Introduction
When auditing a website, the first thing you’ll want to do is check for any errors on the page. This includes things like broken links, misspellings, and incorrect grammar. These errors can hurt your website’s ranking in search engines and make it difficult for visitors to find your site.
So it is important to fix any errors before moving on to the next step in the audit process. In this article, we will show you how to find and fix errors on your website.
What Is SEO Audit and Auditing A Website?
Auditing a website is the process of checking the website for any errors or issues that could be harming its ranking in search engines. This includes things like broken links, misspellings, and incorrect grammar. It also involves analyzing the competition, looking at past SEO efforts, and more.
Why SEO Audit For A Website?
There are a few reasons why you might want to audit a website. Maybe you’re not happy with your current position in search engine results. Or, you may have just launched a new website and want to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Whatever the reason, auditing your website can help you identify any problems that may be holding it back from reaching its full potential.
How To SEO Audit A Website
Now that we’ve covered what website auditing is and why you should do it, let’s get started with the audit!
1. Check for errors on the page
The first step in auditing a website is to check for any errors on the page. This includes things like broken links, misspellings, and incorrect grammar. These errors can hurt your website’s ranking in search engines and make it difficult for visitors to find your site. So it is important to fix any errors before moving on to the next step in the audit process.
To check for errors on the page:
- Use a tool like Google Search Console to find any broken links on your website.
- Check your website for misspellings and incorrect grammar.
- Use a tool like W3C Markup Validation Service to check for any HTML errors on your website.
Whichever method you choose, you do not want your users to think that your website is unprofessional. Fixing any errors on your website will help improve its ranking in search engines and make it more user-friendly.
2. Analyze the competition
Once you have fixed any errors on your website, the next step is to take a look at the competition. See what they are doing right and learn from their mistakes. This will help you create a better SEO strategy for your own website.
There are many ways to analyze the competition. Here are a few methods you can use:
- Use a tool like Alexa to find out who your biggest competitors are.
- Check their website’s traffic using a tool like SimilarWeb.
- Look at their backlink profile using a tool like Moz Open Site Explorer.
- Use a tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner to find out which keywords they are targeting.
By analyzing the competition, you will be able to see what is working well for them and adapt their strategies for your own website.
Also Analyzing competition will help you in several ways, including:
- You can be one step ahead of them: This is the most important thing. If you know what they are doing, you can do it better and get ahead of them.
- You can avoid their mistakes: Learning from others’ mistakes is crucial so that you don’t make them yourself.
- You can find new opportunities: When you research your competitors, you may find new opportunities that you didn’t know existed.
- You can find backlink opportunities and improve your own website’s SEO strategy.
This will not only ensure that you are the latest in trends but also keep you from making the same mistakes they might have made in the past.
3. Look at your past SEO efforts
Finally, you want to look at your website’s past SEO efforts. This will help you determine what has worked and what hasn’t. By understanding your website’s history, you can make better decisions about its future.
There are a few ways to look at your past SEO efforts:
- Check your website’s Google Analytics data to see how your traffic has changed over time.
- Look at your website’s backlink profile to see which links are helping you the most.
- Use a tool like Google Search Console to see which keywords you are ranking for.
- Check your website’s social media metrics to see how your content is performing.
By understanding your website’s past SEO efforts, you can make better decisions about its future.
9 Tools Used In Website Auditing
There are a few tools you’ll need in order to properly audit a website. Here are a few of the most important ones:
1. Google Search Console:
This tool will help you find any errors on your website that could be harming its ranking in search engines.
Additionally, there is no pricing plan for Google Search Console. It is a free tool provided by Google.
2. Alexa:
This tool will help you find out who your biggest competitors are and what they are doing right. Alexa starts at $149 per month.
3. Moz:
This tool is used to analyze your competition and see what they are doing right (and wrong). Moz has a free trial and plans start at $99 per month.
4. Google Analytics:
This tool will help you track your website’s traffic and performance over time. Also, Google Analytics is a free tool provided by Google.
5. SEMrush:
This tool is used to track your website’s SEO progress and keyword rankings. SEMrush has a free trial and plans start at $99.95 per month.
By using SEMrush tools, you’ll be able to properly audit your website and find any areas that need improvement.
6. SuferSEO:
This tool is used to find any technical errors on your website that could be harming its ranking. SuferSEO has a free trial and plans start at $50 per month. Which compared to other tools, is rather affordable for the wide range of features they offer.
7. Sitebulb:
This tool is used to audit your website’s content and find any areas that need improvement. Sitebulb has a free trial and plans start at $9 per month.
8. Woorank:
This tool is used to audit your website’s SEO and find any areas that need improvement. Woorank has a free trial and plans start at $49 per month.
9. W3C Markup Validation Service:
This tool is used to find any HTML errors on your website. W3C Markup Validation Service is a free tool provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Whichever tool you choose to use, based on the budget, features, and ease of use, you’ll be able to properly audit your website.
By following this guide and using these tools, you’ll be able to get a complete understanding of how your website is performing and what improvements can be made.
Common Myths About Website Auditing
There are a few common myths about website auditing that you should be aware of. These include:
1. You need to be an expert to SEO audit a website: This is not true! Anyone can SEO audit a website, regardless of their level of experience.
2. Website auditing is expensive: While there are some paid tools available, you can also find many free options.
3. Website auditing is time-consuming: While it does take some time to properly SEO audit a website, it is well worth the effort.
By busting these myths, you can make sure that you are auditing your website correctly and getting the most out of it. So don’t wait any longer, start auditing your website today!
Most Asked FAQs on Website Analysis
1. How do I know if my website is being penalized?
If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in traffic or rankings, it’s possible that your website has been penalized. The best way to check is to use Google Search Console and look for any messages from Google. If you see a message, it will give you more information on what you need to do to fix the problem.
2. How often should I SEO audit my website?
It’s a good idea to SEO audit your website at least once a year, or more often if you notice any changes in traffic or rankings.
3. What are some common issues that I should look for when auditing my website?
Some common issues that you should look for when auditing your website include broken links, misspellings, incorrect grammar, and duplicate content.
4. How can I improve my website’s ranking in search engines?
There are a number of things you can do to improve your website’s ranking in search engines. These include optimizing your website for relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building links from other websites.
5. What is the best way to track my website’s SEO progress?
There are a number of tools you can use to track your website’s SEO progress. These include Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMrush.
Conclusion
By following this guide and using these tools, you’ll be able to get a complete understanding of how to effectively perform website analysis and how your website is performing and what improvements can be made. And hiring an agency like ours to conduct a website analysis will give you an even more in-depth look and tailored recommendations for your website.
At 12 channels we not only conduct frequent seo audits but also help you with all SEO needs along with other marketing needs. So don’t wait any longer, start seo audit for your website today! Contact our subject matter experts and get an overview of our services and budgeting.
