Free Technical SEO Audit Service
Identify and fix common SEO issues to boost your website’s performance and rankings. Explore the GuideTable of Contents
- Introduction
- Crawlability Issues
- Indexability Issues
- Mobile Usability Issues
- Site Speed Issues
- Structured Data Issues
- URL Structure Issues
- Internal Linking Issues
- Redirect Issues
- Security Issues
- International SEO Issues
- XML Sitemap Issues
- Core Web Vitals Issues
- JavaScript SEO Issues
- Content Issues
- Hosting and Server Issues
- Analytics and Tracking Issues
- Social and Open Graph Issues
- Miscellaneous Issues
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Introduction
A free technical SEO audit service helps you identify and fix issues that hinder your website’s performance in search engines. From crawlability to mobile usability, this guide covers common problems and actionable solutions to boost your site’s SEO health.
Crawlability Issues
Search engines need to crawl your site to index it. If they can’t, your rankings suffer. Let’s dive into common crawlability issues and how to fix them.Blocked by robots.txt
Pages blocked in the robots.txt file that shouldn’t be can hide valuable content from search engines. Check your robots.txt file and unblock necessary pages.
Tip: Regularly audit your robots.txt file to ensure only non-essential pages are blocked.
Noindexed pages
Pages marked with noindex that should be indexed won’t appear in search results. Use tools like Screaming Frog to find and fix these pages.
Tip: Double-check meta tags before publishing new pages.
Crawl errors
Pages returning 4xx or 5xx errors can harm your SEO. Fix broken links and server issues promptly.
Tip: Monitor crawl errors in Google Search Console regularly.
Soft 404 errors
Pages that return a 200 status code but have no content confuse search engines. Add meaningful content or return a proper 404 status.
Tip: Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify soft 404 errors.
Infinite crawl traps
URL parameters creating endless loops for crawlers can waste crawl budget. Use robots.txt or canonical tags to fix this.
Tip: Avoid using unnecessary URL parameters.
Canonicalization issues
Incorrect or missing canonical tags pointing to the wrong URL can cause duplicate content issues. Ensure canonical tags point to the correct URL.
Tip: Use tools like Screaming Frog to audit canonical tags.
Orphan pages
Pages with no internal links pointing to them are hard to find. Add relevant internal links to these pages.
Tip: Ensure every page is linked from at least one other page.
Indexability Issues
Indexability ensures your pages are eligible to appear in search results. Here’s how to tackle common indexability problems.Duplicate content
Multiple pages with identical content confuse search engines. Use canonical tags to point to the preferred version.
Tip: Conduct regular content audits to identify duplicates.
Thin content
Pages with little or no valuable content can hurt rankings. Add more depth and relevance to these pages.
Tip: Focus on creating high-quality, user-focused content.
Missing meta titles/descriptions
Pages without proper title tags or meta descriptions miss out on click-through opportunities. Add unique and compelling meta tags.
Tip: Use tools like Yoast SEO to manage meta tags.
Duplicate meta tags
Multiple pages sharing the same title or meta description can confuse search engines. Ensure each page has unique meta tags.
Tip: Use automated tools to audit meta tags.
Indexed non-HTML files
PDFs, images, or other files indexed unnecessarily can clutter search results. Use robots.txt or noindex tags to block them.
Tip: Only index files that provide value to users.
Pagination issues
Paginated pages indexed without proper rel="next" and rel="prev" tags can cause duplicate content issues. Implement pagination correctly.
Tip: Use tools like Screaming Frog to audit pagination.
Faceted navigation issues
Faceted URLs creating duplicate content can harm your SEO. Use canonical tags or robots.txt to manage faceted navigation.
Tip: Limit the number of facets available to users.
Mobile Usability Issues
With mobile-first indexing, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly is crucial. Let’s explore common mobile usability issues.Mobile-friendly issues
Pages not optimized for mobile devices can lead to poor user experiences. Use responsive design to fix this.
Tip: Test your site on multiple devices before launching.
Text too small to read
Content not scaling properly on mobile devices frustrates users. Adjust font sizes and ensure readability.
Tip: Use relative units like em or rem for font sizes.
Clickable elements too close
Buttons or links too close together for mobile users can lead to accidental clicks. Increase spacing between elements.
Tip: Use CSS padding and margins to improve spacing.
Viewport not set
Missing or incorrect viewport meta tag can break mobile layouts. Add the viewport meta tag to your HTML.
Tip: Use
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">.
Flash content
Unsupported content on mobile devices can lead to broken pages. Replace Flash with HTML5 or other modern technologies.
Tip: Avoid using Flash altogether.
Site Speed Issues
Slow sites drive users away and hurt rankings. Here’s how to speed things up.Slow page load times
Pages taking too long to load can increase bounce rates. Optimize images and leverage browser caching.
Tip: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to monitor performance.
Render-blocking resources
CSS and JavaScript blocking page rendering can delay load times. Minify and defer these resources.
