Need additional help? Our AI assistant can create a custom Gantt chart SEO Plan Template based on your project description.

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What Is a Search Engine Optimization Plan?

An SEO plan is your blueprint for getting your website to rank higher on search engines like Google. It’s a strategic approach to making your site more visible, engaging, and relevant to your audience. From keyword research to content creation to technical tweaks, an SEO plan ties it all together in a way that’s manageable and results driven.

Without a clear plan, SEO can feel overwhelming—too many moving parts, too much data. But with an SEO strategy document, you’ve got a structured guide to tackle every piece in order.

How Does a Gantt Chart Fit In with Your SEO Plan Template?

Planning is the key to success with SEO and there are quite a few components that you’ll need to manage. A Gantt chart makes that much easier than if you were trying to use an SEO plan template in Excel or an SEO strategy document in Word. A Gantt chart is also easier to use across devices than an SEO strategy plan PDF.

With Tom’s Planner’s offering, you have a SEO strategy plan template that lets you:

  • Set tasks (like competitive keyword research or consumer search tracking)
  • Create visual timelines
  • Communicate with both team members and stakeholders

When to Use This SEO Content Strategy Template

When should you use our SEO planning template? Here are just a few times when it should be your go-to for planning and delivery.

Website Redesigns

Launching a new site? An SEO plan for website template makes sure your SEO is baked into the process, from URL structures to content optimization.

Campaign Launches

Use the SEO action plan template to map out keyword-focused campaigns that drive traffic and conversions.

Performance Overhauls

If your current rankings are slipping, this SEO optimization plan walks you through auditing and improving your site.

Who Should Use An SEO Project Management Template?

From business owners to experienced marketing pros, this SEO plan template is flexible enough for just about anyone. We designed it with the following people in mind:

Marketing Teams

Juggling multiple campaigns? This SEO campaign template simplifies things. Whether it’s a social media marketing plan template that integrates SEO, a marketing plan SEO strategy template, or a standalone SEO plan for a website, it’s easier to stay on top of all those little details.

Small Business Owners

Does SEO feel intimidating? It doesn’t have to. This SEO marketing plan template helps small business owners create a manageable SEO strategic plan without needing a full-time specialist. It’s great for driving traffic and growing your business on a budget.

Freelance SEO Consultants

As a freelancer, you often deal with multiple clients and projects simultaneously. This SEO project plan template helps you stay organized, deliver customized strategies, and provide clear timelines to your clients. An SEO plan example is a professional way to showcase your value and track deliverables.

Content Creators and Bloggers

If you’re looking to grow your audience organically, SEO is a must. This SEO template free helps you plan keyword-focused blog posts, track performance, and create an overall strategy that aligns with your niche and goals.

E-commerce Store Owners

For online shops, SEO can mean the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. This SEO plan template helps with optimizing product pages, crafting content that converts, and staying competitive in search.

Top Three Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning an SEO Project

About to embark on an SEO optimization plan? You’ll need to take the right steps and avoid a few critical mistakes. The best SEO strategy plan example highlights three pitfalls you need to skip:

  1. Failure to Plan Your Keywords Effectively

    The foundation of any SEO strategic plan is keyword research. If you can’t target the words and phrases your audience uses, you’ll be invisible in the SERPs.

    Solution:

    Dig deep into the keywords and derivatives that your audience uses and don’t forget to study what your competitors are doing.

  2. Keyword Stuffing

    This isn’t the 2000s and keyword stuffing doesn’t fly with Google. If you cram keywords into your content, your site will get downgraded fast. You’ll also lose the trust of your audience, which isn’t easily rebuilt.

    Solution:

    Focus on high-value keywords and then use them naturally. Create content for human beings, not bots.

  3. Keyword Cannibalization

    You need to target the right keywords, but don’t overdo things. Having multiple pages on your site that target the same keyword phrase causes confusion and reduces your rank in the SERPs.

    Solution:

    Limit the number of pages used for each keyword so that you can boost your search visibility.

If you’re able to avoid these pitfalls, your SEO plan of action will be much more effective. Of course, it helps to know what’s included in an SEO worksheet template. We’ll explore that below.

What Does an SEO Project Plan Template Include?

Every business should have a custom SEO strategy. That starts with the right SEO plan template. Ours includes the following to help you get up and running quickly:

  1. Gantt Chart

    See your entire SEO strategy unfold at a glance. The Gantt chart lets you visualize your tasks, deadlines, and dependencies, making project management seamless.

  2. Cost Estimation

    SEO requires resources, whether it’s tools, content creation, or link-building services. This section helps you outline costs and allocate budgets wisely.

  3. Portfolio

    Highlight your top-performing SEO efforts to show stakeholders what’s working. From blog posts to landing pages, you can easily track and display your successes.

  4. Example Projects

    Need inspiration? The template includes SEO strategy plan examples, from keyword audits to link-building campaigns, to get your creative gears turning.

  5. Reference

    Keep key resources like competitor analyses, keyword research tools, or your SEO strategy report sample handy so you always have the data you need.

Four tips on how to make sure you reach your deadlines

If you’re feeling a little daunted by creating an SEO action plan, there’s good news. The five tips below will make it easier.

Audit and Plan

Start with an audit. Look at your traffic, rankings, and technical health. What’s holding your site back? Use tools to identify broken links, slow load times, and other issues that impact user experience and rankings. With that information, you can create an actionable plan that takes you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Set Realistic Campaign Objectives

SEO takes time, so be patient. Aiming to double traffic in six months? Want to rank on page one for a competitive keyword? Set measurable goals then work toward them. Remember that organic SEO takes time, so focus on the bigger picture.

Research and Define Target Keywords

Not all keywords are created equal. Use Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Surfer SEO, or another similar platform to identify high-intent, low-competition keywords that your audience actually uses. Focus on topics your audience cares about and weave them naturally into your content.

Optimize for On-Page SEO

Your content is only as strong as its structure. Use the SEO content strategy template to organize metadata, internal links, and mobile responsiveness. Every detail counts when it comes to search engine optimization.

Gantt charts in Tom's Planner vs in Excel

Excel Tom's Planner
Cost License required Free version available
Learning curve Hours Minutes
Create your first Gantt chart Hours Minutes
Making an update in your chart Several minutes Seconds (drag & drop)
Sharing charts with others At some point you will save and email a file titled: version_4_def_usethisversion_reallyfinal.xlsx Online, one source of truth, always up to date, with no confusion
Look & Feel Messy Clean, polished and professional
Dependencies
Filtering
Zoom in/out
Automatic Legend
AI-assist Let our AI assist do the work for you
Export to image or pdf Requires workarounds to export One mouse click

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