Imagine opening a shop in a bustling city, only to find that no one seems to know it exists. That’s what it’s like to have a website that’s invisible to search engines. You’ve invested time and money, but potential customers are missing out on your products and services because they can’t find you online.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) – like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The higher you rank, the more organic traffic you’ll get. Think of it as getting free advertising on the world’s biggest search platforms.
But with so many ranking factors, SEO can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?
Before you panic and call in an expensive consultant, there are a few basic SEO checks you can do yourself to get a sense of your website’s health. Plus, knowing when to call in the experts is just as important.
1. Are You Ranking for Relevant Keywords?
Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when they’re looking for products, services, or information like yours. If you’re not ranking for relevant keywords, potential customers won’t be able to find you.
How to Check:
- Manually Search Google: Start by searching Google for the keywords you think your target audience would use. See where your website ranks compared to your competitors.
- Use a Keyword Research Tool: Use a free keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to identify the keywords you should be targeting. These tools can help you uncover hidden opportunities and understand what people are really searching for.
Why This Matters:
If you’re not ranking for relevant keywords, you’re missing out on valuable traffic and sales. It’s like opening a shop in the wrong neighbourhood. You need to be visible to the people who are actively searching for what you offer.
2. Is Your Organic Traffic Declining?
A sudden drop in organic traffic can be a red flag. It could indicate a problem with your website, a change in Google’s algorithm, or increased competition.
How to Check:
- Log in to Google Analytics: If you don’t have Google Analytics set up, do it now! It’s essential for tracking your website’s performance.
- Check Your Traffic Sources: Go to ‘Acquisition’ > ‘Overview’ > ‘Organic Search’. Compare your organic traffic to previous periods (e.g., last month, last year). Look for any significant dips or trends.
Why This Matters:
A decline in organic traffic means fewer potential customers are finding your website. You need to identify the cause and take corrective action before the problem worsens.
3. Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly?
More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re providing a poor user experience and hurting your search rankings.
How to Check:
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: Go to Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool (search for “Google Mobile-Friendly Test” in Google) and enter your website’s URL. The tool will tell you if your website is mobile-friendly. It will also highlight any specific issues that need to be addressed.
Why This Matters:
Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites in its search results. A non-mobile-friendly website will be penalised in the rankings. Plus, visitors who can’t easily navigate your site on their phones are likely to leave and never return.
4. Do You Have Duplicate Content Issues?
Duplicate content is content that appears on more than one page of your website (or on other websites). It can confuse search engines and dilute your ranking potential.
How to Check:
- Use a Free Duplicate Content Checker: Use a free online tool like Copyscape (copyscape.com) or Siteliner (siteliner.com) to identify duplicate content on your website. These tools will scan your site and highlight any instances of duplicated text.
Why This Matters:
Duplicate content can hurt your search rankings and prevent your website from ranking for its target keywords. Search engines don’t know which version of the content is the “original,” so they may choose to rank neither.
5. Are There Broken Links On Your Site?
Broken links (links that lead to non-existent pages) create a bad user experience and can signal to search engines that your website is poorly maintained.
How to Check:
- Use a Free Broken Link Checker: Use a free online tool like Broken Link Check (brokenlinkcheck.com) to scan your website for broken links. These tools will provide a list of all broken links on your site, along with the pages where they appear.
Why This Matters:
Broken links can frustrate users and negatively impact your SEO. Visitors who click on a broken link will likely leave your website, and search engines may view your site as less trustworthy.
When to Call the Experts
So, you’ve run the checks and identified some issues. Now what?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, or simply don’t have the time to deal with the complexities of SEO, it’s time to consider bringing in the experts. Here’s why:
- Expertise: SEO agencies have the knowledge and experience to address complex SEO issues that are beyond the scope of these simple checks.
- Time Savings: SEO can be time-consuming. An agency can take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on running your business.
- Long-Term Results: An agency can develop a comprehensive SEO strategy to drive sustainable, long-term growth.
Here are some signs you need professional help:
- You’re overwhelmed by the results of your SEO checks.
- You don’t know how to fix the issues you’ve identified.
- You’re not seeing any improvement in your search rankings or traffic after making changes.
- You simply don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to SEO.
Don’t Let Your Website Stay Invisible!
Don’t let your website remain invisible. By running these 5 simple SEO checks, you can get a better understanding of your website’s health and identify potential problems. Remember:
- Check if you are ranking for keywords
- Check for organic traffic declining
- Check that your website is mobile-friendly
- Check for duplicate content
- Check for broken links
SEO is essential for attracting organic traffic and driving business growth.
Ready to improve your website’s visibility and start attracting more customers? Get in touch with us today for a free SEO consultation. We’ll analyse your website, identify areas for improvement, and develop a customised SEO strategy to help you achieve your goals.