Neglecting your website’s health always leads to detriments to the whole business. That is why it is vital to conduct a technical SEO audit systematically. But what mistakes might hinder the situation? Here is the list!
1. Focusing on One Constituent Instead of Comprehensive Analysis
When you focus on one particular element, you might lose sight of the other important aspects. So, it is important to have an SEO spider that will analyze 100% of your website. That helps you identify and correct any potential issues. Moreover, the app also checks your website in various browsers, not only Google. And it is always wise to automate checks instead of wasting time on manual tests.
2. Not Checking Redirects
Redirections are vital in preserving link equity and traffic. So, when changing your website’s structure, you should add redirects from the old URLs to the new ones. Besides, checking and fixing redirects is a fundamental part of technical SEO.
- Optimizing title tags and meta descriptions;
- Using h1-h6 tags to structure the content and make it easily scannable;
- Anchoring text to improve CTR;
- Using keywords multiple times;
- Prioritizing some keywords and understanding that some of them are secondary;
- Use internal links to help Google bots index your website better.
3. Not Optimizing Web Content for Rankings
Content is still the king! But, if you want it to perform well and help your website rank high, you must apply some technical SEO tips. That includes:
4. Disregarding Mobile-First Indexing
Mobile devices have become the primary source of internet traffic. Thus, it is essential to make your website mobile-friendly. Besides a responsive design, you should also focus on the content, loading speed, and other technicalities.
5. Choosing the Wrong Keywords
Your website will not rank high for the keywords you want if they are too competitive or not relevant to your business. Focus on long-tail keywords with low competition that are still relevant to your products or services.
6. Not Tracking Rankings
You will not improve your website’s ranking if you do not track your progress. Various SEO tools can help you with that, like Google Search Console and Moz. Besides monitoring rankings, those platforms also identify potential technical issues on your website.
7. Having a Slow Loading Website
Your website’s loading speed is among the influential ranking factors. Most guests will not wait more than three seconds for a website to load, so you must focus on that. For instance, use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool. That checks your website’s performance and gets some recommendations for improvement.
8. Not Working on the Website’s Architecture
The website’s architecture is essential for both users and search engine bots. So, it would help if you made it easy to navigate and understand. That includes using a logical structure, short URLs, and breadcrumbs.
9. Forgetting About HTTPS
Google has announced that HTTPS is another ranking factor now. So, if you have not migrated your website to HTTPS, now is the time. The process is not complicated, and you can find various guides online.
10. Not Analyzing the Competition
To outrank your competitors, you must first understand what they are doing. Check their websites and see what technical SEO tricks they are using. After that, try to improve upon what they are doing and find your unique way to the top!
11. Allowing Broken Links to Exist
No link is WAY better than a broken one! Broken links can damage your website’s ranking and reputation. That is because the system comprehends that your website might not provide a convenient user experience. So, you need to find and fix them as soon as possible. If there is no extra link to add, it is wiser to delete that component merely.
12. Not Optimizing Images
Illustrations are an indispensable part of any website. But, you should not just insert them haphazardly. Besides making sure they are relevant, you need to optimize them for size and name them accordingly. That will ensure the finest user experience and help your website rank higher.
13. Not Creating XML Sitemaps if Your Site Is Small
XML sitemaps help search engine bots index your website more efficiently. That way, your website will rank higher on SERPs. Some specialists say that a small website with fewer than 500 pages does not need to create an XML sitemap. Nevertheless, practice shows that your site needs that even if you have a small project.
14. Not Creating Alt Text for the Images
Alt text is the written copy that describes an image. It is essential for both users and searches engine bots. The former needs it because sometimes the images do not load. As for the latter, they need it to understand what an image is about and index it accordingly. So, ensure you add alt text to your website’s pictures!
15. Forgetting about Detrimental Duplicates
If there are identical pages, the system thinks your website is repetitive. Hence, Google bots might ignore your site or rank it lower. That is why you must find and delete all detrimental duplicates on your website.
16. Not Utilizing Google Analytics
Google Analytics is an essential app for every website owner. It provides extensive data to help you understand your target audience, their preferences, and needs. You can boost user-friendliness and improve its ranking based on that info.
17. Not Connecting Google Analytics and Search Console
Google Analytics and Search Console are great tools that help you understand your website’s position on SERPs. But, their potential is even greater if you connect them. That way, you will get an even more comprehensive picture of how your website is doing.
18. Not Focusing on User Intent
Always focus on user intent when working on your website’s ranking. In other words, ensure that your website provides the information people want. For that purpose, you can use various keyword research tools. They will help you understand what people are looking for and how you can provide it to them.
19. Not Measuring the Results
It would help to track your website’s progress to see whether your technical SEO efforts are paying off. For that purpose, you can use various tools, such as Google Analytics and Search Console. They will provide detailed data that you can use to improve your website’s ranking.
20. Not Keeping Up with the Times
The world of SEO is constantly changing. That is why you need to keep up with the latest trends and updates if you want your website to rank high. Fortunately, various blogs and forums can help you stay up-to-date with the latest SEO news.
Final Words
These are the top twenty technical SEO mistakes that you might be making. If you want your website to rank stellarly, you must find and fix them as soon as possible. Fortunately, various tools and resources can help you with that.
