Technical SEO is the foundation under everything else: if search engines can't find, crawl and understand your pages, even the best content won't rank. Here is a checklist to review with your developer or SEO partner.
1. Crawling and indexing
- Verify your site in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
- Submit an XML sitemap containing all important pages
- Check robots.txt doesn't block pages you want in search
- Review the Page indexing report for excluded or errored pages
- Use one canonical version of each page – https, with or without www, consistently
2. Site structure and URLs
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Short, readable URLs: /services/cyber-security/ | Long URLs with IDs and parameters |
| Every page reachable within a few clicks | Orphan pages nobody links to |
| Breadcrumbs and related links | Dead ends with no next step |
| 301 redirects when URLs change | Broken links and 404s from old pages |
3. On-page basics
- Title tag: unique per page, with the main search phrase near the start.
- Meta description: a clear summary that makes people want to click.
- One H1 that states what the page is about, followed by logical H2 sections.
- Image alt text describing the image.
- Internal links using descriptive anchor text between related pages.
4. Speed, mobile and security
Pages should load quickly on mobile data, pass Core Web Vitals, work well on small screens and use HTTPS everywhere. Mixed-content warnings and intrusive pop-ups harm both users and rankings.
5. Structured data
Schema markup tells search engines and AI assistants who you are and what each page contains:
- Organization / LocalBusiness with address, phone, hours and social profiles
- BreadcrumbList on inner pages
- Article for blog posts and FAQPage for question-and-answer sections
- Product, Service or Event where relevant
6. Ongoing monitoring
Check Search Console every month for crawl errors, indexing drops, Core Web Vitals and security issues, and use IndexNow or sitemap updates so new pages are discovered quickly.
Tinos builds SEO-ready websites and offers technical audits and fixes. See our SEO services in Kerala, website development and digital marketing.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I do a technical SEO audit?
Do a full audit before and after any redesign, and a lighter check every few months. Review Search Console monthly.
Why is my page not showing on Google?
It may not be indexed yet, may be blocked, may duplicate another page, or may not yet be seen as useful enough. Search Console's URL Inspection tool shows the reason.
Does structured data improve rankings?
It is not a direct ranking boost, but it helps search engines understand your pages and can enable richer results and better visibility in AI-powered search.
