Ever wondered How to do a technical SEO audit? If you’re a Langford business owner looking to rank higher on search engines, you’re not alone. Many people focus on keywords and content but overlook the technical backbone that powers their website’s performance. That’s where a technical SEO audit comes in—it’s like a health checkup for your website. It ensures your site isn’t just pretty to look at but also functional and optimized for search engines.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the often-missed steps of a technical SEO audit. Along the way, we’ll share insider tips, stats, and advice tailored specifically for Langford residents. And if you’re looking for expert help, Click Typhoon is here to assist with all your SEO Agency Langford needs.
Why Technical SEO Matters
According to a study by Backlinko, 91% of all pages on the internet get zero organic traffic from Google. Yes, you read that right—zero. One major reason? Poor technical SEO.
For Langford businesses, this is especially critical because local searches (“near me” queries) are on the rise. Research from Google shows that 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a business within a day. If your website isn’t technically sound, you’re missing out on those potential customers.
Step 1: Start with a Crawl Report
Most people know they need a site crawl, but here’s what they often miss:
- Look for Orphan Pages: These are pages with no internal links pointing to them, making them invisible to both users and search engines. Tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb can help uncover these.
- Identify Redirect Chains: Redirect chains slow down your site and confuse crawlers. Use a tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush to spot and fix them.
Step 2: Check Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are metrics introduced by Google to measure user experience. They focus on:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): How fast the main content loads.
- First Input Delay (FID): How quickly users can interact with your site.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): How stable the content is as it loads.
For Langford residents running e-commerce or local service websites, this is non-negotiable. 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix can help analyze and optimize these metrics.
Step 3: Inspect Your Sitemap and Robots.txt
Your sitemap is like a road map for search engines. Here’s what you should do:
- Ensure it’s Updated: Make sure all active pages are listed.
- Check for Errors in Robots.txt: Sometimes, businesses accidentally block important pages from being indexed.
Quick Tip: Use Google Search Console to test your robots.txt file and ensure there are no issues.
Step 4: Audit Your URL Structure
Langford business owners often overlook the importance of clean, consistent URLs. Here’s what to check:
- Canonical Tags: These prevent duplicate content issues.
- URL Length: Short and descriptive URLs perform better.
- Keyword Inclusion: Ensure your primary keywords are part of the URL, but avoid keyword stuffing.
Step 5: Optimize for Mobile
With mobile searches dominating (accounting for 58% of global website traffic), your site must be mobile-friendly. Conduct a mobile usability test in Google Search Console and pay attention to the following:
- Font Size: Text must be legible without zooming.
- Button Placement: Ensure clickable elements aren’t too close together.
Step 6: Leverage Schema Markup
Here’s where most websites fall short: schema markup.
- What is it? Schema markup is code that helps search engines understand your content better.
- Why does it matter for Langford businesses? Schema can improve your chances of showing up in local search results with rich snippets. For instance, if you’re a local café, using a “LocalBusiness” schema can display your business hours, address, and reviews directly on the search results page.
Step 7: Analyze Internal Linking
Internal linking is often treated as an afterthought, but it’s a game-changer. Here’s how to optimize it:
- Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Avoid generic phrases like “click here.”
- Link to High-Value Pages: Prioritize linking to pages that drive conversions, such as services or product pages.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs Site Audit to identify broken links and opportunities for improvement.
Step 8: Ensure HTTPS Security
Still, using HTTP? It’s time to switch to HTTPS. Not only is it a ranking factor, but it also builds trust with users. A study by HubSpot revealed that 82% of users would leave a site that isn’t secure.
Step 9: Evaluate Content for Technical Issues
Yes, even content has technical implications. Look for:
- Duplicate Content: Use tools like Siteliner to find and fix duplicate content.
- Thin Content: Pages with little to no value should be consolidated or removed.
Step 10: Monitor with Google Search Console
Finally, use Google Search Console to track:
- Indexing Issues
- Crawl Errors
- Search Performance Metrics
Make it a habit to check these weekly to catch issues before they snowball.
How Click Typhoon Can Help Langford Businesses
At Click Typhoon, we specialize in SEO Agency Langford services tailored to your unique needs. Whether it’s fixing technical issues or creating a winning SEO strategy, we’re here to ensure your website ranks at the top. With our expertise, Langford residents can focus on growing their businesses while we handle the technical complexities.
Read more about “What Is an SEO Site Audit?” on our blog page today!
Conclusion
A technical SEO audit might sound daunting, but it’s essential for any Langford business aiming to thrive online. By following these steps—some of which are often overlooked—you can set your website up for long-term success.
Ready to make your website a lead-generating machine? Contact Click Typhoon today for tailored SEO Agency Langford services. Let us handle the technical challenges while you focus on growing your business. Don’t wait—start your journey to higher rankings and more customers now. Langford deserves the best, and we’re here to deliver it.
