The Complete Guide to SEO Audit: 10 SEO Audit Steps That Every Marketer Needs to Follow

SEO is a complex and ever-changing beast. What worked yesterday may not work today, and
what works for one website might not work for another. That’s why it’s important to have an SEO
audit methodology that you can rely on – one that will help you get a comprehensive view of
your website’s strengths and weaknesses, so you can make the necessary changes to improve
your rankings.

In this guide, we will walk you through our 10-step SEO audit process. We’ll show you how to
carry out each step, as well as how to fix any issues you find. Whether you’re a seasoned SEO
or just starting out, following this guide will set your website on the path to organic search
success.

What is an SEO Audit?

An SEO audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a website’s search engine optimization. It can
be conducted manually or using specialized software. The goal of an SEO audit is to identify
areas where the site can be improved to help it rank higher in search engine results pages
(SERPs). An SEO audit typically includes an analysis of a website’s on-page and off-page
optimization, as well as a review of its technical and content-related aspects. A thorough SEO
audit can be a valuable tool for businesses that want to improve their online visibility and attract
more organic traffic.

Types of SEO Audits

 

SEO Content Audit:

A content audit is a process of evaluating the quality and quantity of your website’s content. This
includes analyzing things like title tags, meta descriptions, images, page copy, etc. The goal of a
content audit is to identify any areas of improvement so that you can make your website’s
content more effective in terms of SEO.

On-Page SEO Audit:

An on-page SEO audit is a process of evaluating the effectiveness of your website’s on-page
SEO factors. This includes things like title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, images, etc.
The goal of an on-page SEO audit is to identify any areas of improvement so that you can make
your website’s on-page SEO more effective.

Off-Page SEO:

Off-page SEO is the process of optimizing your website’s online presence in order to improve its
search engine rankings. This includes things like link building, social media marketing, and
reputation management. The goal of off-page SEO is to improve your website’s visibility and
authority online so that it can rank higher in search engine results pages.

Technical SEO:

Technical SEO is the process of optimizing your website’s technical infrastructure in order to
improve its search engine rankings. This includes things like site speed, indexing, and
crawlability. The goal of technical SEO is to optimize your website’s technical setup so that it
runs as efficiently as possible and can be easily crawled and indexed by search engines.
If you’re like most marketers, you’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve your
SEO efforts. And while there are a number of different methodologies out there, not all of them
are created equal. Here are 10-Steps for SEO Audit as Follows:

Step 1: Check Your Rankings

The first step in any SEO audit is to check your website’s current rankings in the SERPs. This
will give you a good starting point for measuring your progress as you go through the other
steps in the audit process.

There are a number of different rank tracking tools you can use, but our personal favorite is
Google Search Console. Not only is it free, but it also provides data straight from the source –
Google.

To get started, simply head over to Google Search Console and add your website. Once you’ve
done that, click on “Search Traffic” and then “Search Analytics.” From there, you can see your
website’s average position for various keywords, as well as how many clicks and impressions
you’ve gotten.

Step 2: Analyze Your Website’s Structure

The next step is to analyze your website’s structure. This includes things like your site’s
navigation, URL structure, and overall architecture. A well-structured website is not only easier
for search engines to crawl and index, but it’s also easier for users to navigate.

To start, take a look at your website’s navigation. Is it easy to use? Does it make sense? Or is it
cluttered and confusing? The latter is a common problem, especially on larger websites. If your
navigation is too complicated, consider simplifying it.

Your website’s URL structure is also important. Search engines use URLs to understand the
hierarchy of your website and the relationship between different pages. As a general rule of
thumb, your URLs should be short, keyword-rich, and easy to read.

To see if your URLs are up to snuff, simply head over to Google Search Console and click on
“Crawl.” From there, click on “URL Parameters.” This will show you any issues that Google has
with your site’s URL structure.

The last thing to look at is your website’s overall architecture. This refers to the way your
website is structured, and how different pages are linked together. A well-structured website will
have a clear hierarchy, with the most important pages (like your home page) at the top, and less
important pages (like blog posts) further down. To check your website’s architecture, head over
to Google Search Console and click on “Crawl.” Then, click on “Sitemaps.” This will show you
any sitemaps that have been submitted to Google. If you don’t see any sitemaps listed, that
means your website doesn’t have one.

While having a sitemap is not required, it can be helpful, especially for larger websites. A
sitemap is essentially a list of all the pages on your website, which makes it easier for search
engines to crawl and index your site. If you want to create a sitemap for your website, there are
a number of different tools you can use, including XML-Sitemaps.com and Screaming Frog.

Step 3: Analyze Your Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

After you’ve analyzed your website’s structure, it’s time to take a look at your title tags and meta
descriptions. The title tag is the text that appears in the search results, while the meta
description is the short snippet of text that gives users an overview of what they can expect to
find on your page.

Both the title tag and meta description are important for two reasons: first, they help users
decide whether or not to click on your result; and second, they give search engines an idea of
what your page is about.

To start, head over to Google Search Console and click on “Search Traffic.” Then, click on
“HTML Improvements.” This will show you any issues with your title tags and meta descriptions.
If you see any warnings or errors, take a look at each individual page and make sure that your
title tags and meta descriptions are keyword-rich and relevant to the content on that page.