Tip: Use asynchronous loading for non-critical resources.
Large image files
Unoptimized images slowing down page speed can frustrate users. Compress and resize images before uploading.
Tip: Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images.
Unminified CSS/JS
Uncompressed code increasing file size can slow down your site. Minify CSS and JavaScript files.
Tip: Use build tools like Webpack or Gulp to automate minification.
Server response time
Slow server response times (TTFB) can delay page loading. Optimize server performance or switch to a faster host.
Tip: Use a content delivery network (CDN) to reduce TTFB.
Lazy loading issues
Improper implementation of lazy loading can hide content from search engines. Ensure critical content loads immediately.
Tip: Use lazy loading only for below-the-fold content.
Structured Data Issues
Structured data helps search engines understand your content. Let’s fix common issues.Missing structured data
Pages without schema markup miss out on rich snippets. Add structured data using tools like Schema Markup Generator.
Tip: Implement structured data during the development phase.
Invalid structured data
Errors in schema markup implementation can lead to penalties. Validate your markup using Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.
Tip: Regularly test and update your structured data.
Unsupported structured data
Using schema types not recognized by Google can waste resources. Stick to supported schema types.
Tip: Refer to Google’s official documentation for supported schema types.
Duplicate structured data
Multiple instances of the same schema on a page can confuse search engines. Ensure each page has unique structured data.
Tip: Use tools like Screaming Frog to audit structured data.
URL Structure Issues
A clean URL structure improves user experience and SEO. Here’s how to fix common URL issues.Long URLs
Excessively long URLs are hard to read and share. Keep URLs concise and descriptive.
Tip: Use short, keyword-rich URLs.
Dynamic URLs
URLs with unnecessary parameters can confuse search engines. Simplify your URLs where possible.
Tip: Use static URLs for important pages.
Mixed-case URLs
URLs with inconsistent capitalization can lead to duplicate content. Stick to lowercase URLs.
Tip: Configure your server to redirect mixed-case URLs to lowercase.
Non-descriptive URLs
URLs that don’t reflect the page content can hurt SEO. Use descriptive keywords in URLs.
Tip: Avoid using generic terms like “page1” or “id123.”
WWW vs. non-WWW
Inconsistent use of www and non-www versions can split link equity. Choose one version and stick to it.
Tip: Set up 301 redirects to your preferred version.
HTTP vs. HTTPS
Inconsistent use of HTTP and HTTPS can harm security and SEO. Migrate your site to HTTPS.
Tip: Use tools like SSL Checker to ensure proper implementation.
Internal Linking Issues
Internal links guide users and search engines through your site. Let’s fix common problems.Broken internal links
Links pointing to non-existent pages harm user experience. Regularly check and fix broken links.
Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs to monitor internal links.
Orphan pages
Pages with no internal links pointing to them are hard to find. Add relevant internal links to these pages.
Tip: Ensure every page is linked from at least one other page.
Excessive internal links
Too many links on a single page can dilute link equity. Limit internal links to a reasonable number.
Tip: Focus on linking to high-priority pages.
Non-descriptive anchor text
Using generic anchor text like “click here” provides no context. Use descriptive anchor text.
Tip: Include keywords in your anchor text where relevant.
Redirect Issues
Redirects ensure users and search engines reach the right pages. Here’s how to fix common redirect issues.Broken redirects
Redirects pointing to non-existent pages frustrate users. Fix or remove broken redirects.
Tip: Test all redirects after implementation.
Redirect chains
Multiple redirects in sequence slow down your site. Simplify redirect chains where possible.
Tip: Use direct redirects instead of chains.
Redirect loops
Infinite loops between pages can break user experience. Identify and fix redirect loops.
Tip: Use tools like Screaming Frog to audit redirects.
Temporary redirects
Using 302 redirects instead of 301 for permanent moves can confuse search engines. Use 301 redirects for permanent changes.
Tip: Always use 301 redirects unless the change is temporary.
Missing redirects
Pages moved without proper redirects can lead to 404 errors. Set up redirects for all moved pages.
Tip: Use tools like Redirect Mapper to identify missing redirects.
Security Issues
A secure site builds trust and improves rankings. Let’s tackle common security issues.Mixed content
HTTP resources on HTTPS pages can cause warnings. Ensure all resources are served over HTTPS.
Tip: Use tools like Why No Padlock to identify mixed content.
Unsecure pages
Pages served over HTTP instead of HTTPS are vulnerable. Migrate your site to HTTPS.
Tip: Use HTTPS from the start.
Hacked content
Malware or spam content injected into the site can harm rankings. Regularly scan your site for vulnerabilities.
Tip: Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.
International SEO Issues
Targeting global audiences requires proper international SEO. Here’s how to fix common issues.Hreflang errors
Incorrect or missing hreflang tags can confuse search engines. Implement hreflang tags correctly.
Tip: Use hreflang generators to ensure accuracy.
Inconsistent language targeting
Mismatch between content and language tags can hurt rankings. Align your content with language tags.
