More than 60% of all online experiences start with a search engine, and more than 50% of website traffic is derived from organic search. Yet, only less than 1% of online users go beyond the first page of Google results. That tells you how much search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for digital marketing. SEO is a vast field, and there is so much to consider when optimizing your site, including on-page SEO, off-site SEO, technical SEO, copy, content, etc.
Performing an SEO audit is part and parcel of good SEO practices. For starters, it is simply evaluating your website to see how well or poorly it is performing on the search engine. With the expertise of a digital marketing agency, you can perform SEO audits regularly to find out where you can improve and keep your users happy.
Here are some tips on how to perform an SEO self-audit.
Conduct a manual google search
Performing a few google searches can tell you how well or good your website ranks at the moment. Search for your industry’s related keywords and see how often your website appears on the first page of the search engine results. Some of the questions to evaluate include:
- Does your website appear first on the results if you search it by its name?
- Generally, which position does your website appear when you search it?
- What keywords do you rank for?
Conducting a manual google search gives you an overall idea of how your website is performing.
Review your internal and external links
Having a logical hierarchy of links on your website improves search engine ranking. Therefore you must check your internal and external links to ensure that users are navigating effortlessly. Keep in mind that some external pages might be deleted or removed, leading to broken links on your website pages which annoys users. You will have to change any links with dead ends to improve your SEO significantly.
Examine your site speed
One thing that turns off online users is a website that takes ages to load. Many will quickly click the back button and look for another website that loads fast. Online users are impatient, and even Google knows that. Therefore site speed is critical. Remember that the longer your website takes to load, the more your customers bounce. Take immediate action if you discover that your website is slow or not excellent.
Analyze your off-site SEO
Backlinks are essential for successful SEO. Through backlinks, the search engine discovers your site is relevant, and other users will find the information on your pages helpful. Hyperlinks and brand mentions are critical, which is why you must pay attention to on-site and off-site SEO. This also helps you to know what competition you are up to.
Analyze competitor keywords
Find out which keywords your competitors are ranking for and compare them to your own. You can also review the volume, position, and estimated visits your competitor’s website gets for the keyword. This informs your SEO strategy to enable you to beat your competitor.
conclusion
SEO audit has many aspects, and having an SEO expert by your side can help you achieve your SEO goals.