Step 15: Technical SEO

 

Step 15: Technical SEO

What is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO is the process of checking the technical health of a website so that search engines like Google can crawl, understand, and index it properly.

Unlike content SEO, technical SEO focuses on the website's infrastructure rather than its written content.

Why do you need Technical SEO?

Even if a website has great content, it may not rank well if Google cannot crawl or index it correctly.

Technical SEO helps:

  • Search engines access your pages.

  • Visitors use the website without errors.

  • Improve website performance and visibility.

What should you work on?

1. Check HTTPS

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS means the website uses a secure connection.

Example:

✅

https://example.com

❌

http://example.com

Why?

  • Protects user data.

  • Builds visitor trust.

  • Google prefers secure websites.

Tool

  • Web browser (look for the padlock icon)

  • Google Search Console (optional)

2. Check XML Sitemap

What is a Sitemap?

A sitemap is a file that lists the important pages on the website to help Google discover them.

Usually found at:

https://example.com/sitemap.xml

Why?

It helps Google find and index your pages more efficiently.

Tool

  • Google Search Console

  • Web browser

  • Yoast SEO or Rank Math (automatically generates one for WordPress)

3. Check robots.txt

What is robots.txt?

It's a file that tells search engines which pages or folders they can or cannot crawl.

Usually found at:

https://example.com/robots.txt

Why?

A misconfigured robots.txt file can accidentally block Google from important pages.

Tool

  • Web browser

  • Google Search Console

4. Check Broken Links

What are Broken Links?

Broken links lead to pages that no longer exist, often showing a 404 Not Found error.

Example:

Homepage → Services → ❌ 404 Error

Why?

Broken links:

  • Frustrate visitors.

  • Waste Google's crawl budget.

  • Can negatively affect user experience.

Tool

  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Google Search Console

5. Check Duplicate Pages

What are Duplicate Pages?

These are pages with identical or very similar content.

Example:

example.com/services

example.com/services-copy

Why?

Duplicate content can make it harder for search engines to know which page to show in search results.

Tool

  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Ahrefs

  • Semrush

6. Check Crawl Errors

What are Crawl Errors?

These occur when Google tries to access a page but can't.

Common examples:

  • 404 Not Found

  • 500 Server Error

  • Redirect loops

  • Blocked pages

Why?

Crawl errors can prevent important pages from appearing in search results.

Tool

  • Google Search Console

Tools for Step 15

ToolPurpose
Google Search ConsoleCheck indexing, crawl errors, sitemap status, and coverage issues.
Screaming Frog SEO SpiderFind broken links, duplicate content, missing titles, and other technical issues.
Yoast SEO or Rank MathGenerate XML sitemaps and assist with technical SEO settings on WordPress.
Web BrowserVerify HTTPS, open the sitemap, and inspect the robots.txt file.

Where do you fix these issues?

IssueWhere to Fix
HTTPSHosting provider or SSL certificate settings
SitemapYoast SEO, Rank Math, or website settings
robots.txtWebsite root directory or SEO plugin
Broken LinksUpdate or remove incorrect links in the website editor
Duplicate PagesMerge, rewrite, or use canonical tags
Crawl ErrorsResolve the underlying issue and request reindexing in Google Search Console

Your output for Step 15

By the end of this step, your technical SEO checklist should look like this:

CheckStatus
HTTPS Enabled✅
XML Sitemap Available✅
robots.txt Accessible✅
Broken Links Fixed✅
Duplicate Pages Reviewed✅
Crawl Errors Resolved✅

Final Goal

A technically optimized website should:

  • ✅ Be secure (HTTPS).

  • ✅ Have an XML sitemap.

  • ✅ Have a properly configured robots.txt file.

  • ✅ Contain no important broken links.

  • ✅ Avoid unnecessary duplicate content.

  • ✅ Allow Google to crawl and index important pages without errors.

A website with good technical SEO gives search engines the best chance to understand and rank its content effectively.

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