An SEO audit is like a full health checkup for your website. It helps you understand what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs improvement to boost your search rankings. Whether you’re a beginner or an SEO expert, a proper audit can dramatically improve your site’s visibility.

Below is a simple, step-by-step method to run a complete SEO audit — plus a ready-to-use template you can copy instantly.

Step-by-Step SEO Audit Guide

1. Check Website Indexation

Make sure Google can find and index your site.

How to check:

• Go to Google and search:
  site:yourwebsite.com

• Review the number of indexed pages.

• Use Google Search Console → Pages → Check for errors.

Fix issues like:

• Crawled – currently not indexed

• Duplicate pages

• Server errors

• Blocked by robots.txt

2. Scan for Technical SEO Issues

Technical issues silently kill rankings. Check:

Core technical elements:

• Page load speed

• Mobile friendliness

• HTTPS security

• 404 errors

• Redirect chains

• Canonical tags

Tools to use:

• Google Search Console

• Google PageSpeed Insights

• Screaming Frog

• GTmetrix

3. Analyze On-Page SEO

Review how well your pages are optimized.

Check for:

• Title tags (unique, keyword-rich)

• Meta descriptions

• H1, H2, H3 structure

• Keyword usage (no stuffing)

• Image alt text

• URL structure

• Internal linking

Ideal checklist:

• One main keyword per page

• Content must solve user intent

• Add internal links to important pages

• Use short & descriptive URLs

4. Evaluate Content Quality

Google rewards high-value content.

Ask yourself:

• Is the content fresh and updated?

• Does it answer real user questions?

• Are there unnecessary filler paragraphs?

• Is the format scannable (lists, bullets, headings)?

Fixes:

• Update old content

• Add expert insights

• Improve formatting

• Add stats, visuals, and examples

5. Audit Your Backlinks

Backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking factors.

Check for:

• Number of referring domains

• Quality of sites linking to you

• Spammy or toxic links

• Lost backlinks

Tools:
Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz
(Or tell me — I can check with a web search)

Fixes:

• Disavow toxic links

• Build new high-quality backlinks (guest posts, HARO, niche edits)

6. Review User Experience (UX)

Google now heavily ranks websites based on user experience.

Analyze:

• Navigation structure

• Mobile layout

• Readability

• Bounce rate

• Time on page

Fixes:

• Improve menu structure

• Add clear CTAs

• Use clean typography

• Improve page layout

7. Inspect Local SEO (If Applicable)

If you have a business targeting local customers:

Check:

• Google Business Profile

• NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone)

• Local citations

• Reviews & ratings

• Local keyword optimization

8. Review Competitor Performance

Competitors reveal what works in your niche.

Analyze:

• Their best-performing pages

• Link-building strategies

• Keywords they rank for

• Content gaps

Tools:

Semrush, Ahrefs, Google Search

9. Check Conversion Optimization

SEO is useless without conversions.

Evaluate:

• Are there clear CTAs?

• Is your page persuasive?

• Does the user know what to do next?

Improve:

• Add buttons

• Add forms

• Improve copywriting

• Create lead magnets

SEO Audit Template (Copy & Use)

Use this checklist to audit any website:

Technical SEO Audit Template

On-Page SEO Template

Content Audit Template

Backlink Audit Template

UX & Conversion Audit Template

Local SEO Template