Website SEO Audit - How to Conduct It Independently?

Every website owner eventually begins to wonder whether they have invested their resources wisely. They review the website's condition and look for ways to increase organic traffic from search engines.

To decide what changes to implement on your website, it is essential to understand its strengths and weaknesses. This is where an SEO audit comes in. In today’s article, we will explain how to conduct an SEO audit on your own without complicated tools.

What is the purpose of performing an SEO audit?

Anyone looking to improve their website’s visibility in search results and increase site traffic should conduct an SEO audit. It is similar to a medical diagnosis before starting treatment. Performing an audit helps identify errors, weaknesses on the site itself, and elements that do not meet current standards. After the audit, it becomes easier to prepare a corrective plan for your website and define how its optimization should look.

An SEO audit is especially worthwhile whenever significant changes have been made on your site — such as a redesign, restructuring, domain change, or merging several websites into one. However, conducting the audit is only the first step. The key to success lies in implementing the necessary changes and fixing the identified issues.

Part One of the Audit – Technical Analysis

Checking your website can be divided into two parts: technical analysis and content analysis. Start by reviewing the URLs on your site. They should be short and easy to read, avoid Polish characters and uppercase letters, and each word should be separated by a hyphen (“-”). Next, check the title and meta description elements. Once you confirm that each subpage is properly described and contains relevant keywords, examine the images and graphics on the site. Test the page loading time on both desktop and mobile devices. The optimal load time should not exceed 1 second. Longer waits may discourage potential visitors from entering the site. Also, check the image sizes and make sure each one includes an appropriate alternative text description.

Check whether the site has 301 redirects set up. If a single subpage is accessible under multiple URLs, it is necessary to configure correct redirects. Finally, ensure your website does not have any errors, including the most common 404 error – page not found.

Technical optimization of the site is crucial for two reasons. First, Google ranks technically well-optimized websites higher. Second, a well-optimized site becomes genuinely user-friendly. A smoothly functioning website provides a better user experience and reduces the bounce rate.

Part Two – Content Analysis

The more valuable content your website contains, the greater the chance it will rank higher in search results, with Google recognizing it as the best match for users’ needs. By analyzing individual subpages and their traffic, you will identify which pages require additional work.

Begin the content audit by checking which subpages contain text. Use Google Analytics to analyze traffic, pageviews, bounce rates, and average time spent on each subpage. This will help you identify which sections need improvement and could benefit from additional content or graphical elements. Verify that each subpage contains an adequate amount of text. The homepage should have around 500 words, while category pages should include at least 250 words.

When analyzing subpages with text, pay attention to whether they contain links and if the linked content is still relevant. If the described information has changed, update it accordingly. It is also beneficial to add several new links directing to related high-authority pages. Watch out for duplicate content on your site. Google’s algorithms favor websites with original, unique materials.

Conducting a simple SEO audit at home is possible, but it can be time-consuming and requires considerable effort. For the best results, consider entrusting your website to experienced professionals who have the necessary tools to obtain comprehensive, accurate data and interpret it correctly. Entrust your website to the SEO specialists at our interactive agency and watch the amazing results unfold!