How To Perform an SEO Audit on Your Website
- Stephanie Adams
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Whether you’re just stepping into the world of SEO or you’ve been managing a site for a while, performing an SEO audit is one of the smartest moves you can make. It’s how you uncover hidden issues, discover improvement opportunities, and lay the groundwork for better rankings and user experience.
Think of an SEO audit as a check-up for your website. It's not just about pleasing search engines, it's about optimizing your site for real users too. Ready to get started? Let’s break it down into five straightforward steps.
Why an SEO Audit Matters
Imagine trying to win a race with your shoelaces untied. That’s what it’s like trying to rank without knowing how your site is performing behind the scenes. An SEO audit helps you:
Find and fix technical errors like broken links or slow-loading pages
Understand how your site appears to search engines
Improve your content’s ability to attract and engage visitors
Whether you’re looking to solve a specific issue or just stay ahead of competitors, an audit is your first step.
Step 1: Check Technical SEO
Start by assessing the technical health of your website, because even the best content can fall flat if your site is hard to crawl or slow to load.
What to check:
Crawl your site: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify broken links, duplicate pages, or missing metadata.
Mobile-friendliness: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to make sure your site performs well on all devices.
Page speed: Slow pages frustrate users and hurt rankings. Use tools to see what’s slowing your site down.
Pro tip: Fixing just one or two technical issues can often lead to noticeable SEO improvements.
Step 2: Analyze On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is all about optimizing individual pages for both users and search engines.
What to focus on:
Meta tags: Are your title tags and meta descriptions clear, keyword-rich, and unique?
Content quality: Make sure your content is original, helpful, and easy to read. Avoid keyword stuffing.
Internal links: Use descriptive anchor text to help users and bots navigate your site effectively.
Quick win: Updating outdated content and improving headlines can boost engagement and rankings fast.
Step 3: Review Off-Page SEO
SEO doesn’t stop at your own website. Off-page factors like backlinks tell search engines your site is trustworthy and authoritative.
What to check:
Backlinks: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to audit your backlink profile. Watch out for spammy links.
Social presence: While social signals don’t directly affect SEO, they can drive traffic and increase visibility.
Building backlinks through guest blogging or strategic partnerships is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your authority.
Step 4: Evaluate User Experience (UX)
Search engines want to rank websites that offer a smooth, enjoyable experience.
Look at:
Navigation: Can users find what they need in 2–3 clicks?
Design: Is your site clean, modern, and easy to browse on all devices?
CTAs: Make sure your calls-to-action are clear and guide users toward goals (sign-ups, purchases, etc.).
A small design change, like a more visible CTA button, can lead to a big bump in conversions.
Step 5: Monitor Analytics and Set Goals
An audit isn’t complete without diving into your data. Use Google Analytics and Search Console to measure what’s working and what’s not.
Metrics to monitor:
Traffic trends: Are your visitors increasing or dropping off?
Bounce rate: A high bounce rate might mean your content doesn’t match what users expect.
Conversions: Are visitors taking the actions you want (filling out a form, making a purchase, etc.)?
Data tells the story, so check in regularly and let it guide your strategy.
Conclusion:
An SEO audit doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By breaking it into manageable steps like technical health, on-page and off-page SEO, UX, and analytics, you can stay ahead of issues and keep your site on track for growth.
Need some help with your SEO? Get in touch today and see how we can work together!
Comments