Open Mon - Fri 09:00-18:00
Email Call Now! +1 (908) 543-4763
Open Mon - Fri 09:00-18:00
Email Call Now! +1 (908) 543-4763
Get a quote

Master Your Website with Our Technical SEO Audit Guide

At Verdict Digital Marketing, we launch every SEO campaign with a thorough technical SEO audit. Why? A strong technical foundation is critical for dominating search engine rankings.

This guide includes:

  • A comprehensive checklist of technical SEO elements we analyze for clients
  • Step-by-step instructions to perform these checks yourself
  • A downloadable Google Sheets template for your audit

In today’s crowded digital space, website optimization is essential. Without a technically sound site, even stellar content struggles to rank. A technical SEO audit uncovers issues like poor crawlability, slow site speed, or faulty indexation that could sabotage your rankings. Let’s explore what a technical SEO audit is and how to execute one like an expert.

What is a Technical SEO Audit?

What is it?
A technical SEO audit is a systematic review of your website’s technical elements to ensure search engines can crawl, index, and rank your pages effectively. It focuses on backend factors like site structure, server performance, and code quality, not content or backlinks.

Why does it matter?
Search engines like Google rely on bots to discover and understand your site. Technical issues—such as broken redirects, unoptimized URLs, or slow load times—can prevent bots from accessing your pages, leading to lower rankings. Regular audits (every 3-6 months) keep your site competitive as algorithms and competitors evolve.

How do you do it?
Using tools like Screaming Frog, Google Search Console, and Ahrefs, you’ll crawl your site to identify errors, analyze performance metrics, and prioritize fixes. This guide walks you through each step, from checking indexation to optimizing HTTPS.

Why Conduct a Technical SEO Audit?

What’s the goal?
The goal is to identify and resolve technical barriers that hinder your site’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). It’s about making your site accessible to bots and delightful for users.

Why is it critical?
A single technical issue, like a misconfigured robots.txt file, can block entire sections of your site from being indexed, costing you traffic. With over 60% of searches happening on mobile devices, factors like mobile-friendliness and site speed (part of Google’s Core Web Vitals) are now ranking signals. Audits ensure your site meets these standards.

How does it impact rankings?
Technical SEO directly affects crawlability, indexation, and user experience—core components of Google’s 200+ ranking factors. Fixing issues like 404 errors or duplicate content can boost organic traffic and improve SERP performance.

How to Perform a Technical SEO Audit?

What’s the process?
A technical SEO audit involves crawling your site, analyzing data, and documenting issues. You’ll use free tools (e.g., Google Search Console) and paid tools (e.g., Ahrefs, Screaming Frog) to uncover problems, then create a prioritized action plan.

Why follow a checklist?
A structured checklist ensures no stone is left unturned. It helps you systematically address issues like HTTPS errors, mobile usability, or redirect chains without feeling overwhelmed.

How to get started?
Download our Google Sheets template, gather your tools, and follow the steps below. Focus on identifying issues first; fixes come after the audit.

[Image Placeholder: Screenshot of a technical SEO audit checklist in Google Sheets, showing columns for issues, priority, and status. Title: “Technical SEO Audit Checklist Example”]

Technical SEO Audit Checklist

Note: This audit identifies issues, not fixes (save those for later). Prioritize based on impact, using tools like Screaming Frog, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and Pingdom.

1. Crawlability and Findability

Crawlability ensures search engine bots can access and navigate your site. If bots can’t crawl, your pages won’t rank.

Indexation Status

  • What: The number of pages Google has included in its index.
  • Why: Unindexed pages are invisible in search results, reducing organic traffic.
  • How:
    • Check Google Search Console > Index > Coverage for indexed pages and errors.
    • Run site:yourdomain.com in Google to estimate indexed pages.
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit or Screaming Frog to compare crawled vs. indexed pages. Look for discrepancies (e.g., pages blocked by robots.txt).
    • Example: If your site has 1,000 pages but only 800 are indexed, investigate “noindex” tags or crawl blocks.

[Image Placeholder: Screenshot of Google Search Console Coverage report showing indexed pages and errors. Title: “Checking Indexation in Google Search Console”]

Robots.txt File

  • What: A file at yourdomain.com/robots.txt that instructs bots on what to crawl or skip.
  • Why: A misconfigured robots.txt can accidentally block critical pages, like your blog or product pages, from indexing.
  • How:
    • Visit yourdomain.com/robots.txt to review directives.
    • Use GSC’s Robots.txt Tester to validate syntax and test crawlability.
    • Ensure key sections (e.g., /blog/) aren’t blocked with Disallow.
    • Example: Disallow: /admin/ is fine, but Disallow: /products/ could hurt eCommerce sites.

