SEO for web applications is fundamentally different from SEO for blogs or marketing sites. The rules change when your content is JavaScript-rendered, your routes are dynamic, and your pages change based on user state. Here is what we have learned shipping SEO-sensitive web apps.
If your React app renders client-side, Google can index it, but it is slower and less reliable than server-rendered HTML. For any page that matters for SEO, use SSR or SSG via Next.js. This single change can improve search visibility more than any keyword strategy.
Metadata That Works
Use Next.js Metadata API to set unique title tags and descriptions for every page. Do not use the same meta description everywhere. Structure your page titles as Primary Keyword - Brand Name. Use JSON-LD structured data for articles, products, and FAQs. These signals compound over time.
Core Web Vitals
Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal. LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), FID (First Input Delay), and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) all matter. Next.js apps score well by default if you use Image optimization, avoid layout shifts on load, and minimize blocking scripts. Run Lighthouse audits before every major release.
Content That Compounds
Write about topics that stay relevant for years, not just trending news. SEO traffic compounds over time when your content answers questions that people keep asking. Update older posts when information changes. Internal linking between posts builds topical authority and keeps users on your site longer.