Technical SEO Checklist: 50+ Points to Audit

Technical SEO forms the foundation of any successful search strategy. Without proper technical implementation, even the best content won't reach its potential. This comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to audit.

Crawlability & Indexation

Robots.txt Configuration

Your robots.txt file is the first thing search engine crawlers encounter. Ensure it's properly configured:

• ✅File is accessible at /robots.txt
• ✅No critical pages are blocked
• ✅Sitemap location is specified
• ✅Different rules for different bots if needed

User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/
Disallow: /private/
Allow: /
Sitemap: https://yoursite.com/sitemap.xml

XML Sitemap Best Practices

• ✅Sitemap is auto-generated and up-to-date
• ✅Only includes canonical, indexable URLs
• ✅Submitted to Google Search Console
• ✅Split into multiple sitemaps if over 50,000 URLs

Site Architecture

A well-structured site helps both users and search engines navigate your content efficiently.

URL Structure

Internal Linking Strategy

Hub Pages: Create comprehensive pillar content that links to related articles

Contextual Links: Link naturally within content to relevant pages

Navigation: Ensure critical pages are within 3 clicks of the homepage

Breadcrumbs: Implement for both users and search engines

Performance Optimization

Core Web Vitals Checklist

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

• ✅Optimize and compress images
• ✅Use next-gen formats (WebP, AVIF)
• ✅Implement lazy loading below the fold
• ✅Preload critical resources
• ✅Use a CDN for static assets

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

• ✅Minimize JavaScript execution time
• ✅Break up long tasks
• ✅Use web workers for heavy computation
• ✅Optimize event handlers

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

• ✅Reserve space for ads and embeds
• ✅Use aspect-ratio CSS property
• ✅Avoid inserting content above existing content
• ✅Use transform animations instead of layout-triggering properties

Mobile Optimization

With mobile-first indexing, mobile optimization is non-negotiable:

• ✅Responsive design that works on all devices
• ✅Touch targets at least 48x48 pixels
• ✅Readable font sizes (minimum 16px)
• ✅No horizontal scrolling required
• ✅Fast mobile load times (< 3 seconds)

Schema Markup

Implement structured data to enhance search results:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Your Article Title",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Author Name"
  },
  "datePublished": "2025-01-10",
  "image": "https://example.com/image.jpg"
}

Essential Schema Types

• Organization
• LocalBusiness (if applicable)
• Article/BlogPosting
• Product (for e-commerce)
• FAQ
• HowTo
• BreadcrumbList

Security & HTTPS

• ✅Valid SSL certificate
• ✅All resources loaded over HTTPS
• ✅HTTP to HTTPS redirects in place
• ✅HSTS header implemented
• ✅No mixed content warnings

Conclusion

Technical SEO isn't a one-time task—it requires ongoing monitoring and optimization. Use this checklist regularly to ensure your site remains in peak condition.

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Need help with your technical SEO? Contact our team for a comprehensive audit of your website.