Meta Robots Tags

  • What: HTML tags in the <head> section (e.g., <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>) controlling page-level crawl behavior.
  • Why: Accidental “noindex” tags can remove pages from SERPs, while “nofollow” tags may disrupt link equity flow.
  • How:
    • Crawl with Screaming Frog > Internal > Meta Robots column.
    • Filter for “noindex” or “nofollow” directives on important pages.
    • Check source code manually for specific pages (Right-click > View Source > Search “meta robots”).
    • Example: A staging site with “noindex” tags gone live can tank rankings.

XML Sitemap

  • What: A file listing your site’s URLs to guide search engine crawling.
  • Why: Sitemaps improve indexation, especially for large sites or those with deep pages, and help avoid duplicate content issues.
  • How:
    • Check yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml exists and is error-free.
    • Submit to GSC > Sitemaps and monitor indexation status.
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to verify all key pages are included.
    • Generate one with XML-Sitemaps.com or WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO if missing.

2. Site Speed and Performance

Site speed is a ranking factor, amplified by Google’s mobile-first indexing and Core Web Vitals.

Page Load Speed

  • What: The time it takes for your pages to fully load and render.
  • Why: Slow pages increase bounce rates and hurt rankings, especially on mobile, where 60%+ of searches occur.
  • How:
    • Test with Google PageSpeed Insights for desktop and mobile scores.
    • Check Core Web Vitals in GSC > Experience (focus on LCP, FID, CLS).
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to identify slow-loading pages.
    • Optimize by compressing images, minifying CSS/JS, and enabling browser caching.
    • Example: A page with a 5-second load time may lose 40% of users before rendering.

[Image Placeholder: Screenshot of Google PageSpeed Insights showing mobile and desktop scores with recommendations. Title: “PageSpeed Insights Results”]

Server Uptime

  • What: The duration your server keeps your site online and accessible.
  • Why: Frequent downtime disrupts crawling and frustrates users, potentially dropping rankings.
  • How:
    • Use Pingdom’s free uptime checker to monitor server reliability.
    • Consider premium monitoring for high-traffic sites.
    • If uptime is below 99.9%, upgrade to a VPS or dedicated hosting provider.
    • Example: A site down for 1 hour daily risks losing crawl budget and traffic.

HTTPS Security

  • What: A secure protocol (https://) encrypting data between your site and users.
  • Why: Google prioritizes HTTPS sites for security and user trust, and non-HTTPS sites may trigger browser warnings.
  • How:
    • Verify your site uses HTTPS (check https://yourdomain.com).
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to detect mixed content issues (e.g., HTTP images on HTTPS pages).
    • Ensure a valid SSL certificate is active (check via SSL Checker).
    • Redirect all HTTP URLs to HTTPS with 301 redirects.
    • Example: Mixed content can cause “Not Secure” warnings, reducing user trust.

3. Site Architecture

A logical site structure enhances crawlability and user experience.

Breadcrumbs

  • What: Navigational links showing a user’s path (e.g., Home > Category > Product).
  • Why: Breadcrumbs improve UX, reduce bounce rates, and help bots understand site hierarchy.
  • How:
    • Check if breadcrumbs appear on category, product, or blog pages.
    • Implement via WordPress plugins (e.g., Yoast SEO) or custom code.
    • Verify schema markup for breadcrumbs in Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.
    • Example: eCommerce sites with breadcrumbs see lower cart abandonment rates.

[Image Placeholder: Diagram of a website with breadcrumbs showing navigation path from homepage to product page. Title: “Breadcrumbs Navigation Example”]

Top-Level Navigation (TLN)

  • What: The main menu linking to your site’s most important pages.
  • Why: TLN guides users and bots to priority content, impacting indexation and UX.
  • How:
    • Ensure TLN links to high-value pages (e.g., services, blog).
    • Verify HTML coding (avoid JavaScript-heavy menus, which bots struggle to crawl).
    • Optimize menu titles with keywords using Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer for relevance.
    • Example: A cluttered TLN with 20+ links confuses users and dilutes equity.

Site Depth

  • What: The number of clicks needed to reach a page from the homepage.
  • Why: Pages beyond 3-4 clicks are less likely to be crawled or visited.
  • How:
    • Crawl with Screaming Frog > Site Structure to analyze depth.
    • Move critical pages closer to the homepage via TLN or footer links.
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to identify “deep” pages and suggest internal linking fixes.
    • Example: A blog post at yourdomain.com/blog/category/subcategory/post may need more internal links to boost crawlability.

4. On-Page SEO Elements

On-page issues can undermine even the best technical setup.

Title Tags

  • What: The <title> tag defining a page’s title in SERPs.
  • Why: Title tags are a major ranking factor and drive CTR.
  • How:
    • Use Screaming Frog to check for missing, duplicate, or overlong titles (>65 characters).
    • Ensure unique, keyword-optimized titles using Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer.
    • Example: A title like “Best SEO Tools 2025” outperforms “SEO Tools Page.”

