1. Keyword research
2. Get some (trustworthy) advice
3. Look after your code
4. Make navigation easy
5. Get links
6. Build a sitemap
7. Don’t forget the technical stuff
8. Track your progress
9. Tell the search engines where you are
10. Content is king

More at this link: 10 Top Tips to Make your Website Search Engine Friendly

Don’t forget the time it takes to learn the technology. Judi Sohn makes great arguments in her article.

Link: Technology is an investment, even when it’s free