SEO Audit Checklist

HTTPS works correctly across the site

Use valid HTTPS URLs and resolve mixed content. HTTPS is a security baseline, not a ranking guarantee.

Review Core Web Vitals and real-user performance

Use PageSpeed Insights and Search Console field data to identify issues; there is no universal page-load-time ranking cutoff.

Pages work well on mobile devices

Test real pages at common viewport sizes, ensure content is available on mobile, and make interactive controls usable.

Sitemap lists preferred, indexable canonical URLs

Submit it in Search Console if useful and monitor for processing errors. Submission does not guarantee crawling or indexing.

Robots.txt allows crawlers to fetch intended public pages

Use it for crawler access, not privacy or reliably excluding URLs from search.

Canonical tags resolve genuine duplicate or alternate URLs

Canonical tags are hints; keep them consistent with internal links, redirects, and sitemap URLs.

Structured data matches visible content and current feature rules

Valid markup does not guarantee rich results. Check Google's current Search Gallery and eligibility requirements.

Distinct, descriptive page titles

Write concise titles that accurately describe each page; search engines may rewrite them and there is no fixed character-count requirement.

Useful descriptions for important pages

Summarize the page accurately. Google may generate a different snippet and meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor.

Clear page heading and topic

Use headings that help readers understand the page. Google does not require exactly one H1 or a keyword in every heading.

Readable section headings

Organize content for readers with meaningful headings; there is no ranking rule requiring an exact H1–H6 sequence.

Meaningful alt text for informative images

Describe an image's purpose for people using assistive technology; use empty alt text for decorative images and avoid keyword stuffing.

Internal linking strategy

Link related pages together. Use descriptive anchor text.

Original content that serves the page's audience

There is no minimum word count for ranking. Include enough detail to satisfy the page's purpose without padding.

Earn relevant links and referral mentions naturally

Choose directories for audience fit and useful referral traffic; links do not guarantee rankings, and third-party authority scores are not Google metrics.

Active social media profiles

Maintain profiles on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and relevant platforms.

Use Google Business Profile only if eligible

It is intended for eligible businesses that serve customers in person; it is not appropriate for every online business.

Brand mentions and PR

Get mentioned in blog posts, podcasts, and industry publications.

Collect genuine reviews without incentives or manipulation

Do not fabricate, selectively gate, or offer rewards for reviews; reviews do not guarantee ranking or rich-result display.

Keyword research completed

Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, or free tools like Ubersuggest for keyword research.

Publish useful content at a sustainable cadence

There is no required posting frequency. Prioritize distinct, accurate material over publishing to a quota.

Answer common questions where useful to readers

FAQ content can help people; FAQ rich results are generally limited to well-known government and health sites.

Landing pages for key services

Create dedicated pages for each product/service with targeted keywords.