SEO will still have a place in an AI future. Make sure your brand is prepared.
If you’ve ever wondered why your website isn’t getting the love from Google you think it deserves, it might be time for an SEO audit. But don’t worry, it’s not as daunting as it sounds.
We’re here to break it down into bite-sized, manageable steps. By the end, you’ll be ready to dive in and give your site the tune-up it needs. And hey, if you’d rather spend your time on other aspects of your business, GPO’s SEO services are just a click away. But more on that later.
First things first, what exactly is an SEO audit? Think of it as a health check-up for your website. It involves reviewing your site to ensure it’s optimized to appear in search engine results. This includes checking your site’s structure, content, and user experience, among other things. The goal is to identify any missed opportunities or issues that could be holding your site back.
We’ll break SEO auditing into five main parts: technical, on-page, off-page, UX, and local SEO. Most site issues fall under one of these categories.
Before you get started, know that you’ll need access to a crawling tool in order to perform a quality SEO audit. Popular tools include Screaming Frog, Botify, and Semrush. After crawling your site, you’re ready to get started!
Technical SEO is like the foundation of your house. If it’s shaky, everything else can fall apart. Start by checking things like:
You also want to ensure your site is mobile-friendly. With more people browsing on their phones, mobile friendliness is not optional. Also, look into your site’s crawlability. Can search engines easily navigate and index your content? If you had issues crawling your site with your crawling tool, then chances are Google did too.
Now, let’s talk content. On-page SEO is all about making sure your content shines. This includes using the right keywords, having compelling meta titles and descriptions, utilizing unique and descriptive body copy, and ensuring your headers are doing their job.
Quality content is not just about pleasing algorithms; it’s about providing value to your visitors. So, audit your content to ensure it’s informative, engaging, and, most importantly, relevant to your audience’s needs.
Your site’s relationship with the rest of the internet matters. Off-page SEO involves factors like backlinks from other reputable sites. Backlinks are votes of confidence in the eyes of search engines. Take a look at who’s linking to you and if those sites are credible and relevant to your industry. Tools like Semush or Moz can offer good insight into your site’s backlink profile.
User experience is a big deal. If visitors find your site hard to navigate or just plain unenjoyable, they won’t stick around. Your site’s design should be intuitive, with a clear structure and easy-to-find information. Ensure every page is internally linked so users can find every page on your site.
Page speed is a major factor in UX. It includes auditing your site’s layout shift, load time for the largest elements on the page, and the time it takes for the page to become fully interactive. Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool or integrate it into your crawling tool to identify areas of opportunity on your site.
If your business has storefronts or service areas, local SEO is your best friend. Make sure your business is listed on your Google Business Profile and other relevant directories. Keep your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) consistent across your site, and ensure it matches your listings on Google. Even though this technically falls more under listings management, it’s important to understand your site’s entire online presence to best optimize for search engines.
Feeling overwhelmed? We get it. SEO can be a lot, especially when you’ve got a business to run. That’s where GPO’s SEO services come in. Our team of experts can handle the nitty-gritty of SEO auditing and optimization so you can focus on what you do best. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your site or need a full SEO overhaul, we’ve got you covered.
SEO auditing is your first step towards a more visible, more engaging, and ultimately more successful website. It’s about understanding where you are so you can map out where you need to go. And remember, if the journey seems too daunting, GPO is here to guide you every step of the way. Ready to boost your site’s SEO? Let’s chat!
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