Greetings, experts! I am seeking your advice on a matter. I hired a freelancer to create an online store for me, but despite the site being completed, search engines don't seem to recognize it. No semantics, tags, articles, or anything of that sort were included in the development process, resulting in an essentially bare website. When asked where to find the sitemap.xml file, the developer responded, "You don't have one. This is done during optimization." My friend believes that this should have already been taken care of upon delivery and has informed me that optimization and website creation are often provided together as a package deal. The developer claims otherwise and has provided a list of optimization services they offer:

1. Compiling a semantic core
- Analyzing top 10 competitors
- Selecting relevant keywords
- Analyzing frequency and effectiveness of requests

2. Filling the site with content
- Analyzing the site for optimal keyword placement
- Creating a technical assignment for a copywriter
- Writing and posting texts for promoted pages

3. Analyzing usability, design, and layout while providing recommendations for improvement

4. Technical optimization of the site
- Configuring the server response to search queries
- Analysis of HTML code
- Developing modern titles
- Optimizing meta-data, structure, site maps, and ROBOTS.txt
- Analyzing internal links and warnings/errors in the webmaster panel
- Checking for duplicate pages and broken links
- Verifying statistics counter settings
- Setting goals in Yandex.Metrica

5. Assigning the site region and creating promotion opportunities throughout Russia

6. Analyzing traffic in various sections (visitors, sources, bounce rate, etc.)

7. Preparing and submitting a report detailing the optimization work done

8. Making necessary recommendations for changes to the website

9. Developing a promotion strategy

Do you believe that all of these works are purely related to optimization or should some have been done during the site development stage given that it was done by the same specialist?

In our industry, there is no standard for what to include in a list of works, which is usually determined by either the contractor's internal standards or an agreement between the contractor and the customer. Indirect signs suggest that budget projects often lack detailed task descriptions, as they can be time-consuming and unpaid. Such incidents occur because nothing that is not described is implied.

 Any opinions on what should or should not be included in the work are subjective and cannot serve as the basis for problem-solving. A more appropriate response from a performer would be to state that their platform does not support certain features, which is a common exception for complex sites, but platforms for creating simple websites usually enable or disable support for features such as "sitemap" with a single tick.

Have you been given a technical assignment?
In case there were no instructions for optimization or if it wasn't even mentioned in the assignment.

When someone says "website development", it could refer to the design, layout, structure, and content of the website, right?

However, I firmly believe that development and optimization are two distinct processes. Don't be misled by this confusion.

It's important to make sure that both development and optimization are taken into consideration when creating a website.

Before a search engine can index a website, it needs to be added to Yandex Webmaster. Typically, it takes around two weeks for the site to be indexed, although this can depend on the domain. However, there are cases where it may take several months for a site to appear in search results.

In my opinion, creating a sitemap.xml file is not necessarily essential for a "turnkey" website, as it falls into the category of optimization rather than core site building. It's important not to overlook the deeper work involved in creating a website, and if you want to have everything done within the framework of a "turnkey" service, expect to pay at least $2K.

I personally have never ordered this service and have always created sitemaps myself, as it's not a complicated process. For those seeking a "turnkey" website, I would recommend finding a competent person to create a technical specification and hire a developer either through personal connections or by paying for their services, rather than expecting a quick and easy solution.

When working on your website, you will likely discover many things you didn't know before, which can be a valuable learning experience. Rather than blaming the developer for any issues that arise, it's important to approach them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Based on the list of optimization services provided by the developer, it appears that some of these tasks should have been addressed during the website development stage. For example, tasks such as analyzing usability, design, and layout, configuring server responses, checking for duplicate pages and broken links, and optimizing meta-data and site structure are typically part of the website development process.

It is important for a website to be properly optimized for search engines from the beginning to ensure better visibility and ranking. While there may be additional optimization work required after the site is completed, a good website developer usually considers these factors during the development phase.

points to consider:

1. Keyword Research: Conducting keyword research and selecting relevant keywords should ideally be done during the website development stage. This helps shape the content and structure of the site to align with target keywords from the beginning.

2. Content Creation: Creating and optimizing content for promoted pages is an important aspect of both website development and optimization. It ensures that the site has relevant and valuable information for both users and search engines.

3. Technical Optimization: Tasks like analyzing HTML code, optimizing meta-data, and setting up site maps should be part of the website development process as they directly impact the site's performance and visibility.

4. Usability Analysis: Analyzing usability, design, and layout elements should ideally be considered during the website development stage to build a user-friendly and visually appealing website.

5. Reporting and Recommendations: While preparing reports and making recommendations can be an ongoing effort, it's helpful to have periodic reports and recommendations provided during the development process to address any potential issues early on.

Website optimization is the process of improving your website's performance across various areas, such as web traffic, conversion rates, and usability.