How To Do Proper Website SEO Audit

Introduction.

I built this guide to help you understand the process of running a proper website SEO audit.

A website SEO audit is a detailed review of your site to spot issues that could affect your search ranking and overall user experience. It helps you find hidden problems and offers ways to fix them.

This process not only improves how your site performs in search engines but also enhances its usability for visitors.

Why an SEO Audit Matters?

An SEO audit is essential for anyone who wants their website to be seen by more people. I discovered that a well-audited website can boost organic traffic and increase user engagement.

For instance, research shows that about 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results.

This means if your site has issues that hold it back, you might be missing out on a lot of potential visitors.

A proper audit makes sure that your site meets the standards set by search engines. It checks if your pages load quickly if your content is well-organized, and if the technical structure of your site is sound.

When I review a site, I look at everything from mobile-friendliness to the quality of your backlinks. These are all key factors that search engines use to rank your site.

What is a Website SEO Audit?

At its core, an SEO audit is a comprehensive check-up for your website. I start by looking at the technical setup of the site and then move on to content and user experience. The audit covers several areas:

• Technical SEO: This includes the site’s speed, mobile usability, URL structure, and security (like having an SSL certificate). A technical issue can sometimes be the reason a site struggles to rank.
• On-Page SEO: Here, I check for proper use of keywords, meta descriptions, title tags, headings, and the overall quality of the content. Clean and engaging content is crucial because it helps visitors find the information they need.
• Off-Page SEO: This looks at external factors like backlinks and social signals. A strong backlink profile can signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy.
• Content Audit: I also review the content itself to ensure it is unique, relevant, and engaging for your target audience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Running Your SEO Audit

Below, I outline a step-by-step process to conduct an SEO audit. Feel free to follow along and adjust the steps to fit your needs.

1. Check Technical SEO

Site Speed and Mobile Usability:

Start by testing your site’s speed. A slow site can lead to higher bounce rates. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you see where your site stands and offer suggestions for improvement. Also, use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your site looks good on phones and tablets.

Crawlability and Indexability:
Ensure that search engines can crawl your site without any roadblocks. I use tools like Google Search Console to see if there are any errors or issues in your sitemap.

A clear and accurate sitemap helps search engines understand your site structure.

URL Structure and Site Architecture:
Clean URLs and a logical site structure improve both user experience and search engine understanding.

Make sure your URLs are simple and that your navigation is intuitive. This not only helps with SEO but also makes your site more enjoyable to use.

2. Review On-Page SEO

Keyword Usage:
Look at the keywords used on your pages. Make sure each page targets a specific set of keywords that your audience is likely to search for.

Use these keywords naturally in your content, headings, and meta tags. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can provide ideas and show you how competitive certain keywords are.

Content Quality:
I review your content to check for clarity, accuracy, and engagement. Content should answer your visitors’ questions and provide useful information. Remember, search engines favor content that is original and helpful.

Meta Descriptions and Title Tags:
These elements are important because they tell both search engines and visitors what a page is about. I suggest writing clear and compelling title tags and meta descriptions.

They should include your main keywords and offer a concise summary of the page’s content.

Header Tags and Image Optimization:
Headers (like H1, H2, and H3) help structure your content. They make it easier for visitors to scan your page and for search engines to understand the hierarchy of your content.

Also, images should have alt text that describes what they show. This helps improve accessibility and boosts SEO.

3. Analyze Off-Page SEO

Backlink Profile:
A strong backlink profile is a sign of trust and authority. I use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to check the number and quality of backlinks. If you notice a drop or spammy links, it might be time to reach out for help or disavow them.

Social Media Signals:
Although social media signals are not a direct ranking factor, they can help bring more traffic to your site. Check if your content is being shared and discussed on social platforms. This can also help you understand what content resonates with your audience.

4. Conduct a Content Audit

Content Relevance and Uniqueness:
Go through your content to ensure it is up-to-date and unique. Duplicate content can harm your rankings.

If you find outdated or low-quality posts, consider updating or removing them. It’s all about offering the best value to your readers.

User Engagement:
Check metrics like bounce rate, average time on page, and social shares. These indicators show how engaging your content is. Google Analytics is a useful tool here; you can access it at Google Analytics.

Internal Linking:
Make sure you’re using internal links to guide visitors to related content. Good internal linking not only boosts SEO but also helps visitors find more useful information on your site.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even small mistakes can affect your site’s SEO. Here are some common issues I see:

• Ignoring Mobile Optimization: With most users accessing sites on mobile devices, a mobile-friendly site is non-negotiable.
• Overstuffing Keywords: Using too many keywords can make your content sound forced and hurt your ranking.
• Broken Links and Missing Images: Broken links and missing image alt texts can reduce user experience and hurt SEO.
• Neglecting Analytics: Not checking your site’s performance regularly means you might miss out on important insights.

FAQs

What is an SEO audit?

An SEO audit is a review of your website to identify technical issues, content quality, and other factors that affect your ranking on search engines. It gives you a clear picture of what needs to be fixed or improved.

How often should I run an SEO audit?

I recommend running an SEO audit at least once every six months. If you make major changes to your site or notice a drop in traffic, consider doing an audit sooner.

Do I need technical skills to perform an SEO audit?

While some technical knowledge can help, many tools simplify the process. With a bit of learning and practice, most website owners can perform basic audits themselves.

What tools can help with an SEO audit?

There are many great tools out there. I personally like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Screaming Frog SEO Spider, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.

Further Resources

For more in-depth reading and support, here are a few resources you might find useful:

• Google Search Console Help: Explore detailed guides on setting up and using the tool to monitor your site’s performance. Learn more.
• Moz Blog: A great resource for SEO tips and case studies. Visit Moz.
• Neil Patel’s Blog on SEO Audits: This guide offers a comprehensive look at how to improve your site’s SEO. Check it out.
• Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider Tool: Learn how to use this tool to find technical issues on your site. More details.

Bringing It All Together

A proper website SEO audit isn’t just a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. Regular checks help you catch problems early and adapt to new trends or search engine updates.

I find that taking the time to audit and optimize my site not only improves its search rankings but also boosts the overall user experience.

When I see a drop in traffic or a rise in bounce rate, I know it’s time to review my strategy and fix the issues.

By keeping your site technically sound and your content fresh, you are not only attracting more visitors but also creating a positive experience for them. This, in turn, builds trust with your audience.

Remember, the goal of an SEO audit is to see your website as both a search engine and a visitor would. It’s about making small tweaks that add up to big results.

Now that you have a clear guide and plenty of resources, I’m curious—how do you plan to start your own website SEO audit process?
Have you thought about How To Do Proper Website SEO Audit on your site?