Did you know that 77% of clicks are concentrated on the first three Google results? If your website isn’t one of these, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity for visibility and traffic. An SEO audit isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity for anyone who wants to conquer those precious top spots. So, why and how should you carry out an SEO audit of your website to climb the rankings?
Why is an SEO audit essential?
Don’t underestimate the impact of the SEO audit on your search engine rankings. Good positioning ensures increased visibility and, consequently, quality traffic. For what ? Because users trust search engines to provide them with the best answers to their questions.
Identify and correct gaps in your website with an SEO audit. A comprehensive audit reveals which aspects of your site need improvement, whether it’s content quality, site structure or backlinks.
Stay up to date with search algorithm changes and updates. The world of the web is evolving rapidly and today’s ranking criteria may not be tomorrow’s. Keeping up with these changes allows you to stay competitive.
What steps to carry out an effective SEO audit?
Start with an exhaustive crawl of your website. This step gives you an overview of the current state of your site. Use reliable tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb for this task. Crawling allows you to spot 404 errors, redirection issues and other anomalies that could affect your SEO.
Then proceed to the on-site SEO audit. Carefully examine meta tags, content and page structure. Make sure each page has an optimized title tag and meta description.
Also check the quality of the content: is it relevant, well-written and well-structured? Don’t forget technical aspects like page loading speed, mobile optimization and correct use of H1, H2 tags, etc.
Finally, focus on the off-site SEO audit. Evaluate the quality and quantity of your backlinks. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze your link profile. Also consider your site’s online reputation and the effectiveness of your local SEO. Online reviews, social media mentions, and the quality of sites that link to yours are factors that influence your credibility and ranking.
Using an SEO agency vs. Carry out the audit yourself
Opt for a self-audit if you’re looking to cut costs. This option also gives you direct control over every aspect of the audit. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of SEO. However, be prepared to invest time and effort into familiarizing yourself with SEO tools and best practices.
If you are looking for expertise and to save time, turn to a specialized SEO agency. The agencies have the experience and tools necessary to carry out a complete and reliable audit. They also make it possible to implement more complex optimization strategies.
