Technical SEO Checklist for 2023: Optimize Your Site’s Performance

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Key Takeaways

• A strong technical SEO checklist is essential for website performance.
• Focus on crawlability, indexing, and site speed to improve rankings.
• Regular audits using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Google Search Console are crucial.
• Implementing structured data enhances search result visibility.
• Prioritize mobile-first indexing by optimizing your site for mobile users.

Technical SEO is the backbone of a high-performing website. It involves optimizing backend elements like crawlability, indexing, and site speed to boost rankings and user experience. A well-structured technical SEO checklist ensures search engines can efficiently access, understand, and prioritize your content. In this guide, we’ll break down the critical steps to fix crawl errors, improve site speed, implement structured data, and align with mobile-first indexing. Let’s dive in.

What is a Technical SEO Checklist?

A technical SEO checklist is a step-by-step guide to identify and resolve issues affecting your website’s search performance. Think of it as a roadmap to ensure your site meets Google’s technical requirements.

Key reasons to use a checklist:

• Prevents oversights: Broken links, slow load times, or indexing errors can slip through the cracks without a structured plan.
• Aligns with algorithms: Google’s ranking factors evolve yearly—checklists keep your site updated.
• Boosts user experience: Faster, error-free sites keep visitors engaged.

Sources like The HOTH emphasize that technical SEO audits are non-negotiable for long-term organic growth.

Improve Site Speed: Core Web Vitals & Optimization

Site speed directly impacts bounce rates, conversions, and rankings. Google’s Core Web Vitals (Largest Contentful Paint, Interaction to Next Paint, Cumulative Layout Shift) are critical metrics to track.

Actionable steps to improve site speed:

• Audit performance: Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify bottlenecks.
• Optimize images:
  • Compress files with tools like TinyPNG.
  • Use next-gen formats like WebP for faster loading. For mobile-friendly image strategies, see our guide on Responsive WordPress Design.
• Minify code: Remove unnecessary characters from CSS/JS files. Tools like CSSNano automate this.
• Upgrade hosting: Slow servers hurt speed. Switch to a dedicated plan or use a CDN like Cloudflare. AdLeverage notes CDNs improve global load times by 50%+.

Pro Tip: Enable browser caching to reduce repeat visits’ load times. Add expiration headers via your .htaccess file.

Fix Crawl Errors: Ensure Search Engines Access Content

Crawl errors like 404s or server timeouts block search engines from indexing your pages. Left unresolved, they tank rankings.

How to fix crawl errors:

• Use Google Search Console: Navigate to the “Coverage” report to find errors. Prioritize fixing:
  • 404 pages: Redirect broken URLs to relevant content.
  • Server errors (5xx): Contact your host if issues persist.
• Simplify URLs: Avoid parameters (e.g., “?id=123”). Use hyphens instead of underscores.
• Submit an XML sitemap: Help Google discover new pages faster. Update it monthly.
• Audit robots.txt: Ensure it’s not blocking critical pages. Use Google’s tester tool to verify.

For a deeper dive into crawlability best practices, refer to our Technical SEO resource.

According to The HOTH, crawl budget waste is a top reason small sites struggle to rank.

Structured Data in SEO: Schema Markup for Rich Snippets

Structured data (schema markup) tells search engines what your content means. This can unlock rich snippets—enhanced search results with stars, FAQs, or prices.

Steps to implement structured data:

• Choose schema types: Start with Article, Product, or FAQ schemas.
• Generate code: Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to create JSON-LD code.
• Validate markup: Test with the Rich Results Test to avoid errors.

Example: Adding a Breadcrumb schema clarifies your site’s hierarchy, improving navigation and SERP visibility. The HOTH found schema markup increases click-through rates by up to 30%. Learn how to integrate schema into WordPress content via our SEO-Friendly Blog Posts Guide.

Mobile-First Indexing Tips: Optimize for Mobile Users

Google uses the mobile version of your site for ranking. If your mobile UX is poor, rankings drop.

Mobile-first indexing optimization:

• Test responsiveness: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
• Avoid pop-ups: Intrusive interstitials (e.g., full-screen ads) hurt mobile UX.
• Speed up mobile pages:
  • Use AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for lightning-fast loading.
  • Defer non-critical JavaScript.
• Check mobile usability reports: Google Search Console flags issues like tiny text or unplayable content.

Pair these strategies with mobile-optimized Responsive WordPress Templates for maximum impact.

AdLeverage reports 60% of organic traffic comes from mobile—optimizing isn’t optional.

Integrating the Technical SEO Checklist into Your Workflow

A technical SEO checklist isn’t a one-time task. Regular audits prevent issues from resurfacing.

Monthly/quarterly tasks:

• Run PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix.
• Review Google Search Console for crawl errors.
• Update schema markup for new content types.
• Test mobile usability.

Downloadable checklist template:

• Site Speed:
  • Compress images
  • Minify CSS/JS
  • Enable browser caching
• Crawlability:
  • Fix 404s
  • Submit XML sitemap
• Structured Data:
  • Add FAQ schema
  • Validate markup
• Mobile:
  • Test responsiveness
  • Remove intrusive pop-ups

Grab a detailed version from DashThis. For ongoing maintenance, explore our SEO Audits service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO refers to website and server optimizations that help search engine spiders crawl and index your site more effectively. It’s about ensuring search engines can easily access and understand your website’s content.

Why is Technical SEO Important?

It’s crucial because it lays the groundwork for all other SEO efforts. If search engines can’t crawl and index your site properly, your content won’t rank, no matter how good it is. Technical SEO ensures your site is easily discoverable and understandable by search engines.

How Often Should I Perform a Technical SEO Audit?

It’s recommended to perform a technical SEO audit at least quarterly. In rapidly changing digital landscapes and with frequent algorithm updates, regular audits help you stay ahead and maintain optimal site performance. Monthly checks on critical aspects like site speed and crawl errors are also beneficial.

Can Technical SEO Improve User Experience?

Absolutely. Many technical SEO elements directly impact user experience. For instance, improving site speed makes your site faster and more enjoyable for users to browse. Similarly, ensuring mobile-friendliness caters to the growing number of mobile users, enhancing their experience and engagement on your site.

What are the Most Common Technical SEO Mistakes?

Common mistakes include slow loading times, unoptimized mobile experience, crawl errors, ignoring structured data, and duplicate content issues. Neglecting XML sitemaps and robots.txt optimization are also frequent oversights that can hinder search engine crawling and indexing.