Step 4: Check Your Website for Broken Links

Broken links are links that point to pages that no longer exist. They’re a common problem, and
they can have a negative impact on your website in two ways. First, they provide a poor user
experience; and second, they can hurt your search engine rankings.

To check for broken links on your website, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog or Xenu’s
Link Sleuth. Simply enter your website’s URL into the tool and let it crawl your site. Once it’s
finished, it will give you a list of all the broken links on your website. From there, you can either
delete the broken links or replace them with working ones. To find working links, simply do a
Google search for the page you’re trying to link to.

Step 5: Analyze Your Page Speed

Page speed is the amount of time it takes for your website to load. It’s an important ranking
factor, and it’s also important for user experience. After all, no one wants to wait around for a
slow website to load. To check your page speed, head over to Google PageSpeed Insights and
enter your website’s URL. Google will then analyze your website and give you a score between
0 and 100, with 100 being the best possible score.

If your score is below 50, that means there are some serious issues that need to be fixed. If
your score is between 50 and 89, that means there are some moderate issues that should be
fixed. And if your score is 90 or above, that means your website is in good shape. To see
exactly what issues are affecting your page speed, click on the “Show how to fix” link. Google
will then give you a list of specific issues, along with instructions on how to fix them.

Step 6: Check Your Website for Duplicate Content

Duplicate content is content that appears on more than one page on your website. It’s not
necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if it’s not done correctly. Google doesn’t like duplicate
content because it can make it difficult to determine which version of the content is the original.
As a result, your website could be penalized in the search results.

To check for duplicate content on your website, you can use a tool like Copyscape. Simply enter
your website’s URL into the tool and it will scan your site for duplicate content. If you do find
some duplicate content on your website, the best thing to do is to remove it or rewrite it so that
it’s unique.

Step 7: Check Your Website for Thin Content

Thin content is content that doesn’t provide much value to users. It’s usually short, poorly
written, and lacks substance. Not only is thin content bad for user experience, but it can also
hurt your search engine rankings.

To check for thin content on your website, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog or Xenu’s Link
Sleuth. Simply enter your website’s URL into the tool and let it crawl your site. Once it’s finished,
it will give you a list of all the pages on your website that have thin content. If you find any pages
with thin content, the best thing to do is to either delete the page or add more content to it so
that it’s more comprehensive.

Step 8: Check Your Website for Hidden Text or Links

Hidden text or links are text or links that are not visible to users but are visible to search
engines. They’re often used to stuff keywords onto a page or to link to other websites without
the user’s knowledge. Hidden text or links are considered black hat SEO techniques, and they
can get your website penalized in the search results.

To check for hidden text or links on your website, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog or
Xenu’s Link Sleuth. Simply enter your website’s URL into the tool and let it crawl your site. Once
it’s finished, it will give you a list of all the pages on your website that have hidden text or links. If
you find any pages with hidden text or links, the best thing to do is to remove the text or links
and replace them with something that is visible to users.

Step 9: Check Your Website for Broken Links

A broken link is a link that points to a page that no longer exists. They’re often the result of
pages being deleted or moved without the proper redirects being put in place.

Broken links can hurt your search engine rankings and they can also frustrate users. After all,
no one likes clicking on a link only to be taken to a 404 error page.

To check for broken links on your website, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog or Xenu’s
Link Sleuth. Simply enter your website’s URL into the tool and let it crawl your site. Once it’s
finished, it will give you a list of all the broken links on your website.

If you find any broken links on your website, the best thing to do is to either delete the link or
redirect it to a different page.

Step 10: Check Your Website for Malware

Malware is software that is designed to damage or disable computers and websites. It’s often
used to steal personal information or to hijack websites for malicious purposes.

Not only can malware hurt your website, but it can also hurt your search engine rankings. After
all, Google doesn’t want to send its users to websites that could harm their computers.

To check for malware on your website, you can use a tool like Google Safe Browsing. Simply
enter your website’s URL into the tool and it will scan your site for any known malware.

If you find any malware on your website, the best thing to do is to remove it immediately. You
should also change all of your passwords and run a security scan on your computer to make
sure that you don’t have any malware on it as well.

What are Different SEO Audit Tools

SEO audit tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most of them work in the same way.
You enter in a website or URL, and the tool will scan the page for any potential SEO issues. It
will then rate the page on a scale from one to 10, with 10 being the best.

Some of the more popular SEO audit tools include Moz’s Open Site Explorer, Google’s
PageSpeed Insights, and Screaming Frog. All of these tools are free to use, although some
have paid versions that offer more features.

When you’re looking for an SEO audit tool, it’s important to find one that fits your needs. If you’re
just starting out, a tool with a lower rating may be good enough. But if you’re looking for
something more in-depth, you’ll want to find a tool with a higher rating.

Conclusion

An SEO audit is a crucial part of any good digital marketing strategy. By regularly auditing your
website, you can identify issues that could be holding it back from achieving its full potential in
the search results. And by fixing those issues, you can help your website reach its full potential.
Have you ever conducted an SEO audit on your website? What did you find? Let us know in the
comments below.