A simple SEO audit makes a big difference
It’s a well-known fact that Google regularly updates their ranking algorithm, which can quickly alter how well your site’s content is performing in the search results. As such, it is important that you regularly take the time to carry out an SEO audit. However, to conduct a full audit can be time consuming (and requires very deep SEO knowledge). Today I will walk you through some simple checks which can identify major issues with your site and highlight quick opportunities to boost your SEO performance.
1. Are you ranking for your brand?
Google recognition has been designed so that it can quickly pick up on brand names and rank the relevant site when somebody searches for your business. This Google recognition is very important for all online businesses and you should rank #1 for your brand. To check this, simply type your brand into the browser and search. If you are failing to rank in this top position, then it could mean your site has some major quality issues. For example, Google may simply not be able to fully index your site properly, which needs immediate attention.
2. Does your site have any speed issues?
Having a fast loading site is integral for a number of reasons. Namely that it will convert customers at a much higher rate. Also, Google will punish you in the rankings if your site isn’t performing fast enough. It is also critical that your site starts loading its first byte no longer than 200ms after the initial request has been sent. To check this for yourself, you can use a few different tools, such as Google PageSpeed Insights or WebPageTest.
3. Is your site easily crawlable?
Having a website with good crawlability is essential, as this is what allows Google to rank every piece of content you have. Google allocates a certain crawl budget for every site, so you need to make sure you are making the best use of this. Failure to do so could mean that part of your site never gets crawled and so pages of content never have the chance to rank. There are many tools which can help you identify crawlability issues. One of my recommendations is to use an app called Screaming Frog. This crawls your site in the same way Google does and can quickly highlight any issues.
4. Are you making use of the new Google Search Console?
At the start of 2018, Google released an updated version of their Search Console. Not only has the interface had a major uplift, the tools on offer have been updated and improved as well. Perhaps most beneficial is the “index coverage report”. This will help you get a much better idea of your site’s health and to identify any issues that could be fixed. Here is a useful guide to get you started.
5. Are you thinking about mobile performance?
Mobile performance is something that many site owners have been neglecting for years. In recent years the number of Google searches on mobile devices was trending up dramatically and for many businesses the number of mobile site users had already exceeded those on desktop. You should ensure your site is fully responsive across all devices, allowing visitors to have the same great experience regardless. That is to say if you still see your desktop version on your mobile devices or own a separate mobile domain such as m.example.com, it’s time to start paying attention. As a quick start, Google Search Console is a great place to find out how mobile-friendly your site is.
With these 5 steps, you can quickly get a firm understanding of how healthy your site is and identify quick SEO changes you can make that could reap huge rewards. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get to work on your very own audit! Stay tuned for my next article where I will be sharing more SEO secrets to help your business succeed online this year.
