Next.js 15 SEO Checklist for Developers in 2025 (with Code Examples)

[Vrushik Visavadiya]

Search engine optimization (SEO) has always been critical, but in 2025, the game has changed. It’s no longer just about keywords — it’s about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), AI-driven search (GEO), and Core Web Vitals.

As developers, we play a huge role in making apps SEO-ready. With Next.js 15, we get built-in tools that make this easier — but only if we know how to use them correctly.

This post is your step-by-step SEO checklist for Next.js 15, complete with code examples you can copy-paste.

1. Setup Metadata & Open Graph Tags​

Next.js 15 provides the new metadata API for SEO. Use it to define titles, descriptions, and social preview tags.

// app/layout.tsx
export const metadata = {
  title: "My Next.js App | 2025"
  description: "A modern Next.js 15 application optimized for SEO,"
  openGraph: {
    title: "My Next.js App,"
    description: "Optimized Next.js 15 SEO Checklist with code examples.,"
    url: https://myapp.com,
    siteName: MyApp,
    images: [
      {
        url: https://myapp.com/og-image.png,
        width: 1200,
        height: 630,
        alt: My Next.js App,
      },
    ],
    locale: en_US,
    type: website,
  },
};

Pro Tip: Always include Open Graph + Twitter Card metadata for LinkedIn, Twitter previews.

2. Optimize URL Structure​

Keep URLs short, clean, and keyword-friendly.

Bad:

/post?id=123

Good (Next.js dynamic routes):

/blog/nextjs-15-seo-checklist

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx
import { notFound } from "next/navigation";

export default async function BlogPost({ params }: { params: { slug: string } }) {
  const post = await getPostBySlug(params.slug);
  if (!post) notFound();

  return <article dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: post.content }} />;
}

3. Add Structured Data (Schema.org)​

Structured data helps Google understand your content. In Next.js, inject JSON-LD:

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx
import Script from "next/script";

export default function BlogPost({ params }) {
  const jsonLd = {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BlogPosting",
    headline: "Next.js 15 SEO Checklist for Developers in 2025",
    author: {
      "@type": "Person",
      name: "Your Name",
    },
    datePublished: "2025-09-01",
  };

  return (
    <>
      <Script
        id="structured-data"
        type="application/ld+json"
        dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: JSON.stringify(jsonLd) }}
      />
      <article>...</article>
    </>
  );
}

4. Image Optimization with next/image​

Large images hurt Core Web Vitals. Always use the built-in <Image />:

import Image from "next/image";

<Image
  src="/blog/seo.png"
  alt="Next.js SEO Checklist"
  width={800}
  height={400}
  priority
/>

Use priority for above-the-fold images.

Always add descriptive alt tags (helps accessibility + SEO).

5. Performance & Core Web Vitals​

Search rankings in 2025 rely heavily on performance.

• Enable Static Rendering (SSG) whenever possible.
• Use dynamic imports for heavy libraries.
• Add caching + CDN support.

// Example: Dynamic Import
import dynamic from "next/dynamic";

const Chart = dynamic(() => import("./Chart"), { ssr: false });

Run audits with Lighthouse and aim for:

• LCP < 2.5s
• CLS < 0.1
• FID < 100ms

6. Sitemap & Robots.txt​

Generate sitemap.xml + robots.txt to guide crawlers. Use the next-sitemap package.

npm install next-sitemap

// next-sitemap.config.js
module.exports = {
  siteUrl: "https://myapp.com",
  generateRobotsTxt: true,
};

Run:

npx next-sitemap

7. Accessibility = Better SEO​

• Always use semantic HTML (<header>, <nav>, <article>).
• Add ARIA attributes when necessary.
• Use descriptive links (Read more about Next.js SEO instead of Click here).

8. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)​

In 2025, AI tools (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) pull answers directly from well-structured content.

How to optimize:

• Use FAQ sections at the end.
• Write concise Q&A answers.

### FAQ

**Q: How do I add metadata in Next.js 15?**  
A: Use the built-in `metadata` object inside `app/layout.tsx`.

**Q: Does Next.js automatically optimize SEO?**  
A: It provides tools, but you need to configure metadata, URLs, and performance manually.

Final SEO Checklist (Quick Recap)​

• [] Metadata & Open Graph tags
• [] Clean URLs with dynamic routes
• [] Structured Data (Schema.org)
• [] Optimized images with <Image />
• [] Core Web Vitals optimization
• [] Sitemap + robots.txt
• [] Semantic HTML & accessibility
• [] FAQ for Answer Engines

Conclusion​

SEO in 2025 is more than just keywords — it’s about structured content, performance, and AI discoverability.

With Next.js 15, we get all the tools to build SEO-friendly apps, but the real power lies in how we implement them.

If you follow this checklist, your app will be ready to rank higher on Google, LinkedIn shares, and even AI search engines.

Continue reading...

 

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