SEO-Ready Next.js Sites for B2B: Architecture, Content, and Core Web Vitals Checklist
You launched a beautiful Next.js site, but traffic is flat. Here is why "fast" isn't enough, and how to build a B2B site that Google actually loves.
Many B2B teams ship a Next.js site that feels great to use but is invisible to search engines. The issue isn't the framework - it's how you configured it. SEO is no longer just about keywords; it's an engineering discipline.
Why Next.js is a Weapon for B2B SEO
In the past, Single Page Apps (SPAs) killed SEO because Google couldn't render JavaScript efficiently. Next.js solved this with:
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Googlebot sees fully formed HTML instantly.
- Static Site Generation (SSG): Your blog posts load in 50ms because they are pre-built files.
- Metadata API: Managing `meta tags`, `canonical URLs`, and `Open Graph` images is programmatic and prevents errors.
1. Architecture Checklist: Structure Matters
- Clean URL Structure: Use `/services/cloud-migration`, not `/p?id=123`. Keep nesting shallow (max 3 levels).
- Marketing vs. App Separation: Keep your marketing site (`www.lionize.pro`) separate from your app (`app.lionize.pro`). Don't let your dashboard bloat your SEO crawl budget.
- Dynamic Sitemaps: Use `next-sitemap` or the built-in `sitemap.ts` to auto-generate maps whenever you publish a new blog post.
- Canonical Tags: Essential if you run ads. Ensure `/landing-page-v1` points its canonical URL to your main service page to avoid "duplicate content" penalties.
2. Content Checklist: Feeding the Machine
B2B buyers research heavily. Your content must map to their journey.
Bottom-of-Funnel (High Intent)
Pages like "Integrations", "Pricing", and "vs Competitor". These convert. Ensure they have clear CTAs and structured data.
Thought Leadership
"How to reduce cloud costs". Use Internal Linking to guide readers from these guides to your Solution pages.
Pro Tip: Use JSON-LD Schema. Mark up your Case Studies with `Article` schema and your FAQs with `FAQPage` schema. This helps you get rich snippets in search results.
3. Core Web Vitals Checklist
Google explicitly ranks faster sites higher. Next.js gives you the tools, but you have to use them.
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): The hero image. Use the Next.js `<Image priority />` prop on your H1 image. Do not lazy load content above the fold.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Things jumping around. Always define `width` and `height` for images. Reserve space for ad banners/popups.
- INP (Interaction to Next Paint): Responsiveness. Move heavy heavy JS (like chat widgets or tracking scripts) to `next/script` with `strategy="lazyOnload"`.
Common SEO Mistakes in Next.js
- Client-Side Rendering (CSR) Everything:
"use client"at the top of your `page.tsx` kills SEO. Keep page roots Server Components. push client logic to leaf components (buttons, forms). - Missing `robots.txt`: You forgot to tell Google it is allowed to crawl your site.
- Bloated Fonts: Importing the entire Google Fonts library. Use `next/font` to automatically optimize and host subsets.
How AI Accelerates B2B SEO
Once your Next.js Architecture is solid, use automation to scale.
We use AI Automation to:
- Audit Links: Scan the site weekly for broken links (404s).
- Suggest Internals: Analyze new blog posts and suggest where to link them from older, high-traffic posts.
- Monitor CWV: Alert Slack if LCP drops below 2.5s after a deploy.
Conclusion
"SEO-ready" isn't a plugin you install. It is an architectural decision. By building on Next.js with these checklists, you ensure that every piece of content the marketing team writes has the maximum chance of ranking #1.
Stop Being Invisible
Talk to an Architect – See where AI can remove 10-20 hours/week of SEO busywork and fix your technical foundation.