Technical SEO Audit Checklist: Fix Issues & Boost Site Health

Crawlability & Indexability

Set up robots.txt properly:
You can set up robots.txt properly so search engines can crawl key pages and locate the sitemap; this is a foundational technical SEO task.

Utilize XML Sitemap:
Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

Set up canonical tags:
Use rel="canonical" tags to prevent duplicate content issues and reinforce signals for technical SEO.

Keep crawl errors in check:
Check crawl errors in Google Search Console regularly and fix them promptly.

Crawl budget management:
Improve site hierarchy and internal linking so important pages receive adequate crawl budget.

Monitor indexation rate and status:
Monitor index coverage to confirm that all important pages are indexed, an ongoing technical SEO checkpoint.

Block non-essential URLs:
Block non-essential URLs, such as staging versions or session IDs, to conserve crawl budget.

Site Structure & Navigation

Use a flat, logical structure (Home → Collection → Product):
Keep navigation clean with only a few clicks from the homepage to product pages to support crawlability and user experience.

Create and optimize main collections for category targeting:
Collections act as category pages and should be keyword-targeted with unique content and descriptions.

Avoid unnecessary sub-collections or deep nesting:
Too many nested levels can make pages harder to reach and dilute link equity across the site.

Link to key collections from the main navigation:
Surface your most important product categories in menus to guide both users and search engines to revenue-driving content.

Create an HTML sitemap or link to collections from the footer:
Ensure important pages are linked from sitewide elements so they are easily crawlable and not orphaned.

Technical Mobile Optimization

Ensure mobile-friendliness:
Implement responsive design so the site remains mobile-friendly.

Test mobile usability:
Run Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to detect and resolve usability problems.

Optimize touch elements:
Size buttons and links for comfortable touch interaction; mobile UX influences technical SEO performance.

Monitor mobile page speed performance:
Use Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights on mobile to keep load times fast.

Test for mobile-first indexing:
Confirm that the mobile version contains all content needed for Googlebot’s mobile-first indexing.

Page Speed & Core Web Vitals

Improve LCP (Largest Contentful Paint):
Optimize server response and resource loading to improve Largest Contentful Paint, a core technical SEO metric.

Improve FID (First Input Delay):
Minimize JavaScript execution time to reduce First Input Delay.

Optimize CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift):
Reserve space for images and ads to prevent layout shift and meet CLS targets.

Browser cache images and compress:
Compress and cache images to speed up page loads; faster assets benefit technical SEO goals.

CDNs (Content Delivery Network):
Utilize a Content Delivery Network to reduce latency and enhance performance.

Implement lazy loading for images:
Enable lazy loading for images and videos.

Monitor Core Web Vitals:
Track LCP, FID, and CLS with Search Console and Lighthouse as part of your ongoing technical SEO checklist.

Security & HTTPS

HTTPS everywhere:
Secure every page with HTTPS using a valid SSL certificate; search engines treat this as a basic technical SEO requirement.

Set up HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS):
Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security to force secure connections.

Regularly update software and plugins:
Keep platforms and plugins updated to promptly patch vulnerabilities.

Implement Secure Headers (X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, etc.):
Set security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options and X-Frame-Options; strong security reinforces technical SEO trust signals.

Conduct regular security audits:
Run periodic scans with tools like Sucuri to detect malware or other threats.

Structured Data & Schema Markup

Implement structured data:
Add JSON-LD structured data for articles, products, and reviews to qualify for rich results.

Test structured data with Google's Rich Results Test:
Test markup in Google’s Rich Results Test and correct any errors.

Monitor structured data in Google Search Console:|
Monitor structured data reports in Search Console and resolve issues promptly to maintain technical SEO integrity.

Implement Schema for local SEO (LocalBusiness schema):
Use the LocalBusiness schema with NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details for local visibility.

Implement Product schema for eCommerce websites:
Implement a Product schema with price, availability, and reviews for eCommerce items.

International SEO (if necessary)

Apply hreflang tags:
Apply hreflang tags to specify language and region targeting and avoid international technical SEO pitfalls.

Utilize country-specific domains or subdirectories:
Organize content with country domains or subdirectories when appropriate.

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Submit individual sitemaps for each language variant:
Submit separate XML sitemaps for each language variant.

Ensure proper currency and language targeting:
Display the correct currency, language, and formatting on each regional page.

404 & Redirect Management

Create custom 404 pages:
Create a custom 404 page that offers helpful navigation choices.

Apply 301 redirects for moved content:
Use 301 redirects for moved content to preserve link equity; clean redirects support healthy technical SEO.

Avoid redirect chains and loops:
Avoid redirect chains and loops by pointing each redirect to its final destination.

Implement 410 for permanently removed pages:
Return HTTP 410 for permanently removed pages to signal they should be de-indexed.

Monitoring & Maintenance

Set up Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools:
Set up Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to receive performance and error alerts.

Regularly audit site health:
Audit site health regularly with Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find and fix technical SEO issues early.

Monitor backlinks and disavow spammy links:
Monitor backlinks and disavow spammy ones that could harm performance.

Track Core Web Vitals performance:
Track Core Web Vitals with PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse and fold findings into your technical SEO roadmap.

Monitor crawl stats:
Review crawl-stats reports in Search Console to ensure Googlebot is efficiently crawling the site.

Advanced Technical SEO (Optional)

Utilize AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages):
Consider Accelerated Mobile Pages if faster mobile delivery aligns with your technical SEO strategy.

Implement server-side rendering (SSR) for JavaScript-heavy sites:
Utilize server-side rendering on JavaScript-heavy websites to enhance crawlability and indexing.

Optimize for voice search:
Optimize for voice search with conversational queries and structured data to stay ahead in technical SEO.

Implement Progressive Web Apps (PWA):
Implement Progressive Web App features for offline capability and improved speed.

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Maria Harutyunyan

A well-structured approach is the cornerstone of successful SEO. That's why we’ve developed a series of in-depth checklists designed to streamline your SEO strategy. From building high-quality backlinks and optimizing your WordPress site to tackling on-page SEO and technical optimizations, our checklists offer precise, actionable steps to help you confidently navigate every aspect of SEO.

April 3, 2025

Technical SEO Checklist to Ensure a Healthy and Search-Optimized Website

Technical SEO Checklist

Stronger strategy, better results