SEO audits are necessary checkups for any website that needs to be ranked on Google. With the right tools, it’s possible to see what is and isn’t working, and how to fix any issues. An SEO site audit starts with choosing the right tool to crawl a site. Semrush Site Audit and Google Search Console are two options we covered in class, and they check all the content and metadata within a page.
Checking Site Setup
The two key principles of site architecture: top pages need to have internal links pointing to them, and no page should be buried 5+ clicks deep. This means creating a flat site that still has a hierarchy. Descriptive anchor text helps with this, as do backlinks from authoritative sites to blog content.
On-Page SEO
Individual pages should be reviewed for title tags, meta descriptions, headings (especially H1s), and of course, keyword usage. This ties into the principles of writing good content, which is crucial to an SEO site audit. Some SEO companies have specific spreadsheets or databases for keeping track of content optimization. The site audit will crawl the page’s content and measure it according to the tools we use here.
In addition to familiar content optimization practices, technical factors help with the site audit. One example is XML sitemaps. XML sitemaps are an often overlooked technique we covered in class. Other techniques include good canonical tags (again, for hierarchy), and ensuring HTTPS is used across all pages. They need to indicate security to the site audit.
Summary
In conclusion, Semrush and Google Search Console are part of a plethora of tools available for running checkups on your own site. It can also be used for a client’s future business. Site audits are a necessary part of SEO work and maintaining a competitive, optimized website.
2 Responses
Great breakdown, I liked how you tied together both the content and technical sides of SEO: site structure, on-page elements, and tools like Semrush all work together to keep a site ranking strong.
Great post! It provides a clear framework for conducting SEO audits, emphasizing critical elements like site architecture, on-page optimization, and technical SEO tools. Its practical focus on tools like SEMrush and Google Search Console make it a valuable resource for anyone aiming to improve search rankings and maintain an edge.