If your website isn't ranking, you're losing business. That's the hard truth.
Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or someone managing a company blog, you want more visibility. You want more leads. You want answers that work. This guide from Simpleman Digital Marketing, your trusted marketing company, shows you exactly how to perform an SEO audit that gives results.
Read to the end, and you'll walk away with a clear roadmap.
What Is an SEO Audit and Why Does It Matter?
An SEO audit checks how well your site shows up in search results. It's like a tune-up for your car, but for your website. You find what’s broken, what’s slow, and what’s missing. Then you fix it.
An audit shows you:
- Why your pages aren’t ranking
- What’s slowing down your site
- Where your competitors are doing better
- How to attract more of the right visitors
This isn’t just a one-time task. Sites evolve. Algorithms shift. Regular audits, either by you or your partner
Cumming marketing company, keep you from falling behind.
How Do You Check Site Visibility in Search Engines?
Start by looking up your brand name in Google. Do you show up on the first page? If not, there’s a problem. Next, search for keywords related to your business. If you run a plumbing service in Cumming, try searching “emergency plumber in Cumming” or “leak repair Forsyth County.”
Use tools like:
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
- SEMRush
These platforms show your:
- Top-performing pages
- Pages with no clicks
- Queries bringing in traffic
Tip: Take note of what’s ranking. Then ask why. Is the content stronger? Is the page faster? Is the title more appealing?
What Technical Issues Are Hurting Your SEO?
Check These First:
- Site Speed: Use PageSpeed Insights. Slow load times drive people away.
- Mobile-Friendliness: Check how your site looks on phones. Over 60% of users are mobile.
- HTTPS Security: If your site isn’t secure, Google may not trust it.
- Broken Links: Use tools like Screaming Frog to scan for 404 errors.
Fix Examples:
- Resize large images
- Minify CSS and JavaScript
- Upgrade to HTTPS
- Replace or remove broken URLs
Even one of these issues can hold back a top-performing page.
Is Your Content Doing Its Job?
Content should answer the question a user is asking. If you’re targeting “local HVAC service,” your page needs to:
- Define what qualifies as local
- Explain your service area
- Give pricing estimates
- Provide contact info or a way to book
Ask These Questions:
- Does this page target a specific keyword?
- Is it better than what’s already ranking?
- Does it have internal links to other parts of my site?
- Can a visitor take action from here?
Update pages that are:
- Thin (less than 300 words)
- Outdated (mentioning 2022 specials in 2025)
- Misaligned (ranking for the wrong keywords)
Are Your Pages Properly Optimized?
Every page should have:
- One unique title tag (under 60 characters)
- One meta description (under 160 characters)
- A clean URL structure (use hyphens, not underscores)
- One H1 tag and subheadings (H2s and H3s)
- Alt text for images
How Strong Are Your Backlinks?
Backlinks are votes. The more respected sites that link to you, the more Google trusts you.
Check your backlinks with:
- Ahrefs
- Moz Link Explorer
Look for:
- Links from local directories
- Mentions on blogs or news sites
- Guest post opportunities
Avoid:
- Spammy backlinks from unrelated industries
- Paid links that violate Google’s policies
Quick Wins:
- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Submit to industry directories (like Houzz, Avvo, Yelp)
- Reach out to local bloggers or Chamber of Commerce pages
Are You Using Internal Links Correctly?
Internal links guide users through your site. They also spread authority to other pages.
Check that:
- Each blog post links to at least 2 related pages
- Product or service pages link back to the homepage
- Anchor text is descriptive (not just “click here”)
Example:
If you're a local law firm with a page about "Alpharetta family law services," include links to it in blog posts about child custody tips, divorce timelines, or local court preparation checklists.
Is Your Website Indexed Correctly?
Make sure Google sees all the right pages. Log into Google Search Console and check:
- Pages indexed vs. submitted
- Pages blocked by robots.txt
- Pages with noindex tags
Fixing Indexing Issues:
- Remove “noindex” from important pages
- Submit an updated sitemap
- Fix any crawl errors flagged by Google
If your top service page isn’t indexed, no one will ever find it.
Are You Tracking the Right Data?
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Setup:
- Google Analytics 4
- Google Tag Manager
- Conversion tracking for calls, form fills, and purchases
Check reports weekly. Look for:
- Drop-offs in traffic
- Top landing pages
- Bounce rates above 60%
Use this to refine what works and scrap what doesn’t.
How Often Should You Audit Your SEO?
Review the basics every month. Do a full audit every quarter.
Use this schedule:
- Monthly: Content updates, speed tests, keyword tracking
- Quarterly: Full backlink review, competitor check, and analytics deep dive
Set reminders to stay on track. SEO isn’t static.
Conclusion
An SEO audit helps you find weak spots in your website. You check visibility, fix slow pages, update content, and monitor links. You learn what Google sees and what users experience. You make your site work harder. More traffic means more leads. More leads means more growth. Your site should never be a mystery.
If you want to skip the guesswork, talk to us at Simpleman Digital Marketing. We’re based right here in Cumming, Georgia, and we know how to make local websites rank.
Contact us today
to book a no-pressure site review.
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