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SEO site audit

SEO audit is a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying and fixing technical, content, and user-related issues that prevent a website from achieving high rankings in search engine results.

How to Conduct a Comprehensive SEO Audit

Comprehensive SEO auditing is not a one-time task but a key part of a long-term strategy that demands a careful and systematic approach. The recommendations you receive from the audit will lay the foundation for consistent improvements in all aspects of your site, from technical details to content optimization and enhanced user experience.

Follow the plan and remember that even small changes can lead to significant increases in your site’s search engine rankings.

Analysis of the current state of the site

The first step is to assess the overall visibility of the website in search results. This helps determine how well the site is already visible to search engines and for which queries it ranks.

  • Visibility check: tools like Google Search Console or specialized services for analyzing site visibility are used for this.
  • Indexing analysis: evaluate which pages are indexed by search engines and if there are any issues with their display. This can also be done through Google Search Console.
  • Determining keyword rankings: use professional tools (such as Ahrefs, SEMrush) to analyze current rankings for main keywords.

Technical audit

Technical errors can significantly reduce the effectiveness of website promotion, so it’s crucial to pay close attention to this stage.

  • Error checking: ensure there are no pages with 404 errors, incorrect redirects, or duplicate pages on the site.
  • Loading speed: optimizing site loading speed is critical, especially for mobile users. Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify issues and offer recommendations.
  • SSL certificate: site security is a ranking factor. Ensure the site operates over HTTPS.
  • Mobile optimization: more than half of traffic comes from mobile devices. Verify that the site is optimized for viewing on smartphones and tablets.
  • Check robots.txt and sitemap.xml: the robots.txt file controls which pages can be indexed, and sitemap.xml helps search engines better understand the site’s structure.

Content analysis

Content quality and relevance are key success factors in SEO. Content should address user queries and meet their expectations.

  • Uniqueness and quality assessment: every piece of text on the site should be original and relevant to the topic.
  • Meta tags (title and description): unique meta tags help make the site stand out in search results and improve CTR.
  • Keywords: check if primary keywords are used on the page and ensure the text is not oversaturated with them.
  • Headings (H1, H2, H3): a proper heading structure improves readability and makes the text more understandable for search engines.
  • Image optimization: ensure all images are correctly sized and have alt tags.

Analysis of internal linking

Internal linking plays an important role in SEO, helping search engines better understand the site’s structure and distribute “weight” between pages.

  • Link relevance: internal links should be logical and lead to pages that match the context.
  • Navigation and UX: assess how easily users can navigate between pages. Convenient navigation increases the likelihood that visitors will stay on the site.
  • Page weight distribution: links to the most important pages should be more prominent to direct more weight to them.

User experience testing (UX/UI)

User experience is an important factor that affects ranking. Search engines evaluate user behavior and favor sites where visitors stay longer and interact more actively.

  • Usability: all elements on the site should be intuitive. Features like contact forms, buttons, and navigation elements should function smoothly.
  • User behavior analysis: use web analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to analyze bounce rates, time on site, and page views.

Competitor analysis

Competitor analysis helps you understand which strategies work for other sites in your niche and what approaches might be effective for your own site.

  • Keyword comparison: analyze which keywords competitors rank for and how successful they are.
  • Link-building strategies review: evaluate how competitors acquire external links, including the resources and tactics they use.
  • Content and structure assessment: pay attention to page structures, content types, and methods for retaining and attracting audiences.

Preparation of report and recommendations

In the final stage, conduct an analysis of all identified issues and opportunities for improvement. Formulate specific recommendations for each aspect.

  • Audit report for all stages: create a detailed document covering all identified issues and potential improvements.
  • Priority setting: divide recommendations into primary and secondary priorities. For example, fix technical errors first, then focus on content enhancement.
  • Implementation planning: outline specific optimization steps and timelines to organize the work effectively.