Meta Descriptions

  • What: Snippets summarizing page content in SERPs.
  • Why: Well-crafted descriptions boost CTR, indirectly aiding rankings.
  • How:
    • Check Screaming Frog for missing or duplicate descriptions.
    • Keep under 150 characters and include target keywords.
    • Example: A meta description like “Discover top SEO tools for 2025 to boost rankings” entices clicks.

H1 Tags

  • What: The main heading on a page, typically containing the primary topic.
  • Why: H1s signal page relevance to search engines.
  • How:
    • Verify one H1 per page via Screaming Frog or source code.
    • Include primary or LSI keywords (use Ahrefs for LSI suggestions).
    • Example: An H1 like “Technical SEO Audit Guide” aligns with user intent.

Structured Data (Schema.org)

  • What: Code enhancing SERP displays with rich snippets (e.g., star ratings, FAQs).
  • Why: Schema improves CTR and helps bots categorize content.
  • How:
    • Test with Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.
    • Implement schema for articles, products, or local business via JSON-LD.
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to detect missing or broken schema.
    • Example: Product schema can display prices in SERPs, increasing clicks.

5. Link Health

Links distribute SEO equity and shape user navigation.

Internal Links

  • What: Links between pages on your site.
  • Why: Internal links pass equity, establish hierarchy, and improve UX.
  • How:
    • Check GSC > Links > Internal Links for distribution.
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to spot orphaned pages (no internal links).
    • Optimize anchor text with relevant keywords, avoiding over-optimization.
    • Example: Linking to a service page from a blog post with “SEO services” as anchor text boosts relevance.

Redirects

  • What: 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary) redirects to reroute traffic.
  • Why: 302s don’t pass equity, and redirect chains waste crawl budget.
  • How:
    • Crawl with Screaming Frog to identify 302s or chains.
    • Replace 302s with 301s for permanent moves.
    • Use Ahrefs to check redirect chains impacting high-value pages.
    • Example: A chain like page1 > page2 > page3 should be simplified to page1 > page3.

Broken Links

  • What: Links leading to 404 errors or non-existent pages.
  • Why: Broken links harm UX and waste crawl budget.
  • How:
    • Use Screaming Frog or GSC > Coverage to detect 404s.
    • Set up 301 redirects for high-traffic broken pages using Ahrefs’ Backlink data.
    • Example: A 404 page with 100 backlinks should redirect to a relevant live page.

6. Mobile-Friendliness

With mobile-first indexing, your site must perform flawlessly on mobile devices.

Mobile Usability

  • What: How well your site functions on mobile devices.
  • Why: Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites, and poor mobile UX hurts rankings.
  • How:
    • Test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
    • Check GSC > Experience > Mobile Usability for errors (e.g., text too small, clickable elements too close).
    • Use Ahrefs’ Site Audit to identify mobile-specific issues like unoptimized images.
    • Ensure responsive design or AMP implementation.
    • Example: A site with non-responsive images may load slowly on mobile, increasing bounce rates.

[Image Placeholder: Screenshot of Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test results showing a mobile-optimized page. Title: “Mobile-Friendly Test Results”]

7. Social and Local SEO

Social signals and local presence complement technical SEO.

Open Graph and Twitter Card Tags

  • What: Meta tags controlling how content appears on social platforms.
  • Why: Enhance shareability and CTR on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  • How:
    • Check source code for og:title, og:image, and twitter:card tags.
    • Use Yoast SEO to automate tag generation.
    • Validate with Facebook’s Sharing Debugger or Twitter Card Validator.
    • Example: An Open Graph image increases social shares by 30%.

Google My Business

  • What: A profile for local SEO and Google Maps visibility.
  • Why: Critical for local rankings and user trust.
  • How:
    • Verify your GMB listing and ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone).
    • Check GSC for local search performance.
    • Use Ahrefs to monitor local keyword rankings.
    • Example: A verified GMB profile can drive 20% more local traffic.

Get the Audit Template

Download our Google Sheets checklist by entering your email below.

[Insert Form Placeholder]

Powered by [Your Form Tool].

Tools for Your Audit

  • Free: Google Search Console, Google PageSpeed Insights, Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, XML-Sitemaps.com
  • Paid: Screaming Frog SEO Spider, Ahrefs, Pingdom

Next Steps

After completing your audit, prioritize fixes based on impact (e.g., resolve “noindex” tags before tweaking meta descriptions). Regular audits (every 3-6 months) keep your site optimized for search engine rankings and user experience. Need expert help? [Contact us] for a tailored technical SEO audit.

Share this guide if it helped you master technical SEO!