Tip: Conduct regular audits of your multilingual content.
Geotargeting issues
Incorrect use of geo-targeting in Search Console can mislead search engines. Set up geotargeting correctly.
Tip: Use Google Search Console to configure geotargeting.
XML Sitemap Issues
An XML sitemap helps search engines index your site. Let’s fix common sitemap issues.Missing XML sitemap
No sitemap submitted to Google Search Console can slow indexing. Create and submit an XML sitemap.
Tip: Automate sitemap generation using plugins or tools.
Incorrect sitemap format
Errors in sitemap structure or syntax can prevent indexing. Validate your sitemap using Google’s tools.
Tip: Follow Google’s sitemap guidelines closely.
Orphan pages in sitemap
Pages in the sitemap with no internal links are hard to find. Add internal links to these pages.
Tip: Ensure every page in the sitemap is linked internally.
Blocked pages in sitemap
Pages in the sitemap blocked by robots.txt won’t be indexed. Unblock these pages or remove them from the sitemap.
Tip: Regularly audit your robots.txt file.
Core Web Vitals Issues
Core Web Vitals are critical for user experience and SEO. Here’s how to fix common issues.Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Slow loading of the largest content element frustrates users. Optimize images and server response times.
Tip: Use a CDN to improve load times.
First Input Delay (FID)
Delays in interactivity can drive users away. Minimize JavaScript execution time.
Tip: Defer non-critical JavaScript.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Unexpected layout shifts during page load can frustrate users. Ensure stable layouts.
Tip: Set dimensions for images and ads.
JavaScript SEO Issues
JavaScript can enhance your site but also cause SEO problems. Let’s fix common issues.Uncrawlable JavaScript
JavaScript content not rendered by search engines won’t be indexed. Use server-side rendering where possible.
Tip: Test your site with JavaScript disabled.
Lazy-loaded content
Content not visible to crawlers without interaction can hurt rankings. Ensure critical content is visible on load.
Tip: Use lazy loading only for below-the-fold content.
JavaScript errors
Errors preventing proper rendering of pages can harm SEO. Fix JavaScript errors promptly.
Tip: Use browser developer tools to debug JavaScript.
Content Issues
High-quality content is the backbone of SEO. Here’s how to fix common content issues.Keyword cannibalization
Multiple pages targeting the same keyword can confuse search engines. Consolidate or differentiate content.
Tip: Plan your keyword strategy carefully.
Missing alt text
Images without descriptive alt attributes miss out on SEO opportunities. Add alt text to all images.
Tip: Make alt text a part of your content creation process.
Low-quality content
Content that doesn’t meet user intent or E-E-A-T guidelines can hurt rankings. Focus on creating valuable content.
Tip: Regularly update and improve existing content.
Content gaps
Missing content opportunities compared to competitors can harm your SEO. Conduct competitor analysis to identify gaps.
Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs to find content gaps.
Hosting and Server Issues
Reliable hosting is essential for SEO. Let’s fix common hosting and server issues.Downtime
Frequent server outages can hurt rankings. Choose a reliable hosting provider.
Tip: Monitor uptime using tools like UptimeRobot.
Slow server response time
High TTFB (Time to First Byte) can slow your site. Optimize server performance.
Tip: Use a content delivery network (CDN).
IP blocking
Blocking search engine bots by mistake can prevent indexing. Ensure bots are allowed in your server settings.
Tip: Check your server logs for blocked bots.
Analytics and Tracking Issues
Accurate analytics are crucial for SEO success. Here’s how to fix common tracking issues.Missing tracking codes
Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager not installed means missing data. Install tracking codes correctly.
Tip: Double-check tracking code implementation.
Incorrect tracking setup
Errors in tracking implementation can lead to inaccurate data. Validate your tracking setup.
Tip: Use Google Tag Assistant to test tracking codes.
Duplicate tracking codes
Multiple instances of the same tracking code can skew analytics data. Ensure only one instance is active.
Tip: Audit your site for duplicate tracking codes.
Miscellaneous Issues
Small issues can add up to big problems. Here’s how to fix miscellaneous SEO issues.Favicon missing
No favicon set for the website looks unprofessional. Add a favicon to your site.
Tip: Include a favicon in your design process.
Browser errors
JavaScript or CSS errors in the browser console can harm user experience. Fix these errors promptly.
Tip: Test your site in multiple browsers.
Unused CSS/JS
Unnecessary code bloating the site can slow down performance. Remove unused CSS and JavaScript.
Tip: Use tools like PurgeCSS to clean up unused code.
Social and Open Graph Issues
Social metadata enhances sharing and visibility. Let’s fix common issues.Missing Open Graph tags
No social metadata for sharing can reduce click-through rates. Add Open Graph tags to your site.Incorrect Open Graph tags
Errors in Open Graph implementation can lead to poor social sharing. Validate your tags.Missing Twitter Cards
No Twitter-specific metadata can reduce engagement on Twitter. Add Twitter Cards to your site.