Great content cannot rank if search engines struggle to crawl, render or index it. A technical SEO audit finds the hidden issues, such as blocked pages, duplicate URLs, slow templates and broken redirects, that hold your site back. Here is the checklist we use when auditing client websites.
1Crawling and Indexing
- robots.txt does not block important pages
- XML sitemap lists only indexable, canonical URLs
- No accidental noindex tags
- Search Console Page indexing report reviewed
- Orphan pages linked from the site structure
2Duplicate Content and Canonicals
Check that each page has one accessible version: HTTPS, one hostname (www or not), consistent trailing slashes, and parameters handled. Canonical tags should point to the preferred URL, and filter or tracking parameters should not create thousands of indexable duplicates.
3Redirects and Broken Links
Find 404 errors that have backlinks or traffic and redirect them. Remove redirect chains and loops, and update internal links to point directly to final URLs.
4Speed and Core Web Vitals
Review the Core Web Vitals report for LCP, INP and CLS issues by template. Fix oversized images, render-blocking resources, heavy third-party scripts and slow server response.
5Mobile and Rendering
Google indexes the mobile version of your site. Ensure content, links and structured data are the same on mobile, and that JavaScript-rendered content appears in the rendered HTML.
6Structured Data and Security
Validate schema with the Rich Results Test, fix errors and warnings, and confirm the site uses HTTPS everywhere with no mixed content. Check Search Console for security issues and manual actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I do a technical SEO audit?
A full audit once or twice a year, with monthly checks of Search Console for new issues.
What tools do I need for a technical SEO audit?
Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and a crawler such as Screaming Frog or Sitebulb are the core tools.
Can technical issues stop a site ranking?
Yes. Blocked crawling, noindex tags or major duplication can prevent pages from ranking at all.
What should I fix first?
Indexing blockers first, then issues affecting your highest-value pages and templates.
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