Introduction
Every SEO analyst knows that, for the most part, SEO is a field where you learn by trial-and-error.
No matter how meticulously you plan your technical SEO audit, there’s always something that can throw the whole thing off-gear. The upside to this is that this is how one evolves as an SEO analyst, so it’s not all bad!
There’s another way to do it, though. You could learn from other people’s mistakes!
All you need to do is keep a keen eye out for these blunders. You learn the lesson without paying the price, so it’s an absolute win-win!
In keeping your SEO error-free, we’re bringing you a definitive list of the 11 most common errors that SEO analysts make in the technical aspect of the field.
You may find that you may have made some of these errors yourself! The bottom line is, there’s something to learn here for everyone.
1) Page Loading Hiccups
You hate to see it. This is the kryptonite of any technical SEO checklist. Not optimizing your page’s loading speed can present dire consequences if left unchecked.
Over 70% of people on the Web lose interest if their page doesn’t load within 4 seconds. Why would anyone browse through a site which never loads up in the first place?
Pages take time to load when there’s too much clutter on them. In technical SEO terms, that can mean too many images, exclusive JavaScript, or even a bad page structure.
In other cases, it could be your web hosting server itself; that’s the culprit.
The Fix:
Time to clean things up and polish them! The first step to fixing this issue is to run your site through a page-speed software, like Google PageSpeed Tools. That tool will give you a clear idea of what’s weighing your pages down.
Once that’s discovered, you can get down to business! Optimize your images based on their resolution, keep scripts minimal and active. If your hosting server is weighing you down, maybe it’s time to switch plans!
2) Link Redirection
A website, just like a chain, is only as strong as its weakest link. Right from the sitemap to the links that connect them, your website needs to be a well-structured machine.
Having the dreaded Error 404 pop up is the bane of on-page SEO techniques. Those are the ones that will require immediate attention from your end.
Broken links can be make-or-break for your website.
The Fix:
Remove any redundant links on your site wherever you find them. For the 404 errors, go ahead and use Google’s Webmaster tool to sort it out with 301 protocols.
3) Excessive Flash Plugins
Yes, you can use some Flash plugins here and there to spruce up your website. It helps round out the aesthetic of the site when it’s done right.
When it’s not done right, however, your website becomes slow and buggy.
Search engines can have some trouble deciphering the intricacies of Flash, which will affect the site.
The Fix:
There are plenty of other alternatives that you can use as stand-ins for Flash plugins. Some of the popular options like HTML5 and CSS can help you spruce up your website just fine!
4) Heavy Images
Images are necessary for any website, but it’s essential to strike a balance. Sometimes, images aren’t always fully compatible with search engines, causing glitches.
It’s not just about how aesthetically pleasing it looks!
The Fix:
If an image is burdening your website, then it’s best to place a stand-in with other SEO elements. Try to compensate with right fonts and headers, or even live text.
Go with what works!
5) Bad Website Structure
Is there anything more annoying than not being able to access the full potential of a website?
Navigation is an essential part of user experience when browsing.
From a search engine perspective, this makes your website’s crawl ability take a hit.
The Fix:
There’s no way to cheese this. You have to work on the layout of your website, rooting out flaws from the ground up. Once you think you’re done, browse through it yourself and give it a look!
6) The URL Issues
A proper URL is a key to any website. If your URL is messy, it sends mixed signals to the search engine and may even send the wrong audience your way.
It can also be part of a greater issue of unorganized folders associated with your website.
The Fix:
Polishing your URL should be one of the first orders of business on your technical SEO audit.
Check the URL for any special characters that would hinder it. Organize your folders with a proper structure (parent-child structure).
Optimize your URLs for keywords too!
7) Content Relevancy Errors
Though it may seem very tempting to go with simple filler content for your URLs and markups to focus on other aspects, you could pay for it in the long run.
Search engines take low-effort content very seriously, and it’ll show in your rankings.
The Fix:
Compartmentalize your technical content to help the search engine understand your site better.
Specify which URL you are leading with. Use a robots.txt file if you want to give the crawler clear-cut instructions on indexing your site.
8) Mobile Glitches
Whether we like it or not, most of the world has gone mobile. Even Google has started prioritizing mobile access for its websites.
If your site looks clunky on mobile, you’re missing out on a lot of traffic.
The Fix:
Put mobile optimization front and center on your technical SEO audit!
Don’t go for a unique mobile site, as it can hinder your rankings. Instead, focus on aspects such as the design streamlining and page elements.
9) Low Crawlability
Google allocates a specific number in terms of how ‘crawlable’ a web page is.
If your webpage has too many tags and markups in the wrong places, it can send the wrong crawler signals. Consequently, your domain authority suffers.
The Fix:
Use Google’s Console to check your Crawl Stats, and then get to work. Minimize errors, remove any redirect loops that shouldn’t be there, and generally make your site easier to browse.
10) Link Quality
Backlinks are currency in the world, but the quality of each link also matters.
If your site has links to sites with questionable origins and authority, that affects your website’s standing in the search engine’s perspective.
The Fix:
This should go without saying, but avoid black-hat SEO when it comes to link building. Check up on your site’s backlinks periodically to ensure that they are still active and authentic.
11) Tag & Markup Errors
Just because metadata can be a focal point of your site, doesn’t mean you should squander it. Search engines do not appreciate keyword stuffing, even in the meta text.
The Fix:
Yoast is your best friend in helping you analyze these errors. Check for tags that are repeated or obsolete. You want to keep your site’s metadata as authentic as possible, so work towards that.
Conclusion
In a single technical SEO checklist, there are so many factors to account for. So many things can go wrong, but it takes a clear mind to get it all right. Now you know what to avoid and how to right your wrongs, so you’re all set for your next audit. All the very best!
Great article regarding SEO mistakes! For someone who is starting to learn SEO, it is important to point out mistakes we usually don’t notice and learn how to fix them. Very informative sir!
It is the best article regarding SEO mistakes and their solutions, And I am thrilled to read this kind of information shared by sorav jain. This is very helpful.
Thanks
Thanks Sunny